> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Japan’s SoftBank Getting Closer to Owning U.S. ISP WideOpenWest
- URL: https://broadbandbreakfast.com/japans-softbank-getting-closer-to-owing-u-s-isp-wideopenwest/
- Published: 2026-04-27T23:12:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-25T21:55:36.000Z
- Description: DigitalBridge shareholders approve broadband company’s sale to SoftBank.
- Author: Lincoln Patience
- Tags: mergers, WideOpenWest, softbank, DigitalBridge Group, Crestview Partners, Masayoshi Son, OpenAI, NVIDIA, Sprint, T-Mobile, ARM, FCC, #with-siderail

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2026 — DigitalBridge stockholders on April 23[ overwhelmingly approved](https://ir.digitalbridge.com/news-releases/news-release-details/digitalbridge-stockholders-approve-acquisition-softbank-group?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) the company’s $4 billion sale to SoftBank Group Corp., clearing a major hurdle for the multibillion‑dollar deal. 

At a virtual special meeting, DigitalBridge Group said shareholders voted 96% in favor of the deal, which will pay investors $16 per share in cash once the transaction closes. DigitalBridge, with minority partner Crestview Partners, acquired WideOpenWest (WOW!) only in late December 2025 at a [$1.5 billion enterprise valuation](https://broadbandbreakfast.com/japans-softbank-would-take-ownership-of-cable-isp-wow-with-buyout-of-digitalbridge-group/). WOW! has about 460,000 broadband subscribers. 

Based in Tokyo, SoftBank is a $150 billion technology investment firm whose largest individual shareholder is Japanese citizen **Masayoshi Son**. The company acquired telecom company Sprint in 2013 and [British semiconductor giant Arm](https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/17/softbank-poised-to-take-uks-arm-for-234-billion.html?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) in 2016\. 

[![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/97/29976d9d-89ea-4c77-8c0b-0e8a0eafed35/content/images/2026/03/Start-here-graphic-CHAT-1600x500--1900-x-500-px---1600-x-500-px-.png)](https://chat.broadbandbreakfast.com/c/start-here/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) 

[***Learn more about the Broadband Community...**](https://chat.broadbandbreakfast.com/c/start-here/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com)

[Start Your Broadband Journey Here ](https://chat.broadbandbreakfast.com/c/start-here/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) 

Last November, SoftBank [invested a staggering $41 billion in Open AI](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/softbank-has-fully-funded-its-40-billion-investment-openai-cnbc-reports-2025-12-30/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com), the maker of ChatGPT, selling all of its shares in chip maker Nvidia and [over 40 million shares in telecom provider T-Mobile](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/softbank-scoops-92bn-from-partial-t-mobile-stake-sale/?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) to do so. SoftBank is a [major backer of Open AI’s Stargate project](https://broadbandbreakfast.com/openai-looks-across-u-s-for-sites-to-build-its-stargate-ai-data-centers/). 

On Feb. 18, 2026, DigitalBridge and SoftBank[ filed an application](https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1021834228025/1?ref=broadbandbreakfast.com) with the Federal Communications Commission seeking approval of the transaction. The agency has not issued a public notice seeking public comment.