Jones Intercable Inc

Comcast Corp., the No. 3 U.S. cable-TV company, on Wednesday expanded its offer for Jones Intercable Inc. and agreed to buy all of the 61% that it doesn't already own for $3.2 billion in stock. Comcast would exchange 1.4 shares of its Special Class A stock for each Jones common and Class A share, or about $73.06 each. That's 15% more than Tuesday's closing price of Jones common stock and 9.2% more than its Class A shares. It also would assume about $1.6 billion in Jones debt.

Comcast Corp., the No. 3 U.S. cable-TV company, on Wednesday expanded its offer for Jones Intercable Inc. and agreed to buy all of the 61% that it doesn't already own for $3.2 billion in stock. Comcast would exchange 1.4 shares of its Special Class A stock for each Jones common and Class A share, or about $73.06 each. That's 15% more than Tuesday's closing price of Jones common stock and 9.2% more than its Class A shares. It also would assume about $1.6 billion in Jones debt.

A group including Sony Corp., Liberty Media Group and investor Leon Black completed its $539-million purchase of Telemundo Group, the No. 2 Spanish-language broadcaster in the U.S., giving it access to one of the fastest-growing television markets. The transaction was approved late last month by the Federal Communications Commission. The larger rival of Hialeah, Fla.-based Telemundo, Univision Communications Inc., had asked the FCC to block the purchase. Shareholders, who received $44.

Comcast Corp., the No. 3 U.S. cable television company, said it will double its stake in Jones Intercable Inc. for about $840 million in stock, taking advantage of the recent decline in Jones' share price as it bolsters its presence in the mid-Atlantic region. In April, Comcast bought 39% of Englewood, Colo.-based Jones, which has about 1 million subscribers in 17 states. It will swap 1.4 shares of its Class A common stock for each Jones Class A and common share, or $50.31 each.

Antelope Valley residents who purchase cable television through Jones Intercable Inc., the area's only provider, are getting a 9% rate increase this month that will raise their basic monthly fee from $19.25 to $21. The company said the hike is due to normal business expenses, higher programming fees and a long-term project to upgrade its cable system, permitting the recent addition of channels such as the Consumer News & Business Channel and Black Entertainment Network.

Palmdale city officials have renewed the franchise of the city's current cable television provider for 15 years, despite protests from two major developers that the decision bars them from the potentially lucrative business. The decision by the Palmdale City Council, by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night with no discussion, was a victory for Colorado-based Jones Intercable Inc., the city's current provider. Jones bought the city's cable system from Tribune Cablevision Co. in 1986.

Comcast Corp., the No. 3 U.S. cable television company, said it will double its stake in Jones Intercable Inc. for about $840 million in stock, taking advantage of the recent decline in Jones' share price as it bolsters its presence in the mid-Atlantic region. In April, Comcast bought 39% of Englewood, Colo.-based Jones, which has about 1 million subscribers in 17 states. It will swap 1.4 shares of its Class A common stock for each Jones Class A and common share, or $50.31 each.

In a sign of the continuing consolidation of the cable industry, Comcast Corp. said Monday that it has struck a complicated, multilayered deal that by 2001 would give it control of a smaller rival, Jones Intercable Inc.

A high-stakes dispute over cable television service in Palmdale is drawing the city closer to a potentially costly legal battle that could jeopardize promised service improvements for thousands of local residents. At issue is who will provide cable service for two proposed housing projects totaling 12,400 homes--the city's current cable provider or two influential developers hoping to build the projects. It's a deal worth up to $25 million.

A group including Sony Corp., Liberty Media Group and investor Leon Black completed its $539-million purchase of Telemundo Group, the No. 2 Spanish-language broadcaster in the U.S., giving it access to one of the fastest-growing television markets. The transaction was approved late last month by the Federal Communications Commission. The larger rival of Hialeah, Fla.-based Telemundo, Univision Communications Inc., had asked the FCC to block the purchase. Shareholders, who received $44.

In a sign of the continuing consolidation of the cable industry, Comcast Corp. said Monday that it has struck a complicated, multilayered deal that by 2001 would give it control of a smaller rival, Jones Intercable Inc.

Fox Sports West 2 has made a major breakthrough with Southern California cable operators, announcing Tuesday the completion of deals with three companies. Tony Ball, president and chief operating officer of the Fox-Liberty networks, Fox Sports West's parent company, said the new deals are with TCI Cablevision, Charter Communications and Jones Intercable. The companies represent more than 650,000 cable households. The deals bring the number of subscribers to Fox Sports West 2 to 1.1 million.

When Antelope Valley residents received a flyer in the mail recently for a national service that sends up-to-the-minute news, financial and sports data direct to their home or office computers via cable TV lines, two conclusions would have been natural. First, that the service, known as Ingenius, must be the latest breakthrough on the information superhighway, as the cable industry tries to move beyond carrying just pictures.

Jones Intercable announced Wednesday that it will begin offering an option of fewer television channels for a lower price in the Antelope Valley next month. Beginning April 1, Jones will offer all over-the-air stations, education and governmental access and other channels in a new "Limited Basic" service package on channels 2 through 22 for $13.91 per month.

Antelope Valley residents who purchase cable television through Jones Intercable Inc., the area's only provider, are getting a 9% rate increase this month that will raise their basic monthly fee from $19.25 to $21. The company said the hike is due to normal business expenses, higher programming fees and a long-term project to upgrade its cable system, permitting the recent addition of channels such as the Consumer News & Business Channel and Black Entertainment Network.

Fox Sports West 2 has made a major breakthrough with Southern California cable operators, announcing Tuesday the completion of deals with three companies. Tony Ball, president and chief operating officer of the Fox-Liberty networks, Fox Sports West's parent company, said the new deals are with TCI Cablevision, Charter Communications and Jones Intercable. The companies represent more than 650,000 cable households. The deals bring the number of subscribers to Fox Sports West 2 to 1.1 million.

When Antelope Valley residents received a flyer in the mail recently for a national service that sends up-to-the-minute news, financial and sports data direct to their home or office computers via cable TV lines, two conclusions would have been natural. First, that the service, known as Ingenius, must be the latest breakthrough on the information superhighway, as the cable industry tries to move beyond carrying just pictures.

Palmdale city officials have renewed the franchise of the city's current cable television provider for 15 years, despite protests from two major developers that the decision bars them from the potentially lucrative business. The decision by the Palmdale City Council, by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night with no discussion, was a victory for Colorado-based Jones Intercable Inc., the city's current provider. Jones bought the city's cable system from Tribune Cablevision Co. in 1986.

A high-stakes dispute over cable television service in Palmdale is drawing the city closer to a potentially costly legal battle that could jeopardize promised service improvements for thousands of local residents. At issue is who will provide cable service for two proposed housing projects totaling 12,400 homes--the city's current cable provider or two influential developers hoping to build the projects. It's a deal worth up to $25 million.