Tci

Bell Atlantic Corp. and Tele-Communications Inc., the corporate giants that rocked the world of telecommunications when they announced their intention to merge in October, called off the deal last night and blamed the Federal Communications Commission for poisoning the climate."

WASHINGTON -- In a move that combines corporate citizenship and political shrewdness, Bell Atlantic Corp. and Tele-Communications Inc. announced an ambitious program yesterday that would connect more than one-quarter of the nation's public elementary and high schools to the "information superhighway" free of charge.The plan would offer free access to advanced electronic services to more than 26,000 public schools in the vast areas served by the two intended merger partners, including virtually all of Maryland.

Comcast Corp. said yesterday that it has completed its $500 million acquisition of Baltimore cable provider TCI Communications, but it might not be until next year that customers will see upgrades in service, such as digital cable and high-speed Internet access. One immediate change for the 13,000 Baltimore customers will be on the August bill, which will have the new logo. There are no planned price increases for this year, said Kenneth Crooks, Comcast vice president and general manager.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Tele-Communications Inc. said yesterday that it is spinning off its satellite operation in a bet that the business, valued at $2 billion to $3 billion, can expand faster on its own.The new company, TCI Satellite Entertainment Inc., will hold a 20.9 percent stake in PrimeStar Partners LP, which beams television programs to 1.25 million customers who own 36-inch satellite dishes.PrimeStar competes with DirecTV Inc., whose 1.6 million subscribers own 18-inch dishes.Tele-Communications Chief Executive John Malone and Chairman Bob Magness -- who will own the largest stakes in the new company and are likely to have board seats -- are taking advantage of a booming market for satellite companies to fuel the expansion, investors and analysts said.

As a result of the $30 billion merger between Bell Atlantic Corp. and Tele-Communications Inc., eight local cable systems currently owned by TCI will be sold off by the end of next year.The sales would eliminate a potential conflict between Bell Atlantic and federal regulators, who might object to Bell Atlantic controlling both the phone and cable service in the same area."We don't want that cloud over the merger," said Bell Atlantic spokesman Dave Pacholczyk.Bell Atlantic currently provides phone service in Maryland through the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. of Maryland.

DENVER -- Tele-Communications Inc. said yesterday it may spin off its international and programming operations to shareholders in an effort to boost the value of its stock.The nation's largest cable company said it may spin off its remaining 82 percent stake in Tele-Communications International Inc., its overseas cable and phone operations, to shareholders of Tele- Communications Inc. It may also spin off its programming arm, Liberty Media, to holders of Liberty Media stock, which is now a so-called tracking stock.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos and Abe Pollin, owner of the Washington Bullets and Capitals, have held talks with Fox and TCI, the nation's largest cable TV operator, about creating a new regional cable channel that would either supplant or cripple Home Team Sports.The two owners, whose teams occupy the majority of programming on HTS, would take their teams' games to a channel operated by TCI and Fox.Bethesda-based HTS, which has carried Orioles games since its inception in 1984, would have the right to match the Fox/TCI offer under the terms of its contracts with the three clubs.

TCI Communications of Baltimore, the city's sole cable television provider, is stepping up its effort to attract customers for its new digital cable service.The company touts its digital product as a way to give customers a slew of new channels and offerings, such as lockout features that parents can use to prevent their children from watching certain channels.TCI of Baltimore officially began offering digital service to a limited group of subscribers at the end of February.However, burdened by a move of its headquarters and a change in its billing system, it has waited until now to pitch the service to a broader audience.

The Washington Bullets and Capitals said yesterday that the television rights to their games have been purchased by Bethesda-based Home Team Sports, where the games have aired for the past 12 years.HTS officials said the contract would run at least past the year 2000. Sources familiar with the negotiations have said the deal would pay more than $10 million a year between the clubs, up from about $6 million they currently receive.The marriage appears to be forced, since the clubs had received an offer from Fox and TCI and only stayed with HTS because the regional sports channel had clauses in their contracts that gave it the right to match.

WASHINGTON -- Tele-Communications Inc., the nation's largest cable television company, announced yesterday it plans to spend almost $2 billion to accelerate the installation of fiber optic cable networks to 90 percent of its customers, the first step in what the company said will become the information superhighway of the future.Denver-based TCI, which operates United Artists Cable of Baltimore City, said that by 1996 the new system will reach 90 percent of thecompany's 9.5 million customers.