Jan 2005
Comcast absorbing Flight Systems, only other cable TV service in Baltimore
Sat., Jan. 01, 2005 Filed in: public access
news
Deal revealed on Board of Estimates agenda,
December 22, 2004
In yet another example of media consolidation, Comcast is absorbing Flight Systems, the only other cable TV company serving Baltimore City residents. Flight Systems (www.fscv.net) serves an area around the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore Grassroots Media had referred to Flight System's cable franchise contract with Baltimore City as an example of a city negotiating for more than the 5% franchise fee for public, educational and government (PEG) access opperational expenses. Under the contract Flight Systems was required to pay an additional 2% of their revenues for PEG. BGM provided this as evidence against the city law department's claim that it was not possible to do this with the recently negotiated Comcast contract.
From Board of Estimates' Agenda - December 22, 2004 (page 5):
"Mayor's Office of Cable and Communication - Consent Agreement
ACTION REQUESTED OF B/E:
The Board is requested to approve and authorize execution of a
consent and agreement for the transfer of ownership of the
Flight Systems Inc. d/b/a Flight Systems Cablevision (Flight)
cable franchise to Comcast of Baltimore, L.P. (Comcast).
AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SOURCE:
N/A
BACKGROUND/EXPLANATION:
Flight no longer desires to operate its franchise and has
enterered into an asset purchase agreement with Comcast pursuant
to which Comcast will acquire Flight's franchise (subject to the
Board's approval). Comcast will also assume all of Flight's
liabilities under its franchise, irrespective of when such
libilities might have arisen.
Comcast will operate the franchise as part of its own franchise,
which was recently renewed and which covers the area currently
served by Flight.
The agreement has been reviewed pursuant to FCC regulations and
the provisions of the City Cable Franchise, which require
Comcast and Flight to submit financial and legal documentation
to the City to assure that the transferee (Comcast) is capable
of meeting its requirements under the City Franchise granted to
Flight Systems.
(The consent and agreement has been approved by the Law
Department as to form and legal sufficiency.)"
In yet another example of media consolidation, Comcast is absorbing Flight Systems, the only other cable TV company serving Baltimore City residents. Flight Systems (www.fscv.net) serves an area around the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore Grassroots Media had referred to Flight System's cable franchise contract with Baltimore City as an example of a city negotiating for more than the 5% franchise fee for public, educational and government (PEG) access opperational expenses. Under the contract Flight Systems was required to pay an additional 2% of their revenues for PEG. BGM provided this as evidence against the city law department's claim that it was not possible to do this with the recently negotiated Comcast contract.
From Board of Estimates' Agenda - December 22, 2004 (page 5):
"Mayor's Office of Cable and Communication - Consent Agreement
ACTION REQUESTED OF B/E:
The Board is requested to approve and authorize execution of a
consent and agreement for the transfer of ownership of the
Flight Systems Inc. d/b/a Flight Systems Cablevision (Flight)
cable franchise to Comcast of Baltimore, L.P. (Comcast).
AMOUNT OF MONEY AND SOURCE:
N/A
BACKGROUND/EXPLANATION:
Flight no longer desires to operate its franchise and has
enterered into an asset purchase agreement with Comcast pursuant
to which Comcast will acquire Flight's franchise (subject to the
Board's approval). Comcast will also assume all of Flight's
liabilities under its franchise, irrespective of when such
libilities might have arisen.
Comcast will operate the franchise as part of its own franchise,
which was recently renewed and which covers the area currently
served by Flight.
The agreement has been reviewed pursuant to FCC regulations and
the provisions of the City Cable Franchise, which require
Comcast and Flight to submit financial and legal documentation
to the City to assure that the transferee (Comcast) is capable
of meeting its requirements under the City Franchise granted to
Flight Systems.
(The consent and agreement has been approved by the Law
Department as to form and legal sufficiency.)"