Service Electric Cable TV

What Service Electric Cable TV does

Service Electric Cable TV and Communications, Inc. is a privately held, third-generation family-owned regional cable telecommunications company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, founded in 1948 by John Walson Sr., who is credited with inventing cable television. The company provides residential and business subscribers in three service territories — the Greater Lehigh Valley (PA), Wilkes-Barre (PA), and Hunterdon and Warren Counties (NJ) — with cable TV, broadband internet (up to 1 Gig), and residential/business telephone service, operating under more than 75 municipal franchise agreements. The company is currently led by President John M. Walson III (grandson of the founder) following leadership transitions from John Walson Sr. (founder, d. 1993) to John E. Walson (d. 2012).

The product portfolio centers on a triple-play bundle delivered over a hybrid coaxial and fiber network, with internet backhaul provided through the PenTeleData joint venture (a 10,000+ mile fiber network co-founded by Service Electric in 1994 with Blue Ridge Communications, Palmerton Telephone, and Ironton Telephone). Television is delivered via traditional cable (Full Basic TV, Broadband TV, Premium Channels, Sports Packages), TiVo-powered whole-home DVR and the TiVo Evolution wireless set-top box, the SE Stream streaming app (iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, browser), and TV Everywhere credentialed access. A key differentiator is SEN (Service Electric Network), an in-house programming network and SEN+ streaming app delivering exclusive local sports coverage — IronPigs baseball, Phantoms hockey, high school and college athletics, and Musikfest content — that is not available through any other TV provider. Partnerships with TiVo, eero (Amazon), FOX One, and Alianza (voice) provide the underlying technology stack.

The business model is subscription-based with monthly recurring revenue across internet ($24.95–$49.95), TV, and voice tiers, supplemented by equipment rental fees (modems, routers, TiVo DVRs, TiVo Evolution boxes), advertising revenue from a Community Bulletin Board product ($50/week business, $10/week nonprofit), and targeted business solutions (Internet, Voice, Video, fiber, and HospitalityNet packages) sold through a dedicated B2B sales team. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via regional phone lines and four walk-in customer service offices (Bethlehem, Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, Phillipsburg NJ), complemented by an online ordering portal and a self-serve My Account platform. The company reports no venture or institutional investment and is entirely self-funded under continuous Walson family ownership across three generations.

Name

Service Electric Cable TV

Legal name

Service Electric Cable TV and Communications, Inc.

Website

https://sectv.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Service Electric Cable TV is a third-generation, family-owned regional cable operator providing internet, TV, and phone services to residential and business subscribers across 75+ municipalities in the Lehigh Valley (PA), Wilkes-Barre (PA), and Hunterdon County (NJ), differentiated by exclusive local sports programming through its SEN network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cable TV and Broadband Internet Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)

SIC

Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Cable MSOs (Hybrid Fiber-Coax) (MPABAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Basic Cable Networks (MPABAFAC), Sports OTT & League Pass Streaming Channels (MPABAHAJ)

Keywords

• Cable television services
• Broadband internet service
• Residential phone service
• Local sports broadcasting
• Business communications services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethlehem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cable TV Services: Monthly subscription fees for TV programming including Full Basic TV, premium channels, sports packages, and add-on channel tiers. Revenue from broadcast TV fees, entertainment network surcharges, and sports surcharges passed through to customers.
2. Internet Services: Monthly subscription fees for broadband internet at various speed tiers (300Mbps to 1 Gig). Includes equipment rental fees for modems and routers, and network access fees.
3. Telephone Services: Monthly subscription fees for residential and business phone service with various calling plans.
4. Community Bulletin Board Advertising: Revenue from local businesses and organizations advertising on the Community Bulletin Board displayed on channels 2, 50, 9, and 902. Business ads at $50/week, nonprofit ads at $10/week or free for charitable organizations on space-available basis.
5. Equipment Rental: Rental fees for customer premises equipment including Digital Transport Adapters, HD converters, TiVo DVR systems, TiVo Mini, modems, wireless routers, and the TiVo Evolution box.
6. SE Stream App Subscription: SE Stream streaming app available free with TiVo Evolution box rental or at $5.95/month for third-party platform users (plus cost of TV subscription).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Service Electric Cable TV is a third-generation family-owned telecommunications company providing cable television, high-speed broadband internet (up to 1 Gig), and residential and business telephone service across three service areas: Lehigh Valley (PA), Wilkes-Barre (PA), and Hunterdon and Warren Counties (NJ). The company distributes TV content through traditional coaxial cable, the SE Stream app, and TiVo Evolution boxes, and operates the SEN (Service Electric Network) exclusive local sports and community content network covering IronPigs baseball, Phantoms hockey, Musikfest, and local high school and collegiate sports.

Product overview

Service Electric Cable TV & Communications is a third-generation family-owned telecommunications provider offering integrated TV, Internet, and Phone services across three service areas: Lehigh Valley (PA), Hunterdon (NJ), and Wilkes-Barre (PA). The product portfolio centers on cable television with multiple delivery platforms: traditional coaxial cable (Full Basic TV, Premium Channels, Sports Packages), streaming services (SE Stream app, TiVo Evolution box, TiVo whole-home DVR, TiVo Stream 4K device, FOX One), and TV Everywhere mobile viewing. Local exclusive content is delivered through SEN (Service Electric Network) and SEN+ app covering local sports and Musikfest. Internet services include broadband up to 1 Gig with eero mesh WiFi equipment and fiber optic options. Phone service completes the triple-play bundle. Business solutions include dedicated internet, voice, video, and fiber services. The company operates its own local infrastructure and partners with PenTeleData for internet services and eero for WiFi equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEN (Service Electric Network): The company's regional sports and community programming network, formerly known as TV2. Offers local high school and collegiate sports, Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball, Lehigh Valley Phantoms hockey, Musikfest coverage, and original local shows including Lehigh Valley Sports Scene and What The Heck Were They Thinking with Larry Holmes.
• SEN+ App
• SE Stream
• TiVo Evolution

Products and services

• Internet Service High-speed broadband internet service offered at speeds up to 1 Gig (1000 Mbps) with lifetime price lock promotions and 300 Mbps tier. Includes Network Access Fee and Auto Bill Pay Discount, with FREE standard installation. Available to residential and business customers in Lehigh Valley, Hunterdon, and Wilkes-Barre service areas, with equipment rental options for modems and WiFi routers.
• Cable TV (Full Basic TV) Traditional cable television subscription service offering Full Basic TV programming with hundreds of channels, including SEN exclusive local content at no additional fee, premium channel add-ons, and sports packages. Available with Digital Transport Adapters, Enhanced HD Converters, HD DVR Converters, and TiVo Whole-Home DVR.
• Phone Service Residential and business telephone service with various calling plans, offered as part of triple-play bundles. Provided through Alianza technology partnership and Service Electric's CLEC infrastructure.
• SE Stream

Quantifiable outcome

• Based on 3,000+ Google Reviews, Service Electric is ranked as one of the highest-rated broadband providers nationwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PenTeleDatacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Partnership founded in 1994 with Service Electric Cable TV, Blue Ridge Communications, Palmerton Telephone, and Ironton Telephone to create a regional Internet service provider. PenTeleData has since built a fully redundant fiber optic network with more than 10,000 miles of fiber optics. Service Electric uses PenTeleData infrastructure for internet services.
• America's Communications AssociationminorOthersIndustry association membership for communications companies.
• Broadband Communications Association of PennsylvaniaminorOthersState-level industry association membership for broadband and cable communications companies in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania Cable NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide public affairs content as a public service to the people of Pennsylvania.
• TiVo (Verizon subsidiary)coreTechnology or IntegrationTiVo provides the streaming platform powering SE Stream app and TiVo Evolution boxes. Service Electric integrates TiVo technology for cloud DVR, streaming, MultiView, and Sports Hub features. TiVo Evolution boxes are available from Service Electric with SE Stream pre-loaded.
• eero (Amazon)coreTechnology or Integrationeero True-Mesh Home WiFi system offered as a whole-home WiFi solution for Service Electric internet subscribers. eero app provides parental controls and device management.
• FOX (Fox Corporation)coreTechnology or IntegrationFOX ONE streaming app included at no additional cost for Full Basic TV subscribers. Provides access to FOX Network, FOX News Channel, FOX Business, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, FOX Deportes, and local FOX stations.
• Lehigh Valley IronPigscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService Electric is a founding partner (since 2008) of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs minor league baseball team. SEN provides exclusive coverage of 75+ IronPigs games annually.
• Lehigh Valley PhantomscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService Electric is a founding partner (since 2014) of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL hockey team. SEN provides exclusive coverage of 35+ Phantoms games annually.
• MusikfestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership to provide exclusive daily coverage of Musikfest, the largest FREE music festival in the nation. Recently celebrated as the #1 music festival in the USA.
• Valley Youth HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor charitable beneficiary receiving over $365,000 from annual John E. Walson, Jr. Memorial Golf & Pickleball Tournament. Service Electric also donated camp-wide WiFi to Camp Fowler.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh ValleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual beneficiary of two major fundraising events: John E. Walson, Jr. 'Golf for Kids' Sake' and 'Bowl for Kids' Sake' organized by Service Electric.
• ArtsQuestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit arts organization receiving charitable support and partnership from Service Electric, including coverage of Musikfest events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Ridge Communications: Pennsylvania-headquartered regional cable operator serving eastern PA. Co-founded PenTeleData with Service Electric in 1994, sharing the same 10,000+ mile fiber backbone. Closest direct comparable by footprint, scale, and infrastructure.
• Service Electric Cablevision: Operates the Birdsboro, Hazleton, and Sunbury PA cable systems under Rosalie Walters, a Walson family member. Sister entity spun off from the original Service Electric Co. in 1993; essentially the same business model in adjacent PA markets.
• Atlantic Broadband (Breezeline): Regional cable MSO operating across the eastern U.S., serving mid-sized markets with broadband, video, and voice. Closely comparable in scale and product mix to Service Electric's triple-play offering in suburban markets.
• Vyve Broadband: Regional cable and broadband provider serving smaller markets and rural communities across multiple states. Comparable in geographic footprint strategy and triple-play product bundle to Service Electric.
• Cable ONE: Smaller U.S. cable MSO focused on non-urban markets with broadband as its lead product. Strong comparable for Service Electric's strategic direction toward broadband-led growth and away from traditional pay TV.
• Astound Broadband: Regional cable operator serving markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West. Comparable to Service Electric as a multi-region cable MSO with similar residential and business service mix.
• WideOpenWest (WOW!): Regional broadband and cable provider serving mid-sized U.S. markets. Directly comparable in business model (cable + internet + phone) and target customer segment to Service Electric.

Broad incumbents

• Comcast Xfinity: Largest U.S. cable MSO with significant overlap in Service Electric's Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre markets. Not a niche peer; represents the dominant incumbent competitor with overlapping capabilities and far greater scale.
• Verizon Fios: Fiber-to-the-home broadband, TV, and voice provider with availability in parts of Service Electric's Lehigh Valley footprint. A direct broadband competitor with structurally lower marginal cost on the fiber overbuild.
• Altice USA: Acquired Service Electric's New Jersey cable operations from Edward Walson in 2020. A large national MSO that already owns a former sister-entity footprint adjacent to current Service Electric territories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/service.electric
• Xx.com/sectv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sectv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Service Electric Cable TV