Time Warner Cable/Insight Communications merger provides renegotiation opportunities for MDU owners in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana

The franchise deal could help Time Warner Cable close its $3 billion acquisition of Insight Communications and its systems counting 750,000 subscribers in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. While Insight and Time Warner Cable agreed to give the city offices and schools in Louisville free cable and Internet service, the companies wouldn't commit to maintaining an Insight call center in the city that employs 1,500 people after the deal closes.

The FCC approved the merger on Feb. 1. Time Warner Cable has said that it expects the deal to close later this year.

A cable merger of this nature provides re-negotiation opportunities for MDU owners and condominium associations – opportunities that are often ignored.

Each right-of-entry agreement should be examined to determine if Insight has the right to assign the agreement to Time Warner Cable, how such assignment is to occur, whether the agreement is binding on the owner following assignment, and so on.  It should not be assumed that Time Warner can simply step into Insight’s shoes as a matter of course. Each renegotiation presents an opportunity to leverage the asset to extract additional value.

The Kandutsch Law Office will, as a courtesy service, review all your agreements with Insight on a confidential basis to determine if there may be renegotiation opportunities. Simply request a complimentary Executive Summary here.