WideOpenWest (WOW!) said Monday it has reached an agreement to be acquired by affiliated investment funds of Digital Bridge Investments and Crestview Partners in a deal valued at about $1.5 billion.
Under the agreement, Digital Bridge and Crestview will acquire all outstanding shares of WOW! not already owned by Crestview and its affiliates for $5.20 per share in cash. Crestview, the company’s largest shareholder, will roll over all of its existing shares. The purchase price represents a premium of 37.2 percent to WOW!’s unaffected share price of $3.79 before the initial offer in May 2024, and a 63 percent premium to its closing price on August 8, 2025.
“Today’s announcement is an exciting step for WOW!’s investors, employees and customers,” said Teresa Elder, the CEO of WOW!. “WOW!’s next chapter with DigitalBridge and Crestview will bring new and exciting opportunities to our stakeholders and enhance our position as a trusted provider of fast, reliable and affordable broadband solutions.”
Phil Seskin, the Chairman of the WOW! Board’s Special Committee, said the deal delivers “significant and immediate value to stockholders” and that the committee concluded the offer was the best available option after a thorough review.
Jonathan Friesel, the Senior Managing Director and Head of Fiber at Digital Bridge, said the partnership with Crestview would enable WOW! to expand and upgrade its networks while continuing to offer competitive internet services.
“We intend to invest in expanding and upgrading WOW!’s networks, adopting new technologies, and ensuring the organization has the resources and support needed to continue delivering fast, reliable internet service and a high-quality customer experience at competitive prices,” Friesel said.
Brian Cassidy, the President and Head of Media at Crestview, called the acquisition “an exciting day for WOW!, its customers and team members.” He said the addition of Digital Bridge as a capital partner will help accelerate geographic expansion and technology upgrades.
WOW!’s board unanimously approved the transaction following the recommendation of the special committee of independent directors. Crestview, which owns about 37 percent of WOW!’s outstanding shares, has agreed to vote in favor of the deal.
The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2025 or in early 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Once completed, WOW! will become a privately held company and its shares will no longer be publicly traded.
WOW! provides phone, Internet and cable TV service in nearly two dozen regional markets across Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
