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Television broadcasting industry

Ameritech Announces Plans to Offer Cable TV Services on South Side of Chicago

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Ameritech, one of the world's largest communications companies, has announced plans to invest more than $50 million to build a modern two-way video network in the South Side of Chicago. The network will give residents a choice in cable TV services, a demand that has been echoed by the Chicago City Council and consumers across the Midwest. Ameritech's plans are expected to create about 200 new installation, repair, and construction technician jobs in the area.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ameritech plans to invest over $50 million in building a modern two-way video network in the South Side of Chicago.
  • The network will create approximately 200 new jobs in the area for installation, repair, and construction technicians.
  • Ameritech's cable plans for Chicago include a package of video programming called americast, which will offer 80 to 90 channels with a wide variety of entertainment and information options.
  • The company expects to expand americast to include hundreds of channels and add interactive video services such as home shopping and games over the next couple of years.
  • Ameritech's video programming will be delivered over a fiber-optic network with unparalleled reliability, separate from its telephone network.
  • The company will offer guaranteed 2-hour appointment windows for service calls and exceed FCC customer service standards.
  • Ameritech's customer care facility will be staffed with personal attendants available 24/7.
  • Ameritech has seven cable TV agreements and is in discussions with over 30 communities in the Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Columbus areas.

Statistics:

  • Ameritech plans to invest over $50 million in building the modern two-way video network.
  • The network is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs in the area.
  • Ameritech has seven cable TV agreements and is in discussions with over 30 communities in the Midwest.
  • Ameritech served nearly 13 million customers in 1995 and had 1,700,000 cellular and 700,000 paging customers.
  • Ameritech owns interests in telephone companies in New Zealand and Hungary and in business directories in Germany and other countries.

Sources:

  • "Ameritech Plans to Offer Cable TV Service on South Side of Chicago" (PRNewswire, Nov. 20, 1995)
  • "Ameritech's Package of Video Programming to be Called 'americast'" (interview with Greg Brown, president of Ameritech New Media Enterprises)
  • "Ameritech's Cable Plans for Chicago" (PRNewswire, Nov. 20, 1995)

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