Mid-Rivers will purchase four area Bresnan offices

Mid-Rivers Communications has arranged to purchase Bresnan Communications systems in Glendive, Sidney, Miles City and Lewistown, said Mid-Rivers’ General Manager Gerry Anderson on Tuesday afternoon.

By Margaret Brinkley
Ranger-Review Staff Writer

http://www.rangerreview.com/digest/

The two companies have been in negotiations over six months, he said. The sale is expected to be complete by the end of summer because of contractual obligations which still have to be met by both companies. At some point, everything will be merged into Mid-Rivers. “Hopefully, what survives will be the best of both companies,” he added.

As for current employees of Bresnan, there will be a few openings with Mid-Rivers and Bresnan employees are welcome to apply for them, Anderson said.

Bresnan is not selling all their systems in Montana, said spokesperson Maureen Huff. They are not selling their systems in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Missoula, Kalispell or Great Falls.

The situation with Mid-Rivers and Bresnan was a unique one, Huff said. The sale came down to the fact that neither company could be competitive in the small rural broadband market. To stay competitive in the cable business, companies have to constantly reinvest in updating equipment, she said. Bresnan wasn’t able to make enough return on their investment to encourage the company to reinvest. With neither company able to stay competitive, Bresnan ultimately decided to become the seller, Huff said.

There will be no interruption of service for current Bresnan customers and Bresnan Communications, with Mid-Rivers, will keep customers informed well in advance of any impending changes, Huff explained.

“We feel it’s a tremendous opportunity for Mid-Rivers which will strengthen the company immeasurably,” Anderson said of the acquisition.