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Americast

Americast (stylized americast) was a cable alternative broadcast joint venture of five telephone companies: SBC, BellSouth Corporation, Ameritech Corporation, GTE Corporation (later part of Verizon by 2000) and SNET. The Walt Disney Company's Disney Televenture subsidiary was a programming partner.[1][2] No standard delivery technologies was chosen for Americast with cable, direct-broadcast satellite and microwave as options for partner companies to use.[3]

History

Americast was founded in early 1996 by SBC, BellSouth, Ameritech and GTE.[1] Southern New England Telecommunications later joined Americast in June 1996.[4]

In August 1996, Americast made an order with Zenith Electronics for $1 billion worth of digital set-top boxes.[3] In July 1997, the company eliminated its programming and marketing departments outsourcing to Disney Televenture. By this time, Ameritech had built Americast systems in 29 locations.[1]

By 2000, the Americast system was considered to be too costly to run. Ameritech owner, SBC, put Ameritech's Americast unit up for sale in early 2000. SNET was expected to discontinue the Americast service in Connecticut in 2001.[5] In May 2001, Ameritech's Americast unit was sold to Wide Open West, LLC.[6] Right before Americast was discontinued, it was available in the following areas, among others: Cerritos, CA (a suburb of Los Angeles), Ventura County, CA, Hartford, New Haven, Chicago, Columbus, suburban Cleveland, suburban Detroit, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Honolulu (Oahu), New Orleans, Orlando, Miami, Vestavia Hills, AL (a suburb of Birmingham), and the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. Verizon (formerly GTE) sold their cable systems to Knology in 2003.[7]

See also

References

  1. John Dempsey. Americast slimming Variety, Cahners Business Information, July 27, 1997, retrieved March 11, 2013^
  2. JAMES BATES. Wedding Bells : THE BIZ : Joined Firms May Push to Marry Video Ventures Too Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Company, April 2, 1996, retrieved March 11, 2013^
  3. Sallie Hofmeister. Americast Places $1-Billion Order for Set-Top Boxes Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Company, August 23, 1996, retrieved March 11, 2013^
  4. Mark Landler. THE MEDIA BUSINESS;Partner Joins Disney-Backed Phone Group In TV Venture The New York Times, The New York Times Company, June 19, 1996, retrieved March 12, 2013^
  5. Tim Jones. Americast Future Is Far From Clear Chicago Tribune, Tribune Publishing, September 1, 2000, retrieved March 11, 2013^
  6. Delroy Alexander. Ameritech sells cable unit to Colorado firm Chicago Tribune, Tribune Publishing, May 25, 2001, retrieved March 11, 2013^
  7. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/07/19/verizon-finds-cable-buyer/^