Nemont Plans To Stop Providing TV Service

Nemont has made the decision to stop providing TV services within the coming months.

Leif Handran, sales and marketing manager for Nemont, said customers will receive a letter from the company soon, probably this week, regarding the decision. The letters were being printed on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Handran said TV service from Nemont is scheduled to shut off on June 1.

He noted it was a financial decision. Costs keep mounting for programming.

Kristin Bekker, marketing manager for Nemont, explains that TV service hasn’t ever been a positive financially for the company.

“TV has never been a money- making business for Nemont,” Bekker said. She added Nemont wanted to put TV, internet and telephone services on one bill for the convenience of their customers. “The programming rates are getting out of hand.”

For being able to offer local networks, programming rates have increased by 977 percent since 2013.

Another challenge came earlier this year when Nemont could no longer carry Montana channels because of Designated Marketing Area regulations.

“That amplified it,” Handran said. He explained Nemont lost some customers because of that change. “It gave them a reason to jump ship. It helped us make our decision.”

Upcoming new technology requirements were also going to cost the company a large amount of money, Bekker added.

Handran noted the decision to stop TV service isn’t only for the Wolf Point area. “It’s the entire footprint,” he said. Nemont will continue to offer a strong variety of services including internet, land lines, phone systems for businesses and cellular.

Through its Nemont.tv app, Nemont will keep streaming high school basketball games and other activities.