Major Hudson Valley Cable Provider is Changing Hands

Got $17.7 billion dollars? If you do, you just missed out on buying Cablevision.

European telecommunications conglomerate Altice just closed on the major cable network provider for just under $18 billion. The other businesses of Cablevision, such as Madison Square Garden, the Knicks, the Rangers and several television networks were not included in the deal.

Altice is combining Cablevision and a previously purchased network named Suddenlink, which operates in 16 states in the south and southwest. Technically speaking, the name "Cablevision" doesn't even exist anymore. All their cable television operations will be under the name of "Altice USA".

From the Variety article linked above: "With the transaction closing, Altice has vowed to invest more in improving the infrastructure of the Cablevision and Suddenlink networks with a focus on boosting broadband speeds, improving WiFi service and updating the programming guide and interface to more user-friendly designs."

As a Cablevision subscriber, I've always found their tiered broadband speeds and the drag my internet goes through every afternoon ridiculous. I really hope that network speeds upgrade quickly, and maybe stop asking me to pay for ESPN. I really don't watch it anymore. I'd rather pay less than worry about what my programming guide looks like.