PorscheDude writes: My neighbor was told recently by Adelphia that it would cost $1700 to hook up cable to their house. I live 60 feet away and it cost me $50 six months ago. We live in a new ‘hood just outside of town, and both houses were pre-wired for cable. Is it any wonder that Adelphia will be out of business by the end of the summer?
The company intends to file for bankruptcy on Monday, but there’s no indication if they intend to withdraw from this or other markets. If they did leave the Charlottesville area, though, city government could get into the business of running the cable system. The city will soon begin a study of area cable needs to see how Adelphia measures up. David Dadurka has the story in today’s Progress.
I can top that easy. This is an emailed reply to a request for service this past week. I realize it is more than just fifty, feet but this seems like a joke.
Mr. Worrell
>
> The cost to provide cable service available to your home
> is $ 7,137.25.
>
> The construction will consist of 2,600′ of aerial lines attached to the
> existing power poles and 545′ of underground lines.
>
> I can be reached at the number below from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Wesley Parker – Project Manager
> Adelphia Cable
> 400 Westfield Rd. Charlottesville, Va. 22901
> Office 434-951-3725
> Fax 434-951-0087
The Hook has an interesting angle on this Adelphia mess.
NEWS- Adelphia on the skids: Sprint poised to pounce
Issue #20 of The Hook; published 06/20/02
BY LISA PROVENCE
LISA@READTHEHOOK.COM
Industry watchers say it’s no longer a question of if Adelphia Communications is going to file for bankruptcy.
Following recent revelations that the company over-reported cable television subscribers by 358,000 and a Wall Street Journal report that it kept two sets of books on cable upgrades, the question for Charlottesville subscribers is when Adelphia will file and how it will affect their cable TV service.
“Adelphia will not be Adelphia for very much longer,” predicts Bob Schotta, president of Wahoo Communications and an avid industry watcher.
Adelphia appears to have $18 billion in debt, its stock has fallen to just 23 cents, and on June 17, the company missed $51 million in interest payments.
“There’s no way they’re going to recover from that,” says Schotta, “and no one is going to buy them.”
The latest damaging reports follow the March news that Adelphia was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for $2.3 billion in off-the-books loans to members of the company’s founding Rigas family.
The sixth-largest cable company in the country, Adelphia has long earned local fire for its near-monopoly on cable television. Now it finds itself being compared with the financial debacle of Enron.
To illustrate just how serious Adelphia’s situation is, Schotta points to troubled MCI WorldCom, with $30 billion in debt.
“They make that much in a month,” says Schotta. “They’re a worldwide company, and they’re going to sell off South America. Adelphia doesn’t have that luxury.”
Assistant city attorney Renee Knake says the City, which has a franchise agreement with Adelphia that is up for renewal in June 2003, has not received any official word from Adelphia on its plans. She notes that if Adelphia transfers its cable operations to another provider, the city must be involved in negotiations.
Schotta estimates that within a month, Adelphia’s Virginia cable will have a new owner, either Cox Cable in Virginia Beach– owned by Atlanta-based Cox Communications– or Richmond-headquartered Cavalier Telephone. “There’s no one doing well enough to have interest in Virginia except Cox or Cavalier,” he says.
Meanwhile, Adelphia Communications spinoff Adelphia Business Solutions, although ostensibly a separate company, has been tarred with the same brush. ABS filed for bankruptcy in March, and its biggest competitor, Sprint, has launched a marketing campaign that seems to be capitalizing on the uncertainty of Adelphia Business Solutions’ fate.
In bold type, a May 28 Sprint letter to Charlottesville businesses reads, “It’s no secret some companies in Virginia may exit the market tomorrow.”
The letter asks how vulnerable a business would be if its communications provider “elects to discontinue operations,” while noting Sprint’s more than 100 years of service.
Sprint spokesman Tom Matthews denies that Sprint is preying on Adelphia’s woes to frighten business Sprint’s way. He says the letter, a result of marketing research, is being used in the 17 other states Sprint serves. “Basically, the same research indicates it’s good for us everywhere.”
Does that research speak to the underlying weakness of the telecommunications industry in general? Matthews prefers to characterize it as a “very competitive industry,” and says there are still hundreds of competitors for the services Sprint provides to businesses.
“People want simplicity,” he says, and if one company can provide local phone service, long distance, wireless, and Internet service at a good price on one bill, “that lets you jump to the front of the line.”
Over at Adelphia Business Solutions, spokesman Mark Golik is circumspect about whether Sprint smells blood and is circling a weak member of the pack.
“That’s always possible,” he says. “It’s one of those situations that you can infer who they’re talking about.”
Golik says if Adelphia Communications files for bankruptcy, it won’t affect ABS at all– especially since ABS is already in Chapter 11. However, “There’s an unfortunate connection with the name,” he says.
And although ABS is selling off assets, that doesn’t affect the Charlottesville market. In fact, local sales manager Tom Thompson says ABS is profitable in Virginia.
The telecommunications battle will only continue, with many companies falling by the wayside. Waynesboro-based Ntelos, which offers the same services as Sprint and ABS, is now trading at $1.60 a share, down from its 52-week high of $31.09.
“Their book is on the street,” says lingo-happy Schotta. In other words, he claims, Ntelos– which has a substantial cell phone business– may try to sell off bits and pieces of the company.
And as for whether Sprint is trying to capitalize on the vulnerability of Adelphia and Ntelos, Schotta has no doubts. “Absolutely,” he says. “It’s a very valid scare tactic.”
#
Ha! Very funny, Zack. Looks like they know you’re rich.
I can top that easy. This is an emailed reply to a request for service this past week. I realize it is more than just fifty, feet but this seems like a joke.
$7,137! That’s incredible! The best part is that the suits at Adelphia are scratching their heads, saying “gosh, I just don’t know why we’re declaring bankruptcy…at $7k a pop to run cable lines, we should be rolling in it!”
Looks like you may have a DBS system in your future!
I received this letter from Adelphia Digital Cable today:
In the near future, Adelphia will be changing the rates for its Digital and PowerLink services. For Total Advantage Package customers, the amount of the increase will be $3.00 per month, bringing your Total Advantage Package price to $102.95 a month. Yes, we know what you’re thinking. [My note? You do? You’re in the wrong business!]. Just like clockwork each year, Adelphia’s costs go up and we pass those incremental expenses directly to our cusotmers. Right? WELL, NOT THIS YEAR!
Our rates are increasing due to rising costs in programming, labor, utilities, and other services, but this year, simultaneously, Youalso receive a $20.00 Amazon.com certificate simply being our customer!! With over 28 million products to choose from, you’re certain to find something you like at Amazon.com — maybe even use the certificate to purchase your own cable modem and lower your Adelphia bill $5.00 per month* Just keep your Total Advantage Package through September and we’ll send you a promotional claim code good for $20.00 off your next order from Amazon.com.
It goes on for another couple of paragraphs. Raise your hands if you think I’ll be getting that $20 from Amazon.com…..