Comcast tabs WorldGate in Alabama

By Susan Rush
from CED Broadband Direct, July 8, 2002

Comcast Cable Communications Inc. is looking to beef up its digital cable portfolio in Alabama, and is turning to WorldGate Communications Inc. to make it happen.

The MSO will deploy WorldGate's interactive television service to its customers in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, Ala. The service, which will be marketed as part of Comcast Digital Cable, offers subscribers a variety of content, including dynamically updated weather forecasts, horoscopes, recipes, stock quotes, news, entertainment links and sports scores. Deployment is expected to be complete during the third quarter.

"The implementation of interactive services is an important part of Comcast's long-term strategy to help build a strong customer base for digital cable services," said Mark Hess, Comcast's vice president of Digital Television.

In May, WorldGate posted first quarter revenue of $3.2 million, a 22 percent drop from the $4.1 million reported in the first quarter 2001. Reduced equipment sales fueled the drop, said WorldGate. The company's quarterly net loss was $4.2 million, or 18 cents a share. Analysts on average were expecting a loss of 24 cents a share, according to Thomson Financial/First Call.