PORT TOWNSEND — The sale of Broadstripe, which provides the only cable television option in Port Townsend, to Wave Cable is expected to be finalized this month.
Wave is buying Broadstripe in conjunction with another cable operator, Wide Open West, with a combined purchase price of $95 million, said Wave spokesperson Jennifer Jeter.
“The sale is not complete yet, but we are just waiting on some final approvals at this point,” Jeter said last week.
“After that, we will take a look at the system and see what it needs to bring it up to the level where we can offer comparable services to our other systems.”
Broadstripe also supplies Internet and digital telephone services to East Jefferson County.
It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2009 but has continued operation until a buyer could be found.
Jeter estimated that about 10,000 East Jefferson County customers currently use Broadstripe as their cable provider.
She said that Wave has historically retained local employees and hopes to do so in Jefferson County.
Once the sale is complete, the full upgrade could take as long as 18 months depending on the condition of the network, Jeter said.
No disruption
Jeter said Broadstripe operations will continue without disruption.
She said that cable customers eventually will see significant improvements in service.
Broadstripe customers don’t need to be concerned about any changes to their services, billing statements or contact phone numbers on the first day of Wave’s ownership, Jeter said.
“If customers are happy with the level of service and what they are paying, we will attempt to keep offering that option,” she said.
While offering the consistent service at the same price, customers will have the option to pay for any of the new service Wave offers.
Some upgrades, Jeter said, may be offered at the same price as the current service.
The company will keep customers informed with ongoing updates, she said, and will communicate details well in advance of any changes.
Jeter said that Wave will invest $15 million in upgrades and plans to launch the full array of Wave’s products, including 50 Mbps High Speed Internet, more than 50 HD channels, TV on demand, multiroom DVRs, and home phone service .
Jeter said it was uncertain whether programming would change but said that most basic cable systems have the same channels — although the channel numbers could change.
The scope of programming is likely to increase.
Broadstripe offers 69 channels on its basic service in Port Townsend while Port Orchard, which is served by Wave, has 99 channels on its basic service schedule.
Wave, the Kirkland-based company that is the cable provider for Port Angeles and Sequim, has bid for Broadstripe’s Oregon and Washington assets.
The Washington and Oregon properties that reach more than 103,000 homes would increase Wave’s total 300,000 customer base by 25 percent.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
