Charter 2005 Annual Report Download - page 19

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 2005 FORM 10-K
The following table summarizes our customer statistics for analog and digital video, residential high-speed Internet and residential
telephone approximate as of December 31, 2005 and 2004.
Approximate as of
December 31, December 31,
2005(a) 2004(a)
Cable Video Services:
Analog Video:
Residential (non-bulk) analog video customers(b) 5,616,300 5,739,900
Multi-dwelling (bulk) and commercial unit customers(c) 268,200 251,600
Total analog video customers(b)(c) 5,884,500 5,991,500
Digital Video:
Digital video customers(d) 2,796,600 2,674,700
Non-Video Cable Services:
Residential high-speed Internet customers(e) 2,196,400 1,884,400
Residential telephone customers(f ) 121,500 45,400
Included in the 107,000 net loss of analog video customers for the year ended December 31, 2005 is approximately 8,200 of net
losses related to systems impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We currently estimate additional analog video customer losses of
approximately 10,000 to 15,000 related to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the first quarter of 2006.
After giving effect to the sale of certain non-strategic cable systems in July 2005, December 31, 2004 analog video customers,
digital video customers and high-speed Internet customers would have been 5,964,300, 2,663,200 and 1,883,800, respectively.
(a) ‘‘Customers’’ include all persons our corporate billing records show as receiving service (regardless of their payment status), except for complimentary accounts (such as
our employees). In addition, at December 31, 2005 and 2004, ‘‘customers’’ include approximately 50,500 and 44,700 persons whose accounts were over 60 days past due
in payment, approximately 14,300 and 5,200 persons, whose accounts were over 90 days past due in payment and approximately 7,400 and 2,300 of which were over
120 days past due in payment, respectively.
(b) ‘‘Analog video customers’’ include all customers who receive video services (including those who also purchase high-speed Internet and telephone services) but excludes
approximately 272,700 and 228,700 customers at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, who receive high-speed Internet service only or telephone service only and
who are only counted as high-speed Internet customers or telephone customers.
(c) Included within ‘‘video customers’’ are those in commercial and multi-dwelling structures, which are calculated on an equivalent bulk unit (‘‘EBU’’) basis. EBU is
calculated for a system by dividing the bulk price charged to accounts in an area by the most prevalent price charged to non-bulk residential customers in that market for
the comparable tier of service. The EBU method of estimating analog video customers is consistent with the methodology used in determining costs paid to
programmers and has been used consistently. As we increase our effective analog video prices to residential customers without a corresponding increase in the prices
charged to commercial service or multi-dwelling customers, our EBU count will decline even if there is no real loss in commercial service or multi-dwelling customers.
(d) ‘‘Digital video customers’’ include all households that have one or more digital set-top terminals. Included in ‘‘digital video customers’’ on December 31, 2005 and 2004
are approximately 8,600 and 10,100 customers, respectively, that receive digital video service directly through satellite transmission.
(e) ‘‘Residential high-speed Internet customers’’ represent those customers who subscribe to our high-speed Internet service.
(f) ‘‘Residential telephone customers’’ include all households receiving telephone service.
Video Services number of premium channel packages and we offer
Our video service offerings include the following: premium channels with our advanced services.
(Basic analog video. All of our video customers receive a (Pay-per-view. These channels allow customers to pay on a
package of basic programming which generally consists of per event basis to view a single showing of a recently
local broadcast television, local community programming, released movie, a one-time special sporting event, music
including governmental and public access, and limited concert or similar event on a commercial-free basis.
satellite-delivered or non-broadcast channels, such as
(Digital video. We offer digital video service to our customers
weather, shopping and religious services. Our basic channel
in several different service combination packages. All of our
line-up generally has between 15 and 30 channels.
digital packages include a digital set-top terminal, an
(Expanded basic video. This expanded programming level interactive electronic programming guide, an expanded
includes a package of satellite-delivered or non-broadcast menu of pay-per-view channels and the option to also
channels and generally has between 30 and 50 channels in receive digital packages which range from 4 to 30
addition to the basic channel line-up. additional video channels. We also offer our customers
(Premium channels. These channels provide commercial-free certain digital packages with one or more premium
movies, sports and other special event entertainment channels that give customers access to several different
programming. Although we offer subscriptions to premium versions of the same premium channel. Some digital tier
channels on an individual basis, we offer an increasing packages focus on the interests of a particular customer
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