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Suggest pagesWOW!
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Englewood, Colorado, USA |
| Key people | Colleen Abdoulah, Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of the Board |
| Products | Cable TV, Broadband Internet, Phone |
| Revenue | Unknown |
| Net income | Unknown |
| Employees | Unknown |
| Website | www.wowway.com |
WOW! (formerly WideOpenWest), is the 15th largest cable provider in the United States.[1] It has been given accolades by Consumer Reports as the top Television and internet provider in its 2009 telecom survey.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave way for more competition to enter the cable TV market. Encouraged by this law a number of investors, led by local telephone companies, established competitive broadcast cable services in markets across the country. These entities became known in the industry as 'cable overbuilders,' meaning they would build new cable infrastructure into areas where there were existing cable systems.[2]
WOW! was founded in November 1999 in Denver, Colorado. After completing a network build in April 2001, WOW! initially served about 200 people in the Denver area. In November 2001, Americast, an overbuild system in the Midwest built and operated by Ameritech New Media, Inc., was purchased by WOW! for an undisclosed amount per subscriber, estimated to have been at a cost of $1,000 per sub.[3] This purchase opened WOW! to over 310,000 new customers in metropolitan areas surrounding the cities of Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Denver, and Evansville.[4] WOW! no longer currently serves the Denver market.
WOW! is privately owned with Avista Capital Partners having a majority stake.[5]
[edit] Services
WOW! currently offers three services; Internet, Digital Cable Television, and Phone services.
[edit] High Speed Internet Service
WOW! currently offers Four High Speed Internet speeds. (Updated as of October 18, 2011)
- 2/1, 2Mb download with 1Mb upload
- 15/1, 15Mb download with 1Mb upload
- 30/3, 30Mb download and 3Mb upload
- 50/5, 50Mb download with 5Mb upload
(30/3 and 50/5 require a Docsis 3.0 modem)
WOW! also offers a home networking Wi-Fi service.
[edit] Cable Television Service
In most WOW! markets their Cable Television service offers about 336 channels. WOW! currently offers a limited amount of analog channels (16 channels), with all of the rest of their stations broadcast in either standard digital (SD) or high definition (HD or Hi-Def). WOW!'s options for set top boxes (a.k.a. STB or cable box) are in order:
- The digital terminal adapter also known as a DTA, needed to receive full basic cable (DTA's are only needed with TV's that do not have a digital QAM tuner)
- The standard digital box, which allows for access to premium stations and video on demand services, as well as full basic cable, Caller ID on TV (but no Hi-Def stations)
- The high def definition box offers all the aforementioned services as well as high definition stations
- The standard digital DVR (digital video recorder) which offers all the aforementioned services but no high definition
- The high definition DVR, which offers all the aforementioned services as well as access to high definition stations
WOW! also offers cable cards for TVs that are cable card ready and for TiVo services.
[edit] Phone Service
WOW! currently offers three different phone bundles. Advanced Phone, Essential Phone, and Standard Phone.
Advanced Phone: Unlimited local, local toll and nationwide calling to anyone in the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Voicemail
- Caller ID
- Call Waiting
- Call Forwarding (*72)
- Call Return (*69)
- 3-Way Calling
- Caller ID for Call Waiting
- Anonymous Call Rejection
- Repeat Dial
- Selective Call Rejection
- Selective Call Forwarding
- Caller ID block
- Caller ID unblock
Essential Phone:
- Unlimited local and local toll calling
- Caller ID
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID for Call Waiting
- Call Forwarding (*72)
- Call Return (*69)
- 3-Way Calling
- Anonymous Call Rejection
- Repeat Dial
- Selective Call Rejection
- Selective Call Forwarding
- Caller ID block
- Caller ID unblock
- $.05 Per minute domestic long distance plan
WOW! Standard Phone:
100 minutes of outbound local, local toll and domestic long distance calling (including Canada)
- Unlimited incoming calls
- Unlimited calls to any toll-free number, 911 or to check your WOW! Voicemail
- $.05 per minute for outbound calls in excess of 100 minute plan
[edit] Awards
WOW! has been recognized locally and within its industry for outstanding customer satisfaction, positive employment practices leading to satisfied employees and supporting the advancement of women.
[edit] 2011
- WOW! awarded the Business of Integrity Award by the Evansville Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- WOW! Named ‘Best Place to Work Finalist' in Northeast Ohio
- WOW!'s Colleen Abdoulah Elected Vice Chairwoman of the American Cable Association
- WOW! is Rated #1 in Consumer Reports Among Internet and Television Service Providers
- WOW! Named ‘Best Place to Work' in Indiana[6]
- WOW! Recognized as a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion. One of only 40 companies to receive this distinction in the U.S.[7]
[edit] 2010
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[8]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[9]
- ConsumerSearch.org Best Regional Cable Broadband ISP[10]
- Consumer Reports Highest Ranked Internet, Phone and Television Service – February 2010
- Illinois Best Places to Work[11]
- CableFax Magazine Independent Customer Service Award[12]
[edit] 2009
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential High Speed Internet Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[13]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[14]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[15]
- WOW! Evansville, IN office receives Mayor's Award for its significant support and contribution to Easter Seals.[16]
- The 2009 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces[17]
[edit] 2008
- Women in Cable Telecommunications: recognized WOW! as one of the top five employers in the cable and telecommunications industry that provides exceptional support towards the advancement of women in the workplace.[18]
- Named Independent Operator of the Year by Cable Fax Magazine.[19]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[20]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential High Speed Internet Customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[21]
- Named to Metro Detroit's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by Michigan Business and Professional Association.[22]
[edit] 2007
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Cable/Satellite Television Study.[23]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Telephone customer Satisfaction Study for the North Central Region.[24]
- Crain's Cool Places to Work in Southeast Michigan.[25]
- Recognized by the Economic Development Corporation in Colorado Springs, CO for creating quality jobs for a quality community[citation needed]
- Named to Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association of Business Resources.[26]
[edit] 2006
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction for the North Central Region in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Cable/Satellite Television Study.[27]
- Highest in Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.[28]
- PC Magazine Reader's Choice Award for High-Speed Internet Provider.[29]
[edit] 2005
- Highest in Overall Customer Satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates Residential Cable/Satellite Television Study.[30]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Top 25 Multichannel Video Providers - As of December 2009". National Cable & Telecommunications Association. http://www.ncta.com/Stats/TopMSOs.aspx.
- ^ "CableLabs Glossary". CableLabs. http://www.cablelabs.com/news/glossary/#O.
- ^ "WOW Takes Over ex Americast Systems". Multichannel News. http://www.multichannel.com/article/78082-WOW_Takes_Over_ex_Americast_Systems.php.
- ^ "SBC Sells For a Song". Multichannel News. http://www.multichannel.com/article/126578-SBC_Sells_For_a_Song.php.
- ^ "Portfolio". Avista Capital Partners. http://www.avistacappartners.com/portfolio.
- ^ "Best places to work in". http://www.bestplacestoworkin.com/.
- ^ "J.D. Power". http://www.jdpower.com/csc/. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
- ^ "2010 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/high-speed-internet-service-provider-ratings/north-central/l/.
- ^ "2010 Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/telephone-service-provider-ratings/north-central/.
- ^ "Best Regional Cable Broadband ISP". ConsumerSearch.org. http://www.consumersearch.com/isp/wow-cable.
- ^ "Illinois Best Places to Work". 101 Best Places to Work. http://www.101bestandbrightest.com/pages/2010winner.cfm.
- ^ "Independent Customer Service Award". CableFax Magazine, July 2010. http://www.cablefax.com/cfp/cablefaxmag/independent_operators/42329.html.
- ^ "2009 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/high-speed-internet-service-provider-ratings/north-central.
- ^ "2009 Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/telephone-service-provider-ratings/north-central.
- ^ "2009 Residential Television Service Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/ratings/television-service-ratings/north-central.
- ^ "Easter Seals Telethon". Easter Seals Southwest Indiana. http://in-sw.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=INSW_Easter_Seals_Telethon.
- ^ "2009 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/article/20091018/BUSINESS06/910180421/0/BUSINESS06/Medium-category-winners-%28150-499-employees%29.
- ^ "2008 PAR Initiative". Women in Cable Telecommunications. http://www.wict.org/research/par/Pages/2008PARInitiative.aspx.
- ^ "Independent Operator of the Year: WOW!". Cable Fax Magazine. http://www.cablefax.com/cfp/cablefaxmag/independent_operators/30856.html.
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Customers Respond Positively as Cable and Voice Providers Leverage Web Sites to More Effectively Address Customer Service Issues". J.D. Power and Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2008180.
- ^ "2008 Internet Service Provider (ISP) Residential Customer Satisfaction Study". J.D. Power and Associates. http://www.jdpower.com/telecom/articles/2008-Internet-Service-Provider-(ISP)-Residential-Customer-Satisfaction-Study.
- ^ "2008 Winners". 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For. http://www.101bestandbrightest.com/pages/md08winners.cfm.
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: DIRECTV and WOW! Lead the Regional Cable and Satellite Customer Satisfaction Rankings". J.D. Power and Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007137.
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Bundling Video with Voice and Data Services Gives Cable Companies A Competitive Edge over Telephone Providers". J.D. Power and Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007108.
- ^ "Crain's Cool Places to Work 2007". Crain Communications Inc.. http://crainsdetroit.com/section/coolplaces.
- ^ "2007 Winners". 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For. http://www.101bestandbrightest.com/pages/ch07winners.cfm.
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Although Cable Continues to Lose Market Share to Satellite Providers, Cable Subscribers Are Switching to Digital Service at a Rapid Pace". J.D. Power & Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2006135.[self-published source?]
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: High-Speed Internet Overtakes Dial-Up in Market Share as Bundling Makes Services More Affordable". J.D. Power and Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2006201.
- ^ "Readers' Choice: ISPs Survey". PC Magazine. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2017592,00.asp.
- ^ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satellite TV Penetration Increases Significantly, Even as Cable Narrows the Customer Satisfaction Gap". J.D. Power and Associates. http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/PressRelease.aspx?ID=2005117.
