Service Electric Cablevision, Inc., incorporated in early 1991, is one of several successor corporations to a community antenna television (now called cable television) business started by John and Margaret Walson in the spring of 1948.
Service Electric Company, the original name, was formed by Mr. and Mrs. Walson in the mid-1940s to sell, install, and repair General Electric appliances in the Mahanoy City area of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. In 1947, they began selling television sets; however, it was nearly impossible to receive the three Philadelphia network stations in Mahanoy City because the town is surrounded by mountains. Due to the geographical interference, Mr. Walson decided to erect a utility pole on top of a nearby mountain, placed an antenna on top of the pole, and thus demonstrated television. In an attempt to increase sales, he connected the tower site to their appliance store by using wire/cable and modified signal boosters.
In June of 1948, he successfully connected a nearby tower site to the appliance store as well as to several homes along the cable path. His experiences as a PP&L field employee and his technical degree in electronics proved beneficial in starting the nation's first CATV system. People who lived in the small mountainous towns of northeastern Pennsylvania could now receive three Philadelphia television channels in their homes, while others congregated outside the Walson's appliance store to view this new communication medium. Cable TV was born!
The late John Walson was recognized by the U.S. Congress and the National Cable Television Association as the founder of the cable television industry. Mr. Walson can also claim many other firsts, including being the first cable operator to use microwave to import distant television stations, the first to use coaxial cable for improved picture quality, and the first to distribute pay television programming (HBO).
Today, Service Electric Television is a private, family owned cable business servicing over two hundred fifty thousand (250, 000) subscribers located in approximately two hundred and fifty (250) communities in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey. On an industry-wide basis, Service Electric Television ranks as the sixteenth (16th) largest Multiple System Operator (MSO). Service Electric Cablevision, an affiliate company of Service Electric Television, serves over one hundred thousand (100, 000) subscribers and one hundred (100) Pennsylvania communities in three operating regions.
Service Electric Cablevision is the Hazleton area's leading provider for TV, Internet, and Phone service.
From our first TV antenna to our new state of the industry fiber optic network, we've always been dedicated to improving our communities. We've taken leadership roles in many areas to ensure that our children and our neighbors have all the support they need. After all, that's what neighbors do!
Service Electric Cablevision is an active member in the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and the Freeland Chamber of Commerce.
We are committed to using our technology to allow for more learning opportunities in our local schools.The public and private schools in the Hazleton Area are given FREE cable connection and service. Plus, the Hazleton Area School District is connected with fiber optics to allow for additional distance learning opportunities.
Network stations can't always cover all the events that are important to our local communities. That's why Service Electric Cablevision provides its viewers with two local television stations: Local Channel 13 and WYLN 35. We also dedicate channel 99 to the Hazleton Area School District for its use in informing the community of important school announcements and events.
We take great pride in sponsoring the following local charities and events:
- Greater Hazleton & Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society
- Downtown Shenandoah Heritage Day
- Freeland Memorial Day Celebration
- Girardville St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Hazleton Funfest
- Mahanoy City Mother's Day Dinner
- Main Sponsor of Mahanoy City Memorial Day Parade
- Saint Clair Community & Historical Society
