[May 24, 2004] Atlantic Broadband Launches Cable and Internet Service; New High Speed Internet and Video Packages Introduced in South Florida NORTH BAY VILLAGE, Fla. --(Business Wire)-- May 24, 2004 -- Atlantic Broadband formally launches service today in eleven local communities, including Miami Beach, marking the final step in its acquisition of cable television systems serving more than 85,000 residential, bulk and commercial customers in South Florida. Atlantic completed its acquisition of several systems formerly operated by Charter Communications on March 1 of this year. Kevin Maguire, Vice President and General Manager, noted, "Our facilities, vehicles and customer communications will carry our new logo. Most important, however, is our mission: to deliver products and services that simplify and enrich the lives of our customers". Maguire said that Atlantic has initiated a number of changes intended to simplify packaging, enhance value and enable customers to create customized packages that meet their needs and their budgets. Maguire announced several specific initiatives, including the introduction of Atlantic Broadband High Speed Internet Services, with three product levels created to meet the needs and budgets of a variety of users. Atlantic now offers the fastest internet connection available to the home. For customers seeking a faster and affordable alternative to dialup, the Starter package is also available for as little as $21.95 a month. He noted that discounts on modem service will now be offered to all video customers, not just those who buy the higher priced digital packages, and that Atlantic Broadband Internet Service is available to all residents, not only those who are subscribers to Atlantic's video services. New customers can access a streamlined digital tier, which will be priced at $16.95 per month, including the converter and a premium channel. The Digital Sports and Movie Tiers will no longer be available to new customers, but current subscribers will continue to receive these packages at existing prices. Over the coming months, Maguire commented, Atlantic expects to further enhance the digital tier with additional programming. Premium movie packages are being simplified to enable customer choice and discounts at lower levels of service, Maguire said. Atlantic is also expanding its Hispanic programming, Maguire said. As of July 12, it will add 14 channels to our existing Digital Latino Tier, providing 22 total channels of digital Spanish language programming, for $17.45 per month for subscribers with Limited or Value Service (including one digital receiver). For Digital Service subscribers, the price will be $10 per month. Atlantic Broadband will also launch TV Globo, an all-Portuguese twenty-four network that offers news, drama, comedy, sports and family programming. TV Globo will be priced at $19.99 per month and will be located on channel 398. All Atlantic subscribers with a digital converter will be able to enjoy this much-desired service beginning next month. Customer service initiatives include online bill payment, which offers the ability for both one-time and recurring bill payments using EFT, credit or debit card. In addition, this feature allows customers to view past statements and monitor the status of their payment. Current online bill payment customers need only need to set up a new password, Maguire noted. Atlantic Broadband is among the nation's top twenty cable operators, with approximately 250,000 subscribers in six states. It principles are cable veterans David Keefe and Edward T. Holleran, Jr, and ABRY Partners, a leading private equity firm specializing in telecommunications companies. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]