Four more channels to become digital only
By KEVIN POST
Business Editor, 609-272-7250
Published: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Comcast said Wednesday it will reorganize its channel lineups in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties in a month and move four more channels to digital-only availability.In two weeks in Ocean County, Comcast will move to digital-only four channels: the Cartoon Network, the History Channel and Philadelphia broadcasters KYW-3 (CBS) and WPHL-17.In both areas, Comcast will simultaneously add high-definition versions of nine or 10 popular channels.Comcast spokesman Fred DeAndrea said the six existing channel lineups in southern New Jersey will be simplified into just two. Current lineups centered in Avalon, Wildwood and Pleasantville will be merged, as will those centered in Vineland, Turnersville and Franklinville."The channel lineup will become a more streamlined, user-friendly format," DeAndrea said, "making it simpler to search for sports, news, living and children's programming."
Customers in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties will get lots of advance notice of the changes, he said, including advertisements, direct mailings and a Web site to be announced.When the channel numbers change on April 12, four channels - AMC (American Movie Classics), Cartoon Network, the History Channel and TMC (Turner Classic Movies) - will join the cable company's growing list of digital-only channels. Previous channels to move to digital-only include the Game Show Network, NJN and C-SPAN2. DeAndrea said that nearly 70 percent of Comcast subscribers in New Jersey get digital cable and all that comes with it: digital quality picture and sound, an interactive program guide, 10,000 on-demand programs and better parental controls. "Our digital customers are our happiest," he said. Moving channels and customers to digital also makes it possible to provide higher speeds of Internet service.Current analog customers will need to get a digital converter box to receive the channels that are moving to digital-only but won't need to upgrade their level of service. DeAndrea said those currently getting Expanded Basic can get a box for $1 a month, while those with Limited Basic can pay $1.35 a month for a box and a remote.The two Philadelphia channels were moved to digital only because they are out of market for customers in Ocean County, he said. That area is considered part of the New York market, a decision made by the Federal Communications Commission, he said, so Comcast provides the New York broadcast channels."Some residents may feel more closely aligned to Philadelphia, but it's not our decision, it's the FCC's," he said.New channels in high definition - which require a higher level of service and HDTV equipment - in most of southern New Jersey will include TLC, Discovery, Food Network, Animal Planet, HGTV, AMC, CNN, History Channel, SciFi and USA.In Ocean County, new high-def channels will include SportsNet NY, A&E, Food Network, Discovery, Animal Planet, HGTV, USA, History Channel and SciFi.To e-mail Kevin Post at The Press:KPost@pressofac.comCONVERTINGTO DIGITALCABLECurrent analog customers will need to get a digital converter box to receive the channels that are moving to digital-only but won't need to upgrade their level of service. Comcast says those currently getting Expanded Basic can get a box for $1 a month, while those with Limited Basic can pay $1.35 a month for a box and a remote.Subscribers can pick up a digital converter box at a Comcast payment center and hook it up themselves or pay for a technician to install one by calling 888-836-3291.
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