BOSTON -- The city's $93 million cable television contract Wednesday was awarded to Cablevision Systems of Woodbury, N.Y., by Mayor Kevin H. White, who praised the firm for its willingness to adapt to the 'uniqueness of Boston.'
Cablevision beat out Warner Amex Cable Communications Co. of New York City for the 15 year contract -- a decision that ended nearly a decade of city planning and corporate lobbying.
Cablevision promises a basic $2 a month package offering home subscribers 52 channels. Warner Amex, which proposed a $79 million, five-year construction project, offered 36 channels to charge residential users for $5.95 a month.
At a City Hall news conference, White said both cable firms had advanced 'superb proposals,' but that he had been most impressed by Cablevision.
'I think they adapted themselves to the uniqueness of Boston,' said White, who has sole licensing authority for the system.
He cited broad programming selection and the 'economic benefits' offered the city among reasons for choosing Cablevision to string the more than 700 miles of coaxial cable needed to transmit new television offerings in the city.
Richard Borten, head of the city's cable television office, said the 'economic benefits' include Cablevision's offer to allow Boston residents to invest between $1,000 and $25,000 in the operation and its promise to pay 16 percent interest a year, plus an additional percentage point for each $1 million in profits.
The actual laying of cables is not expected to begin for another year.
The process will take about three and one-half years. Once it is completed, each of Boston's 250,000 residences will be capable of tying into the cables to pick up new programming not available from conventional television outlets.
Boston began reviewing cable television proposals about 10 years ago, White said, noting he had decided in 1973 that any contract at that time would have been 'premature.'
But last year, the city established a cable television office, and White named a commission to consider new proposals.
Originally, nine firms expressed an interest in the city's cable contract; by the time final bids were submitted, only Cablevision and Warner Amex remained in the running.
