Broadband provider WideOpenWest (WOW!) has officially become a private company following the completion of its take-private acquisition by DigitalBridge Group and Crestview Partners, the firms announced today. The transaction values WOW! at approximately $1.5 billion in enterprise value, with WOW! shareholders receiving $5.20 in cash per share. Upon close, WOW! common stock will cease trading on all public exchanges.
The buyout was led by affiliated funds of DigitalBridge, a global digital-infrastructure asset manager, and Crestview, a private-equity firm. LionTree Advisors served as the buyers’ sole financial advisor, while Centerview Partners advised a WOW! special committee that evaluated the deal. Legal counsel included Simpson Thacher for DigitalBridge, Davis Polk for Crestview, and Wachtell, Lipton for the WOW! committee.
Jonathan Friesel, DigitalBridge’s head of fiber, framed the move as the start of “a new era of growth,” adding that the companies intend to invest in network upgrades and customer-experience improvements while pursuing operational excellence across WOW!’s networks. Crestview Partners’ Brian Cassidy said the private-ownership path will provide WOW! with strategic flexibility and resources to compete more effectively and accelerate the rollout of advanced technology in its markets.
DigitalBridge highlighted its three-decade history in digital infrastructure and noted it currently manages roughly $108 billion in assets, underlining the scale of private support available for continued network investments. The shift to private ownership also means WOW! will no longer face the transparency and quarterly-reporting requirements that accompany a public listing.
With the deal closed, WOW! will operate under its new ownership while continuing to serve its customers, and the industry will be watching how the private-equity partnership advances investments in fiber, technology, and operations across WOW!’s footprint. The story notes that AI-assisted tools helped guide this coverage.
