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BY HARRY BERKOWITZ
STAFF WRITER
April 7, 2005, 10:08 PM EDT
The Cablevision board of directors agreed Thursday night to end chairman Charles Dolan's titanic struggle to rescue the Voom nationwide satellite TV service, a source close to the company said.
The 15-member board, including Dolan, voted unanimously to adopt a timetable to shut the service, whose uncertain fate had torn the board and Dolan's family, including his chief executive son James, who opposed Voom against his father's wishes.
In another major development affecting Cablevision, Adelphia Communications Thursday presented a bankruptcy judge with a handshake deal to accept a $17.6-billion joint bid for the company from Time Warner and Comcast Corp. Cablevision had stepped in with a $16.5-billion counterbid, but apparently to no avail.
Cablevision's stock price jumped 3.7 percent, or 99 cents a share, to $27.84 Thursday, although it was not clear if that was in anticipation of the Voom and Adelphia developments, which Cablevision investors have been hoping for.
Despite speculation that the bid and Voom's fate were somehow intertwined, the source close to the company said they were completely separate.
A Cablevision spokesman, Charles Schuler, declined to comment.
Thursday night's meeting came one week after the board's deadline passed for Dolan to reach a deal that would allow him to take Voom off the company's hands. No such deal was reached, leaving the board little choice but to set a timetable for a shutdown after having agreed on March 7 to extend Voom's life to March 31, the source said.
Charles Dolan, 79, had repeatedly pulled rabbits out of his hat to keep Voom going, despite tremendous pressure to close it. Voom had $661 million in losses last year, and has only attracted 40,000 subscribers, company officials have said.
The original HDTV channels created for Voom will remain a part of the company's Rainbow Media programming unit, which also includes channels such as AMC. They'll also be offered to other cable and satellite TV companies.
Dolan had tried to block Cablevision's $200 million deal to sell Voom's sole satellite to EchoStar Communications by telling the Federal Communications Commission last week the sale would cut competition and hurt consumers. But in its own FCC filing, the company disavowed Dolan's actions, which also included pledging $400 million to buy the satellite and rescue Voom.
The company has refused to say whether Dolan was continuing to help fund Voom temporarily after his pledge of $10 million to help see it through the end of last month ran out.
Dolan has ousted three board members who opposed him on Voom, naming five new directors, and plans to cut another three April 18. Cablevision is also suing to block a Jets stadium for the West Side after having its own bid for a residential complex on the site rejected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
If Cablevision were to beat the Time Warner-Comcast bid, it would likely sell off or swap many of the Adelphia systems, seeking to be left only with strong clusters in big media markets.
Fulcrum Global Partners analyst Richard Greenfield questioned, however, whether bondholders of Adelphia, which is in bankruptcy proceedings, would trust a Cablevision bid, "given the nearly unbelievable gyrations within the Dolan family and ... board of directors."
In a note to investors, Greenfield also questioned the strategy of adding cable systems with less appealing demographics than those in the New York area, which spends heavily on cable and high-speed Internet.
"While we have high regard for Tom Rutledge and his operating team, demos are quite different than those in Buffalo, Coudersport, rural New England, Ohio, etc." he said.
Analysts say Time Warner and Comcast could more easily swap Adelphia systems to create major clusters. In the Los Angeles area, for instance, five cable companies including Adelphia, Time Warner and Comcast, split the cable market of 3.5 million subscribers.
Analysts have speculated Dolan might try to provide that HD programming to Adelphia's more than 5 million subscriberstretching from Los Angeles to Buffalo if it won the bidding.
The Adelphia bid was "a unique opportunity" for Cablevision, which has 3 million subscribers, all in the New York metro area, to expand, a source familiar with the strategy said. The private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts and Providence Equity Partners, which bid $15 billion for Adelphia, had tried to bring Cablevision into their bid.
Without confirming the Adelphia bid, Cablevision chief operating officer Tom Rutledge said last week the company could use its managerial expertise to improve cable systems elsewhere and raise their value.
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzvoom0408,0,6203008,print.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
STAFF WRITER
April 7, 2005, 10:08 PM EDT
The Cablevision board of directors agreed Thursday night to end chairman Charles Dolan's titanic struggle to rescue the Voom nationwide satellite TV service, a source close to the company said.
The 15-member board, including Dolan, voted unanimously to adopt a timetable to shut the service, whose uncertain fate had torn the board and Dolan's family, including his chief executive son James, who opposed Voom against his father's wishes.
In another major development affecting Cablevision, Adelphia Communications Thursday presented a bankruptcy judge with a handshake deal to accept a $17.6-billion joint bid for the company from Time Warner and Comcast Corp. Cablevision had stepped in with a $16.5-billion counterbid, but apparently to no avail.
Cablevision's stock price jumped 3.7 percent, or 99 cents a share, to $27.84 Thursday, although it was not clear if that was in anticipation of the Voom and Adelphia developments, which Cablevision investors have been hoping for.
Despite speculation that the bid and Voom's fate were somehow intertwined, the source close to the company said they were completely separate.
A Cablevision spokesman, Charles Schuler, declined to comment.
Thursday night's meeting came one week after the board's deadline passed for Dolan to reach a deal that would allow him to take Voom off the company's hands. No such deal was reached, leaving the board little choice but to set a timetable for a shutdown after having agreed on March 7 to extend Voom's life to March 31, the source said.
Charles Dolan, 79, had repeatedly pulled rabbits out of his hat to keep Voom going, despite tremendous pressure to close it. Voom had $661 million in losses last year, and has only attracted 40,000 subscribers, company officials have said.
The original HDTV channels created for Voom will remain a part of the company's Rainbow Media programming unit, which also includes channels such as AMC. They'll also be offered to other cable and satellite TV companies.
Dolan had tried to block Cablevision's $200 million deal to sell Voom's sole satellite to EchoStar Communications by telling the Federal Communications Commission last week the sale would cut competition and hurt consumers. But in its own FCC filing, the company disavowed Dolan's actions, which also included pledging $400 million to buy the satellite and rescue Voom.
The company has refused to say whether Dolan was continuing to help fund Voom temporarily after his pledge of $10 million to help see it through the end of last month ran out.
Dolan has ousted three board members who opposed him on Voom, naming five new directors, and plans to cut another three April 18. Cablevision is also suing to block a Jets stadium for the West Side after having its own bid for a residential complex on the site rejected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
If Cablevision were to beat the Time Warner-Comcast bid, it would likely sell off or swap many of the Adelphia systems, seeking to be left only with strong clusters in big media markets.
Fulcrum Global Partners analyst Richard Greenfield questioned, however, whether bondholders of Adelphia, which is in bankruptcy proceedings, would trust a Cablevision bid, "given the nearly unbelievable gyrations within the Dolan family and ... board of directors."
In a note to investors, Greenfield also questioned the strategy of adding cable systems with less appealing demographics than those in the New York area, which spends heavily on cable and high-speed Internet.
"While we have high regard for Tom Rutledge and his operating team, demos are quite different than those in Buffalo, Coudersport, rural New England, Ohio, etc." he said.
Analysts say Time Warner and Comcast could more easily swap Adelphia systems to create major clusters. In the Los Angeles area, for instance, five cable companies including Adelphia, Time Warner and Comcast, split the cable market of 3.5 million subscribers.
Analysts have speculated Dolan might try to provide that HD programming to Adelphia's more than 5 million subscriberstretching from Los Angeles to Buffalo if it won the bidding.
The Adelphia bid was "a unique opportunity" for Cablevision, which has 3 million subscribers, all in the New York metro area, to expand, a source familiar with the strategy said. The private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts and Providence Equity Partners, which bid $15 billion for Adelphia, had tried to bring Cablevision into their bid.
Without confirming the Adelphia bid, Cablevision chief operating officer Tom Rutledge said last week the company could use its managerial expertise to improve cable systems elsewhere and raise their value.
Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzvoom0408,0,6203008,print.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
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29698 views
G
I think what he meant was that the content providers would require your TV to be able to serve as a "trusted component" to be able to receive the full HD resolution, which means DVI or HDMI only, and not component. But, as I said, at some point it will be simply a matter of a software hack to be able to keep your current HD set (they aren't cheap, you know
optimusprime said:
I think what he meant was that the content providers would require your TV to be able to serve as a "trusted component" to be able to receive the full HD resolution, which means DVI or HDMI only, and not component. But, as I said, at some point it will be simply a matter of a software hack to be able to keep your current HD set (they aren't cheap, you know
O
Thank you for clarifying...
Quite the good point. I do understand that the analog inputs are tougher for Hollywood and the MPAA to control, but they are already widely available and capable, is my point. Heck, one of my voom boxes is strapped up via component!
GreatMac said:I think what he meant was that the content providers would require your TV to be able to serve as a "trusted component" to be able to receive the full HD resolution, which means DVI or HDMI only, and not component. But, as I said, at some point it will be simply a matter of a software hack to be able to keep your current HD set (they aren't cheap, you know
Quite the good point. I do understand that the analog inputs are tougher for Hollywood and the MPAA to control, but they are already widely available and capable, is my point. Heck, one of my voom boxes is strapped up via component!
just great. Now I'm going to have to go outside... 
But not until May!
But not until May!
O
Hey now...
You're damn skippy I've dragged a tv into my backyard before... And scaled the powerline pole just to hack a few local channels! Ah, to be that stupid again...
Andrew B said:just great. Now I'm going to have to go outside...
But not until May!
You're damn skippy I've dragged a tv into my backyard before... And scaled the powerline pole just to hack a few local channels! Ah, to be that stupid again...
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
138 Replies
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1314 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
I created this thread on the original Edgecutter Cutting Edge Forums site. It's simply a place for those to review the latest software available for those using Windows 10 and Windows 11. To date it has received 112,559 views. I have been asked by staff to continue this thread here.
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47135 views
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.
For niche use cases, yes I agree. Kali for ethical hacking and security testing, and running a Cacti server for network monitoring are the two things I have experience in. Plus thousands and thousands of other things, but for every day use I just can't see it. The owner of the GMRS repeater that I pay to access is changing the Tx DPL tones tomorrow, while Chirp is available on Linux, the software to program my MXT500 is not.To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.
I run Fedora and Ubuntu in VMWare, honestly I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows. The cartoonish dock at the bottom of the screen reminds me of Apple products.
As I said above, and, FWIW, I run Win11 Pro and Arch on separate 250 GB NVME drives, using F8 to select which I boot to, with a 1TB SSD for storage, accessible to both OSs and a third formatted Nvme I want to use to learn Kali. It was much faster to setup Arch than it was to strip down Windows. Windows still takes much longer to boot.
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Hard getting used to the new younger Gibbs, Mark Harmons son had the right look but I understand he didn't want the role.
Still I'm enjoying, pretty good job with Franks.
Still I'm enjoying, pretty good job with Franks.
66 Replies
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4200 views
Pub Member / Supporter
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2 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68494 Replies
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2670315 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Wasn't exactly sure where to post this. Just had a customer come in inquiring about internet. He has HughesNet and had heard good things about mine. He asked if we provided email addresses and it kinda caught me off guard. I said he should be able to keep whatever email he had been using....my sister in law is still using a BellSouth email addy and they haven't been around here for many years. He said he had gotten a letter from HughesNet stating that they had until Nov 16th to save, move, forward, whatever, their Hughesnet emails because they would lose them after that date.
I have never heard of a company simply mass-deleting email accounts (the customer still has his HughesNet service). From what I understand, in the past, the company who was ditching their email service simply sold the customer base to a company like Google.
Anyone else getting this letter. He said he would show it to me tomorrow when I go out there and set up his internet.
I have never heard of a company simply mass-deleting email accounts (the customer still has his HughesNet service). From what I understand, in the past, the company who was ditching their email service simply sold the customer base to a company like Google.
Anyone else getting this letter. He said he would show it to me tomorrow when I go out there and set up his internet.
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112 views
Still the same number of years, just more Sunsets…Wouldn't we then die of old age sooner?
Lifetime Supporter
Starting a thread klang !
After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.
After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.
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927 views
One episode into season 4 that dropped today...
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
This thread is a place to discuss the 4K events that appear on channel 540. We are getting, at this point, one college football game a week. Let's hope there is more coming.
1930 Replies
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298816 views
Hmmm, I'm not seeing anything like those events in our Hopper 3 guide for tonight or Saturday.
I went into the Tools menu and requested a Guide Update. I'll try looking at it after the update completes.
edit — I now have the 148-01 4KFox events for Saturday, but not anything for 148-02 or 148-03 which don't even show as available channels. I do have 148-04 4KUSA.
As I recall you have the Flex package. Do you sub to multisport? -02 is FS1 and -03 is ESPN. -01 is Fox so you would get that if you sub to locals.Hmmm, I'm not seeing anything like those events in our Hopper 3 guide for tonight or Saturday.
I went into the Tools menu and requested a Guide Update. I'll try looking at it after the update completes.
edit — I now have the 148-01 4KFox events for Saturday, but not anything for 148-02 or 148-03 which don't even show as available channels. I do have 148-04 4KUSA.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5R5Aw27yr0
Direct YouTube Link - A State Cyber-emergency in Japan
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5R5Aw27yr0
Direct YouTube Link - A State Cyber-emergency in Japan
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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6 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEmNun8Ms4s
Direct YouTube Link - AI and Mathematicians
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEmNun8Ms4s
Direct YouTube Link - AI and Mathematicians
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
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3 views