Toledo, Ohio-based media and telecom conglomerate Block Communications has announced its purchase of Mississippi’s Ripley Video Cable for an undisclosed sum.
Ripley serves north-central Mississippi, its footprint extending through Blue Mountain, Falkner and Pine Grove, all within Tippah County.
The purchase comes three years after Block acquired MetroCast cable systems from Harron Communications, which included 45,000 customers in the surrounding Mississippi and Alabama regions. Block rebranded that asset as MaxxSouth Broadband—the subsidiary which is actually making the Ripley purchase.
Block also operates Buckeye CableSystem, as well as seven broadcast network affiliate stations. Among other assets, Block also owns the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Toledo Blade newspapers.
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"We are a family-owned company operating in the cable business since 1965, and so we well recognize the hard work Leon and Diane Bailey, owners of Ripley Video Cable, have done over the years to provide excellent, local customer service,” said Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications, in a statement.
Added Block Communications CFO Jodi Miehls: "This acquisition further advances Block Communications' broadband growth and geographical diversification strategy that was put in motion with the 2014 purchase of the former Harron Communications (MetroCast) properties in Mississippi and Alabama, now operating as MaxxSouth.”
Block expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter.