US West Inc is close to agreement to buy several Atlanta-area cable television systems from investor Robert Bass and his partners for $1,200m to $1,300m, USA Today reported. US West will be paying an estimated $2,600 to $3,000 per household for the cable operations of Wometco and Georgia Cable Television, it believes – a high price given that recent deals have valued cable systems at $1,700 to $2,400 per household, the paper said. US West already owns a 25% stake in the entertainment division of Time Warner Inc, the company’s partner in providing interactive services to Time Warner customers living in US West’s service region. Robert M Bass Group holds a majority stake in the cable firms, Prime Cable and Shearson Lehman are part owners.
