Bright House Networks Announces the Close of the Bakersfield SuddenLink Cable System Acquisition

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- July 2, 2007 – Bright House Networks today announced the close of the acquisition of the cable television system operated in Bakersfield, California by Suddenlink.  The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.   

The acquisition of the Suddenlink system will add approximately 17,000 basic cable customers to Bright House Networks’ existing base of approximately 93,000 customers.  All of the Suddenlink customers impacted by this transaction are in the Bakersfield, California area.

Joe Schoenstein, President of Bright House Networks Bakersfield Division, said, “We are excited to begin the process of transitioning customers to the Bright House Networks platform.” 

Suddenlink customers can expect to see extensive communication from Bright House Networks including full-page ads in The Bakersfield Californian, television and radio commercials and a detailed infomercial on channel 22.  Customers can also visit the web at www.mybrighthouse.comfor ongoing information. 

Schoenstein states, “Our plan is to systematically introduce our services to Suddenlink customers in the upcoming months.  There is significant preliminary technical work that needs to be done to ensure we are able to successfully deliver new services like Video on Demand and Digital Phone.” He adds, “We anticipate beginning the process of transitioning customers by late summer.  Customers can expect ongoing communication as we systematically bring them into the fold of the Bright House Networks family.”

He continues, “We will work diligently to provide the best customer service through this process with the ultimate goal of exceeding customer expectations.”
 
The Bright House Networks system has operated in the Bakersfield area for over 30 years. Over 300 Kern County residents are employed by Bright House Networks.  Bright House Networks’ operations are local, including its call center, engineering and administration.

About Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is the nation’s 6th largest MSO with 2.4 million customers in several large markets including  Bakersfield, California; Birmingham, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Orlando, Florida (Central Florida Division) and Tampa Bay, Florida along with several other smaller systems in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  The high-growth Tampa/Central Florida markets are contiguous and form one of the country’s largest cable clusters.

Bright House Networks customers have Digital Phone, high-speed data (HSD), Video-on-Demand (VOD), Subscription Video-on-Demand (SVOD) and the immensely popular, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) available to them.  The company’s Florida operations currently deliver nearly 300 channels to customers and were among the first in the country to offer High Definition Television signals (HDTV).  Since its introduction, HDTV has achieved impressive acceptance with Bright House Networks customers who are equipped to receive the signals.

Exceptional customer service is the company’s cornerstone of its business and top priority across all operating units.  Bright House Networks local, customer service centers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, including holidays.  Public affairs, social responsibility and community involvement continue as major initiatives for the company as an ongoing commitment to the families and communities Bright House Networks serves.  This includes long-term commitments to education and to what matters in the lives of Bright House Networks communities. 

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