Key Dates In The History Of Comcast Corp.

The Associated Press

Key events in Comcast Corp.'s history:

1963 — Ralph Roberts buys American Cable Systems, a 1,200-subscriber cable TV operator in Tupelo, Miss., for $500,000.

1969 — Company renamed Comcast — from "communications" and "broadcast."

1972 — Comcast shares trade publicly.

1988 — Following a number of acquisitions, Comcast buys 50 percent of Storer Communications Inc. to become the nation's fifth-largest cable TV operator with more than two million subscribers.

1990 — Ralph Roberts' son, Brian, is named president.

1994 — Comcast jumps to third place in cable after buying Maclean Hunter's U.S. cable operations. Comcast now has 3.3 million subscribers. Comcast and partners invest in The Golf Channel.

1996 — Comcast buys majority ownership of Spectacor — owner of the Philadelphia Flyers and two arenas — and acquires the Philadelphia 76ers. Comcast also forms regional sports cable channel in Philadelphia. It launches its first high-speed Internet service — in Baltimore.