Should Cablevision be able to jump in on the bidding for Adelphia Communications, the financially troubled cableco? That seems to be an important question of the day, according to a Denver Business Journal story.
Cable television providers are already existing in semi-monopolies (or actual ones in their own little markets), and the expansion of the market reach of one by purchase of a distressed system may not be what the doctor ordered. As these network operators begin to provide more and more programming and have channel ownership in markets where other operators own a “slice” of, problems can and will occur. If they can’t get along within one market, is there a reason that a cableco should be seen as the right suitor for another, other than having the funds and knowhow to run the company?
