Altice Usa Stock Price, News & Analysis

Optimum announces the removal of MSG Networks from its TV lineups following failed carriage agreement negotiations that expired on December 31, 2024. The dispute centers on MSG's demands for high programming fees and requirement to make their channels available to most subscribers regardless of viewing preferences. Optimum offered to absorb the price increases if MSG would allow more flexible packaging options, but MSG refused multiple offers.

The company emphasizes that Regional Sports Networks viewership is increasingly fragmented across streaming platforms, yet MSG maintains an outdated model demanding higher fees. Optimum is providing customers with alternative viewing options and assistance through their customer service channels and website.

Optimum, an Altice USA brand (NYSE: ATUS), has reached 500,000 residential customers on its 100% Fiber Internet network, which serves over 2.9 million homes across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The company offers symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gig through Optimum Fiber. The company has invested over $40M in its Long Island infrastructure in 2024, with additional multi-million-dollar investments across the Northeast. Optimum Fiber has been recognized by Ookla® Speedtest® and PCMag as providing the fastest and most reliable internet speeds in NY and NJ. The company is expanding to new markets and offers bundled services including mobile, TV, and home phone services.

Lightpath, an all-fiber connectivity provider, achieved a 5-Star Rating and a score of 97 out of 100 on the 2024 GRESB Infrastructure Asset Benchmark Report. This score positioned the company as the leader among private data transmission companies in the fiber networks sector in the Americas, significantly outperforming the peer average of 82. GRESB evaluates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of infrastructure assets worldwide using self-reported data and peer benchmarking, aligned with international reporting frameworks like GRI and PRI.

Altice USA (ATUS) reported Q3 2024 results with total revenue of $2.2 billion (-3.9% YoY) and a net loss of $43 million. The company showed strong fiber growth with 47k fiber net additions, reaching 482k fiber customers (+63% YoY). Mobile performance was the best in four years with 36k net adds. However, broadband PSU losses were -50k. Key metrics included:

- Residential revenue: $1.7B (-5.6% YoY)
- Business Services revenue: $366.4M (-0.1% YoY)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $862M (-5.8% YoY)
- Free Cash Flow: $76.9M

The company unveiled a transformation plan targeting improved free cash flow through revenue opportunities, fiber penetration, and operational efficiency.

Optimum announces two new TV packages launching November 4: Extra TV ($85/month for 125+ channels) and Everything TV ($140/month for 200+ channels). These join the previously launched Entertainment TV ($30/month for 80+ channels) to complete Optimum's modern video model. The packages are accessible through Optimum Stream, offering live TV and streaming apps in one platform. Extra TV includes major networks and sports channels, while Everything TV adds premium content and regional sports. The service is available across NY, NJ, CT, and expanding to western markets, reaching 1.5 million additional homes.

Lightpath announces expansion in Greater Miami with connectivity to eight new data centers, bringing the total to 12 on-net data centers by end of 2024. The company is adding 15 miles of new fiber network toward North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens, and introducing RapidPath, a dark fiber service offering ultra-fast deployment between data centers in as fast as five days. The expansion aims to meet increasing demand for data center connectivity driven by AI and cloud provider requirements. The service will be available in Miami, New York Metro, and Greater Boston areas, offering connectivity to over 140 data centers and seven cable landing stations.

Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS) has announced a conference call scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the company's financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The call will be led by Dennis Mathew, Chairman and CEO, and Marc Sirota, CFO.

Presentation materials, including Altice USA's earnings release, earnings results presentation, and trended schedule, will be available at 4:05 p.m. ET on the Altice USA Investor Relations website. Interested parties can participate via telephone by dialing 877-404-9653 (US) or +1 201-689-8856 (international). Additionally, a live webcast will be accessible on the Altice USA Investor Relations website.

Lightpath and Ciena have deployed the industry's first 400 Gb/s protected optical circuit using power-efficient and high-performance pluggable technologies. This achievement increases maximum bandwidth levels for mission-critical services while using 80% less electricity. The solution was designed for a hyperscale customer, providing a 400 Gb/s geographically diverse and protected circuit over approximately 200 miles, traversing water crossings and utilizing an average of 8 POPs per side.

The deployment combines Lightpath's dense fiber plant with Ciena's 6500 packet optical platform powered by WaveLogic 5 Nano coherent pluggable optics. Key features include optical layer protection, reducing customer circuit handoffs by half while maintaining less than 50ms switch times. Ciena's WaveLogic 5 Nano solution delivers the highest 400G pluggable performance in the industry, requiring 50% less physical space compared to standard transponder deployments.

Rachel Stack, the newly appointed CFO of Lightpath, is set to participate in a panel discussion at the TMT M&A Forum USA 2024 on September 25-26, 2024, in New York City. The panel, titled 'Fiber Leaders: When Will the Wave of Consolidation Hit?', will explore the anticipated consolidation in the fiber industry expected in 2025.

Stack brings 25 years of experience in digital infrastructure to Lightpath, an all-fiber connectivity provider. The forum, organized by TMT Finance, will feature over 40 sessions, 100+ speakers, and 650+ attendees, focusing on digital infrastructure investment and M&A strategies. Key topics include financing structures, strategies to close the digital divide, the BEAD Program rollout, and open access models in the fiber market.