M.S.O. (MULTIPLE SYSTEM OPERATOR) In the cable TV industry, an operator of multiple cable systems. A cable system, by FCC definition, is a facility serving a single community or a distinct governmental entity. Thus, one cable operation distributing signals within two separate but contiguous municipalities would be viewed by the FCC as two systems, even though unified in management and operation and providing the same service to each area.
Most all cable TV companies are MSOs. In early cable days many entrepreneurial businessmen would set up cable systems to serve a single town. Systems began to buy up other systems in neighboring towns creating MSOs. This consolidation continues today (year 2005) with mega mergers & acquisitions of the top surviving operators.
Russ Corsini