Americast

Americast
Founded 1996
Defunct 2001
Headquarters Los Angeles, USA
Key people
 Stephen Weiswasser[1]
Owner SBC
BellSouth Corp.
Ameritech Corp.
GTE Corp.
SNET
Disney Televenture

Americast was a cable alternative broadcast Joint venture of five telephone companies: SBC, BellSouth Corporation, Ameritech Corporation, GTE Corporation and SNET. The Walt Disney Company's Disney Televenture subsidiary was a programming partner.[2][1] 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.[2] 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.[2]

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 WideOpenWest, LLC.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 BATES, JAMES (April 2, 1996). "Wedding Bells : THE BIZ : Joined Firms May Push to Marry Video Ventures Too". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Dempsey, John (July 27, 1997). "Americast slimming". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Hofmeister, Sallie (August 23, 1996). "Americast Places $1-Billion Order for Set-Top Boxes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  4. ↑ Landler, Mark (June 19, 1996). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS;Partner Joins Disney-Backed Phone Group In TV Venture". New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ Jones, Tim (September 1, 2000). "Americast Future Is Far From Clear". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ Alexander, Delroy (May 25, 2001). "Ameritech sells cable unit to Colorado firm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
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