Why Is Bardstown, Kentucky Selling Its Cable TV Company To Charter?

The city of Bardstown (KY) has reached an agreement to sell its small cable TV company Bardstown Connect to Charter Communications, ending city ownership that began nearly four decades ago. The city decided to sell because Bardstown Connect was losing cable and broadband Internet subscribers, resulting in a recent 2% drop in combined revenue stemming from increased competition from online streaming services and various Internet Service Providers (ISPs). City Administrator and Cheif Financial Officer Aaron Boles said the city made a “business decision” to sell now to avoid costly upgrades to the communications network and raising consumers’ bills. “It’s very difficult for a government entity to try to take on a private entity. The revenue is just not there,” Boles said. “Meanwhile, expenses continue to climb because running fiber isn’t a cheap endeavor.”