March 28, 2024, 05:53:25 PM

Author Topic: Charter Communications Discussion  (Read 38554 times)

Offline wxntrafficfan

  • The official "In front of the scenes" STAR Insider
  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5186
  • Gender: Male
  • I decide what I wear; the weather does not
    • View Profile
    • My youtube channel
  • HD Channel #: 245
  • SD Channel #: 36
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22840
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Charter Communications Discussion
« on: August 17, 2009, 12:02:23 AM »
Sad news, imo. Mike brought up in our nitely stream last night that Charter is undergoing serious bankruptcy. As of March 28th, 2009, Charter Communications is now in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Poor stocks in NasDaq, and horrible customer service have drove their customers away. As a result, revenue is falling sharply, and debt has consumed the corporation.

Here are a couple qoutes from the Charter Communcications Wikipedia page

Quote
On July 20, 2009, the sale to Apollo Management was rejected, and the pre-arranged plan was converted to a traditional Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, which means Charter will either have to sell a considerable amount of its assets or completely liquidate.


Quote
Comcast would be interested in the Northwest including all of Oregon (249,000 subs), Sierra Nevada including Reno/Tahoe and Redding (278,000 subs), Michigan (592,000 subs), and Louisiana/Tennessee (533,000 subs).


Quote
Charter has been criticized for poor customer support and frequent billing consistency issues, causing the Better Business Bureau to post a warning to consumers about the company:

"The Better Business Bureau has received numerous complaints regarding this cable, digital TV, and high speed internet access provider. Complainants primarily allege that the firm had improper billing practices, referred customer bills to collection agencies in error, provided poor customer service, used misleading advertising, provided defective internet or cable performance, used improper sales tactics or misrepresented the actual costs of installation and service, failed to properly install or maintain service, damaged customers' property, and failed to honor service appointments. "


Here is another interesting statistic, involving all legacy STARs (4000 and XL's)
Currently, there are 46 known 4000 units across the country.
5 are owned by Charter
Comcast also owns 5
Time Warner only owns 1

Currently, there are 51 known XL units across the country.
10 are owned by Charter
7 are owned by Comcast
Time Warner owns 6

While these are not the best facts to prove my point, Charter does own the most legacy STARs of any cable company.

Charter is much quieter with advertising than Comcast is, and serves a lot of rural areas as well (northern Michigan).

One thing many are concerned about is Comcast and TW updating the STARs in many locations to the Intellistar. This is an issue that bears watching, as Chapter 7 appears imminent.

Now, here's where my personal connection comes into it.
I have recorded 2 Charter legacy STARs (hopefully soon to be 3), and only one Comcast one.

Here are all the Charter STARs I have recorded:
-Asheville, NC
-Morristown/Newport, TN
-Alpena, MI
-Houghton Lake, MI
-Petoskey, MI
and soon to have Mackinaw City, I hope

I am also looking at Kalamazoo, MI and Traverse City, MI.


I have recorded Comcast STARs in:
Lansing, MI
East Lansing, MI
Romulus, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Bad Axe, MI

I have only managed to record Time Warner in Cincinnati, OH.

So, this appears to be mixed on my end. But I have started this thread to open discussion on the concept of Charter failing, and to update the issue as news occurs. Unfortunately, another Adelphia style transaction appears quite possible.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2010, 11:45:46 AM by wxntrafficfan »
TWC in...
Lansing: Comcast, Channel 36, STAR ID 22840
E. Lansing: Comcast, Channel 40, STAR ID 22842
Lansing Area: Broadstripe, Channel 40, STAR ID 25349
Current STAR count: 32. Be sure to see my channel for links to all the uploads!

"Until you have lived with all of them in there with you day after day, week after week, year after frikkin year... you are in no position to judge me!" -Debra Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond

Offline Mike M

  • Weatherscan Contributor
  • Ultimate Member
  • ********
  • Posts: 18957
  • Gender: Male
  • TWC Fan 1999-2008
    • View Profile
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2009, 02:04:45 PM »
First Adelphia, now possibly Charter?  :cry: I really hope they survive, but won't be surprised if they end up liquidating in the coming months. You brought up a good point that Charter owns the majority of the known legacy STARs. I have a feeling they will remain in use, as there are still a lot of former Adelphia headends now owned by Comcast and Time Warner that still use legacy STARs, even after more than three years since Adelphia became defunct.

Offline Zach

  • TV Tuner Enthusiast℠
  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8414
    • View Profile
  • Cable Provider: Other
  • WxStar Version: Satellite
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2009, 02:47:00 PM »
I guess I can expect an IntelliSTAR when I go back to Chincoteague possibly next year. :cry3:
I've gone off on a journey to be a moderator at another forum, but this place will forever remain home for me~

Offline twcfan68

  • Fan of TWC 1998-2012
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 654
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cable Provider: COX
  • HD Channel #: 1014
  • SD Channel #: 14
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2009, 06:28:54 PM »
Aww, I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope they can bounce back.

Offline wxntrafficfan

  • The official "In front of the scenes" STAR Insider
  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5186
  • Gender: Male
  • I decide what I wear; the weather does not
    • View Profile
    • My youtube channel
  • HD Channel #: 245
  • SD Channel #: 36
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22840
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2009, 06:30:24 PM »
Aww, I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope they can bounce back.
I do as well; a lot of us do. At this point though, Chapter 7 unfortunately appears imminent. However, do remain optimistic :thumbsup:
TWC in...
Lansing: Comcast, Channel 36, STAR ID 22840
E. Lansing: Comcast, Channel 40, STAR ID 22842
Lansing Area: Broadstripe, Channel 40, STAR ID 25349
Current STAR count: 32. Be sure to see my channel for links to all the uploads!

"Until you have lived with all of them in there with you day after day, week after week, year after frikkin year... you are in no position to judge me!" -Debra Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond

Offline TWCToday

  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6151
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Norfolk Weather Station
  • Cable Provider: COX
  • HD Channel #: 724
  • HD WxStar ID #: 029745
  • SD Channel #: 24
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22568
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2009, 04:45:47 PM »
Im confused. The purpose of Charter going Chapter11 was only to reduce the amount of debt they had. They werent trying sell the company or anything.
Quote
St. Louis-based Charter Communications Inc. (Pink OTC: CHTRQ) filed for bankruptcy in March in an effort to cut $8 billion from its $21 billion in debt.


Apollo was talking about investing... not taking over.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/07/27/daily40.html

In fact Charter is already reporting better earnings.
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/08/03/daily59.html?jst=b_ln_hl

I dont think this is the end of Charter yet
« Last Edit: August 19, 2009, 04:49:50 PM by Martin »

Offline texasstooge

  • Nyuk-Nyuk-Nyuk!
  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1201
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cable Provider: Charter
  • HD Channel #: 37
  • HD WxStar ID #: Unknown
  • SD Channel #: 037
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2009, 04:25:27 PM »
I also think that their recent dispute with Belo Corp. (which is now resolved) might've been another factor.



Offline TWCToday

  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6151
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Norfolk Weather Station
  • Cable Provider: COX
  • HD Channel #: 724
  • HD WxStar ID #: 029745
  • SD Channel #: 24
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22568
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2010, 08:21:24 PM »
Looks like Charter is recovering nicely!

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100302-707005.html

Offline wxntrafficfan

  • The official "In front of the scenes" STAR Insider
  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5186
  • Gender: Male
  • I decide what I wear; the weather does not
    • View Profile
    • My youtube channel
  • HD Channel #: 245
  • SD Channel #: 36
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22840
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2010, 08:44:31 PM »
ugh, you have to subscribe. Nonetheless, that is certainly good news! I really was scared for a bit last summer :P
« Last Edit: March 06, 2010, 09:12:53 PM by wxntrafficfan »
TWC in...
Lansing: Comcast, Channel 36, STAR ID 22840
E. Lansing: Comcast, Channel 40, STAR ID 22842
Lansing Area: Broadstripe, Channel 40, STAR ID 25349
Current STAR count: 32. Be sure to see my channel for links to all the uploads!

"Until you have lived with all of them in there with you day after day, week after week, year after frikkin year... you are in no position to judge me!" -Debra Barone, Everybody Loves Raymond

Offline TWCToday

  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6151
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Norfolk Weather Station
  • Cable Provider: COX
  • HD Channel #: 724
  • HD WxStar ID #: 029745
  • SD Channel #: 24
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22568
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2010, 08:48:32 PM »
Odd I was able to see it earlier. Here ya go
Quote
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Charter Communications Inc. (CCMM) posted a $12.72 billion profit in the fourth quarter on gains related to its Nov. 30 emergence from bankruptcy protection. Meanwhile, operating results were stronger amid higher revenue per subscriber at the cable-television provider.

Charter recently lost Chief Executive Neil Smit, who left the company to run the cable operations at industry leader Comcast Corp. (CMCSA). He was replaced on an interim basis by Chief Operating Officer Michael Lovett. Smit had been chief executive of the St. Louis-based cable provider since 2005.

The company filed for bankruptcy to deal with its crush debt load. Charter shed $8 billion through that process, cutting annual interest costs by more than $800 million. It still has $13.5 billion of debt.

Charter swung to a profit of $12.72 billion from a year-earlier loss of $1.5 billion a year earlier. The company said adjusted earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization rose 2.4% to $633 million as revenue jumped 3.3% to $1.71 billion.

Video revenue, which is the company's biggest revenue line, saw revenue decline 0.2%. High-speed Internet revenue rose 8.9%, while telephone revenue jumped 18% and commercial revenue rose 13%.

Average revenue per subscriber rose 8.1% as 57% of customers subscribed to a bundled package, up from 53% a year earlier. On subscriber basis, Internet and phone customers grew while television fell.

Shares closed at $30.30 on Monday and were inactive premarket. The stock has fallen more than 15% since leaving bankruptcy.

-By Nathan Becker, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2855; nathan.becker@dowjones.com

Offline Mike M

  • Weatherscan Contributor
  • Ultimate Member
  • ********
  • Posts: 18957
  • Gender: Male
  • TWC Fan 1999-2008
    • View Profile
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2010, 08:56:04 PM »
Looks like they're doing better, but they still have a long way to go.

Offline Pop Light Brown

  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2595
  • Gender: Male
  • Bonjour!
    • View Profile
  • Cable Provider: DirecTV
  • HD Channel #: 362
  • SD WxStar ID #: n/a
  • WxScan Ch. #: n/a
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2010, 01:30:54 AM »
If you haven't noticed, they've changed their logo just recently.
See also #23622, Ch. 31, Hammond, La.

Offline Mike M

  • Weatherscan Contributor
  • Ultimate Member
  • ********
  • Posts: 18957
  • Gender: Male
  • TWC Fan 1999-2008
    • View Profile
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2010, 06:18:18 AM »
That's a good sign I suppose...


Offline Jonathan

  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 778
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Jonathan Thornton
  • Cable Provider: Dish Network
  • HD Channel #: 214
  • SD Channel #: 214
  • WxStar Version: Satellite
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2010, 09:06:10 PM »
That's a good sign I suppose...




 :sick:

Also, some failing companies think they have an amazing rebrand to save them, but it ends up being a total flop to consumers and the company sinks for good. And I'll leave it at that.

Offline TWCToday

  • Ultimate Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6151
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
    • Norfolk Weather Station
  • Cable Provider: COX
  • HD Channel #: 724
  • HD WxStar ID #: 029745
  • SD Channel #: 24
  • SD WxStar ID #: 22568
  • WxStar Version: IntelliStar
Re: Charter... gone for good?
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2010, 09:47:43 PM »
That's a good sign I suppose...




 :sick:

Also, some failing companies think they have an amazing rebrand to save them, but it ends up being a total flop to consumers and the company sinks for good. And I'll leave it at that.

Such as?