Re: SusCom-NESN reach agreement

["Sean Smyth" <ssmyth@suscom.net>]

Dan writes:
> The Portland Press Herald reports today that SusCom
> has reached an agreement with NESN to continue to
> provide the sports channel to Suscom's cable
> subscribers in the Bath-Brunswick, Maine area through
> 2007.  Earlier this year, SusCom had threatened to
> drop NESN because of what SusCom called an
> "exorbitant" programming fee.  SusCom surveyed its
> 20,000 subscribers and found widespread support for
> retaining NESN.  SusCom had told subscribers that
> retaining NESN would result in a 9 percent rate
> increase, while rates would increase by 3 percent if
> the channel was dropped.  SusCom now says that the new
> agreement with NESN will mean a rate increase of less
> than 9 percent.
>
> SusCom is still negotiating with WCSH to continue to
> carry the NBC affiliate.  Both sides told newspapers
> last week that they expected an agreement to be
> reached before the December 31st deadline.

I'm shocked. Seeing SusCom's rep in my neck of the woods, they seem like a
company that prefers to run things on the cheap. I'm surprised they didn't
cash out on the cable systems when the market peaked and put the money into
their broadcast properties.