Cablevision shares up on Voom sale to founder
Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:13 AM ET
NEW YORK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Shares of Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) jumped as much as 5 percent on Friday on news its founder is purchasing the rest of a failed satellite venture, elminating any further liabilities on the parent company.
Cablevision late on Thursday said its founder, Charles Dolan, has signed a letter of intent to purchase its Rainbow DBS business, which operated the money-draining Voom satellite television service.
Since its launch in 2003, the No. 3 U.S. satellite service, has weathered a torrent of Wall Street criticism, with long time observers wondering if Dolan, the highly respected creator of pay channel HBO, had lost his edge.
The sale has also led some analysts and longtime media industry veterans to believe that Cableivision may also be put on the block.
It "Clearly shows Chuck Dolan's obsession with Voom and his complete lack of interest in the core cable business, which could indicate a willingness to sell the cable assets," said said Richard Greenfield, an analyst at Fulcrum Global Partners, in a note to clients.
Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) which owns cable systems in nearby Northeast regions and is in the middle of an estimated $17 billion bid for Adelphia Communications Corp.(ADELQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) , would be the obvious potential bidder.
Cablevision declined to comment on market rumors.
In January, the Bethpage, New York cable operator sold its Rainbow 1 satellite and rights to 11 Direct Broadcast Satellite frequencies to EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH.O: Quote, Profile, Research) for $200 million.
Dolan and his son Tom have formed a new company, Voom HD LLC, and will purchase the remaining assets including 21 high definition channels, about 26,000 subscribers, various Ka-Band and multichannel video distribution and data services licenses, and a lease on a satellite.
"Yet another money pit has been removed," Greenfield said.
Cablevision shares were up 68 cents at $27.27 in morning trade on the New York Stock Exchange after earlier hitting a high of $28.05.