* RR Enterprises aids Massillon’s triple play
Massillon Cable TV of Ohio is shoring up its subscriber management system with a VoIP Telephony module from RR Enterprises Ltd., a Canada-based customer care and billing systems firm.
Under the deal, RR Enterprises has enabled Massillon to interface the subscriber management system with Sprint’s VoIP backend. As a result, Massillon’s customer service reps have a single view of all services (including voice, video or data) available to subscribers.
“It is very important for us to have one subscriber management system that handles all our video, data and voice products,” said Massillon Cable President Bob Gessner, in a statement.
* RCN completes its refinancing
RCN Corp. closed a new $130 million first-line credit facility. The new facility is comprised of two parts: a seven-year $75 million term loan that will be used to refinance both RCN’s existing $34 million first-line and $41 million third-line term loans; and a five-year $55 million revolving credit line that will replace RCN’s existing letter of credit facilities. The new arrangement provides greater operating flexibility, according to the company.
* ADC merges with Andrew
ADC and Andrew Corp. have decided to merge into a global provider of both wireline and wireless infrastructure products with combined sales of approximately $3.3 billion. The proposed deal remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Robert E. Switz, president and CEO of ADC, will retain those positions once the two companies are combined.
The combined portfolio will include broad-based connectivity solutions for copper, coaxial, fiber, radio frequency, broadcast and enterprise networks, combined with broad-based wireless solutions for antennas, cable products, base station subsystems, in-building and distributed coverage, geolocation systems and satellite communications.
* ITVN adds USN’s interactive shopping network
IPTV specialist Interactive Television Networks will add USN Corp.’s Ultimate Shopping Network to its content offerings. USN claims its network is the only home TV shopping network to make its products available to consumers through instantaneous remote control purchase. The interactive feature is dependent on use of ITVN’s remote control, which includes a “Buy It Now” button. USN will be available in July of this year, as part of ITVN’s basic Entertainment Plus bundle.
* Winners of CTAM’s TAMI and Rainmaker Awards
CTAM announced the recipients of the 2006 TAMI and Rainmaker Awards for extraordinary service to the organization. Rainmaker winners were Channing Dawson, Scripps Networks; Stacy Gordon, Comcast; Louise Mooney, JLM Partners; Donna Perkins, Comcast; and Kevin Potente, Cablevision Systems.
The TAMI Award recognizes volunteer service and extraordinary leadership. Recipients of the 2006 TAMI Award are: Artie Bulgrin, ESPN; Steve Goldmintz, AE Feldman; Steve Leblang, FX/Fox Cable Networks; Holly Leff-Pressman, Nielsen Entertainment; and Steve Schiffman, National Geographic Channel.
* Level 3 completes ICG acquisition
Level 3 Communications has completed its acquisition of all of the stock of ICG Communications, a privately-held Colorado-based telecommunications company.
Level 3 paid total consideration of 25.9 million unregistered shares of Level 3 common stock and approximately $45 million in cash. Level 3 did not specify the value of the shares, but its stock was trading at $4.99 at mid-day today; at that price, the value of the stock was about $129 million. ICG primarily provides transport, IP and voice services to wireline and wireless carriers, Internet service providers and enterprise customers.
