WideOpenWest, Inc. – Taken Private in $1.5 Billion Acquisition in Colorado

A major all-cash acquisition transitions WideOpenWest, Inc. to private ownership, reshaping broadband sector investment in Colorado and beyond. Related: Indian Peaks Rental, Inc. – Acquisition in.

WideOpenWest, Inc., a leading broadband services provider based in Englewood, Colorado, has completed a $1.5 billion all-cash acquisition by affiliated funds of DigitalBridge Group and Crestview Partners. This transaction, a significant event in the private equity and capital markets landscape, marks the company’s transition from public to private ownership and signals evolving dynamics in the U.S. broadband infrastructure sector.

Transaction overview

The acquisition of WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW) by DigitalBridge Group and Crestview Partners represents a pivotal development for the broadband services industry. The deal, announced in August 2025 and completed in late December 2025, values the company at approximately $1.5 billion. Public shareholders received $5.20 per share in cash, reflecting a substantial premium over the pre-announcement trading price. The transaction was unanimously approved by WOW’s board of directors, underlining strong alignment among stakeholders.

Crestview Partners, a long-standing investor in WOW and holder of approximately 37% of the outstanding shares, elected to roll over its equity stake into the new private ownership structure. This strategic decision preserves Crestview’s exposure to the company’s future growth while facilitating a seamless transition. The remainder of the equity was acquired by DigitalBridge Group, a global digital infrastructure investment firm with a significant track record in communications assets.

Upon closing, WideOpenWest, Inc. was delisted from public exchanges, and the proceeds were distributed to public shareholders. The company now operates as a privately held entity, with governance and operational oversight transitioning to its new owners. The all-cash nature of the deal provided immediate liquidity to shareholders and underscored the buyers’ conviction in the underlying value and growth prospects of broadband infrastructure.

The acquisition process involved comprehensive due diligence, regulatory review, and customary closing conditions. The transaction’s structure and execution reflect the increasing interest of private equity and infrastructure funds in the U.S. broadband sector, particularly in markets with strong demographic and economic fundamentals such as Colorado.

Investor and capital markets context

This acquisition highlights several notable trends in the current capital markets environment. First, the deal underscores the ongoing appetite for digital infrastructure assets among private equity and infrastructure investors. As broadband connectivity becomes ever more critical to economic activity, platforms like WideOpenWest, Inc. are viewed as essential service providers with stable, recurring cash flows and significant growth potential.

DigitalBridge Group’s involvement aligns with its broader strategy of consolidating and optimizing digital infrastructure assets across North America. The firm’s portfolio includes investments in fiber networks, data centers, and wireless infrastructure, positioning it to leverage operational synergies and drive value creation at WOW. Crestview Partners’ decision to roll over its stake demonstrates continued confidence in the company’s prospects and the sector’s resilience.

From a capital markets perspective, the $1.5 billion all-cash consideration and the premium paid to public shareholders reflect robust competition for high-quality broadband assets. Comparable transactions in the sector, such as the take-private deals involving Astound Broadband and Zayo Group, have similarly attracted significant private capital at premium valuations. These deals are often structured to provide immediate liquidity to public investors while enabling sponsors to pursue long-term value creation strategies away from the quarterly pressures of public markets.

The regulatory environment for broadband M&A remains active, with federal and state authorities closely scrutinizing transactions for potential impacts on competition, consumer access, and network investment. In this case, the transaction proceeded following standard regulatory review, reflecting the deal’s alignment with broader policy objectives to expand and enhance broadband infrastructure in the United States.

Market implications

The privatization of WideOpenWest, Inc. carries significant implications for the broadband sector in Colorado and the broader U.S. market. As a regional broadband provider with a strong presence in secondary and tertiary markets, WOW is well positioned to capitalize on rising demand for high-speed connectivity driven by remote work, digital learning, and streaming services. Under private ownership, the company is expected to pursue accelerated network investment, service expansion, and operational optimization.

For Colorado, the transaction underscores the state’s role as a hub for digital infrastructure investment. The state’s favorable demographic trends, economic growth, and supportive regulatory environment make it an attractive market for broadband expansion. The acquisition is likely to catalyze further investment in network upgrades and rural broadband initiatives, supporting economic development and digital inclusion across the region.

At the national level, the deal reflects the ongoing consolidation of the broadband industry, with private equity and infrastructure funds playing a growing role in shaping market dynamics. The influx of private capital into the sector is expected to drive innovation, enhance service quality, and accelerate the deployment of next-generation technologies such as fiber-to-the-home and 5G fixed wireless access.

Comparable transactions, including the privatizations of other regional broadband providers, suggest that private ownership can enable more agile decision-making and long-term strategic planning. This is particularly relevant in a capital-intensive industry where sustained investment is required to meet evolving consumer and business needs. The WOW transaction may serve as a template for similar deals in other markets, as investors seek to capitalize on the secular growth of digital infrastructure.

Why this matters for investors

For institutional and private equity investors, the take-private of WideOpenWest, Inc. offers several key takeaways. First, the transaction demonstrates the continued attractiveness of digital infrastructure assets as a defensive, cash-generative investment class. The sector’s essential nature, combined with favorable long-term demand drivers, supports premium valuations and strong competition among buyers.

Second, the deal highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in executing complex transactions. The collaboration between DigitalBridge Group and Crestview Partners enabled efficient capital deployment, risk sharing, and alignment of interests. Crestview’s decision to roll over its equity stake signals confidence in the company’s future and provides continuity through the ownership transition.

Third, the transaction illustrates the benefits of private ownership for companies operating in rapidly evolving industries. Freed from the constraints of public markets, WOW can pursue long-term investment and growth strategies, respond more nimbly to market opportunities, and focus on operational excellence. For investors, this creates the potential for enhanced value creation and attractive risk-adjusted returns over the investment horizon.

Finally, the deal reinforces the growing role of private capital in shaping the future of U.S. broadband infrastructure. As policymakers and regulators prioritize universal access and network modernization, private equity and infrastructure funds are likely to remain active participants in the sector, driving consolidation, innovation, and investment across the value chain.