Washington -- The Washington Post Company announced today that Post-Newsweek Cable, a subsidiary, has reached an agreement in principle to acquire the cable television system serving approximately 11,000 subscribers in Branson, Missouri, from Rural Missouri Cable T.V., Inc. The purchase price was not disclosed.

"This acquisition is part of our long-held strategy to increase holdings of cable systems in classic, non-urban markets," said Alan G. Spoon, president, The Washington Post Company.

Larry Frazier, president of Rural Missouri Cable T.V., Inc., said, "Rural Missouri Cable T.V. is a member-owned company, so the net proceeds of the sale together with any member equity will be determined at closing and disbursed to members thereafter."

The Branson System is near Post-Newsweek Cable's Joplin, Missouri, system and also near Springfield, Missouri, which Post-Newsweek intends to acquire from TCI in a previously announced trade.

Completion of the acquisition is contingent upon the execution of a definitive purchase agreement and approval by local government and other entities.

Post-Newsweek Cable currently has almost 588,000 subscribers in 16 midwestern, western, and southern states.

Contact:

Guyon Knight
The Washington Post Company
(202) 334-6642

Kay Russell
Rural Missouri Cable T.V.
(417) 334-7897