Comcast HDTV [Text View] - Page 37

Marcus Carr

06-16-09, 01:37 AM

Comcast plans upgrade for area customers

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

BY ERIN DUFFY

Comcast's "World of More" digital initiative will be locally implemented late this summer, affecting customers in areas of Princeton, Hamilton, Trenton and Lambertville, Comcast officials announced.

Local customers will receive more digital channels, faster high-speed Internet, better picture and sound quality and more Video On Demand (VOD) options as a result of the nearly $1 billion national upgrade, which is expected to be completed by 2010.

This new upgrade, which is unrelated to last Friday's federal digital TV transition, will allow Comcast to deliver channels in an all-digital format, which takes up less broadband space than analog channels and allows customers more digital and high definition (HD) options.

Eighty-five percent of Comcast customers already receive an all-digital signal; the upgrade will allow those remaining 25 percent to experience what Comcast officials say are the benefits of going all-digital.

"We hear daily from our customers and customers want more," said Jeff Alexander, vice president of public relations for Comcast's Eastern Division. "They want more HD. There's a greater hunger for more VOD, faster internet speeds and this digital upgrade will allow us to provide that to them."

The digital upgrade will primarily affect Comcast's Expanded Basic Cable channel lineup, typically channels 27 through 99, or channels 44 to 96 in Princeton. Viewing of Limited Basic broadcast channels, generally 2 through 26 and 2 to 42 in Princeton, will not be affected by the upgrade.

With the "World of More," customers will receive 15-30 new channels, including Bloomberg TV, Lifetime Movie Network and Movieplex, in addition to the additional HD channels and VOD options Comcast plans to provide in the months following the upgrade.

In order to receive the new digital Expanded Basic lineup, customers will need to hook up digital equipment to their TV sets, including a digital set top box, which will allow access to VOD and other interactive features, and a digital adapter.

Comcast will provide each household with three of these pieces free of charge: one set top box and two digital adapters. Additional adapters can be purchased for approximately $1.99 each and additional set top boxes cost $5 to $9 each.

Customers can receive their equipment by picking it up at a local Comcast counter, having the equipment shipped to them or requesting a technician installation, which costs $18, according to Gloria Faust, director of operations and planning for Comcast's Freedom Region.

Faust said the self-installation method has proved popular among customers, saying the company has received "very positive responses from customers who have self-installed and are actually using them today," like 58-year-old Trenton resident Patricia Cleland.

"Last Saturday they came and I found out what I needed to do," said Cleland, who is deaf and spoke through an interpreter. "I'm very happy about that. I didn't want any mistakes to happen, you know."

Faust said Comcast will continue to update local customers as dates for the digital upgrade draw closer.

"We are making every effort to contact customers and let them know what the World of More is and to make that transition as easy as possible for them," Faust said.

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1245126315155710.xml&coll=5

DaveFi

06-16-09, 02:01 AM

I still love all their commercials claiming how they not only have more and superior HD PQ than FIOS but they're cheaper as well. I and many others who have access to both know that just not to be the case. Spin baby! Spin!!!:rolleyes:

dyhrdmet

06-16-09, 09:07 AM

More from NJ.com (http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2009/06/comcast_to_switch_14_analog_ch.html)

Comcast to switch 14 analog channels to digital

by Venuri Siriwardane / The Star-Ledger
Tuesday June 16, 2009, 6:00 AM

Comcast will deliver standard cable channels in digital format in parts of New Jersey this summer, company officials said yesterday.

Beginning July 28 in Plainfield, the company will switch 14 analog channels in its expanded basic lineup to digital quality. They include MSNBC, Cartoon Network, FX and Lifetime.

That means standard cable subscribers -- who pay for channels 26 to 99 -- will need digital equipment to continue viewing those channels.

The equipment will be provided to customers for free, said spokesman Jeff Alexander.

Customers can either pick it up at a Comcast service center, have it shipped to their home with a self-installation guide or schedule a professional installation for a fee of $18.

Part of a network enhancement initiative called "World of More," the upgrade is not related to the federally mandated digital broadcast transition that went into effect on Friday, Alexander said.

The move will free up bandwidth, or the capacity to move data across Comcast's network.

More bandwidth will allow the company to provide faster internet speeds than its current 50 megabits per second, provide 100 new high-definition channels and offer more video on-demand options, Alexander said.

He declined to say if World of More is an effort to compete with rival Verizon FiOS, which has moved into Comcast's service areas in the state.

Comcast will expand the upgrade to Union, Long Hill and the Meadowlands later this summer.

Marcus Carr

06-16-09, 09:23 AM

More bandwidth will allow the company to provide faster internet speeds than its current 50 megabits per second, provide 100 new high-definition channels and offer more video on-demand options, Alexander said.

100 new HD channels?:eek:

Cal1981

06-16-09, 09:50 AM

100 new HD channels?:eek:

With no FIOS competition in my area, I hope to live long enough to see 100 HD channels!

blitzen102

06-16-09, 11:16 AM

100 new HD channels?:eek:

Settle down. It says "will allow" - meaning that they'll have capacity for that many -- not that they definitely will add that many in the immediate future.

Marcus Carr

06-16-09, 12:09 PM

Settle down. It says "will allow" - meaning that they'll have capacity for that many -- not that they definitely will add that many in the immediate future.

I'm perfectly settled, thanks. And that's your interpretation. My point was that they probably meant about 100 channels total like a few other areas have or are getting.

bigpatky

06-16-09, 01:24 PM

I'm perfectly settled, thanks. And that's your interpretation. My point was that they probably meant about 100 channels total like a few other areas have or are getting.

knowing comcast, they probably meant 100 HD "options." (VOD!);)

QZ1

06-16-09, 02:56 PM

comcast plans upgrade for area customers

tuesday, june 16, 2009

by erin duffy

comcast's "world of more" digital initiative will be locally implemented late this summer, affecting customers in areas of princeton, hamilton, trenton and lambertville, comcast officials announced.

eighty-five percent of comcast customers already receive an all-digital signal; the upgrade will allow those remaining 25 percent to experience what comcast officials say are the benefits of going all-digital.

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1245126315155710.xml&coll=5

85 + 25 = 110% :)

keenan

06-16-09, 03:05 PM

85 + 25 = 110% :)

Since when did facts mean anything in the pay TV world? :D

Marcus Carr

06-16-09, 06:35 PM

Comcast Expands Project Cavalry In Northern N.J.

Operator Eliminating Analog Standard Expanded Basic Cable Channels to Free Up Spectrum

Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 6/16/2009 2:51:46 PM MT

Comcast will retire analog cable channels in several northern New Jersey systems this summer, as it continues the rollout of Project Cavalry, its initiative to convert to mostly digital-video distribution.

The operator's Plainfield, N.J., system will move 14 analog channels in its expanded basic lineup to digital-only, including MSNBC, Cartoon Network, FX and Lifetime, beginning July 28. Comcast will to Union, Long Hill and the Meadowlands area later this summer.

All told, Comcast will be eliminating the analog standard expanded basic channels -- generally, channels in the 26 through 99 range - while continuing to deliver limited basic channels in analog, which include local broadcast stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and PBS, shopping channels, Univision and various public access and government channels.

To receive the digital channels, Comcast in New Jersey is providing customers who currently subscriber to standard expanded basic up to three pieces of equipment for no extra monthly cost: one digital set-top box and two digital terminal adapters (DTAs).

There are no installation costs if customers pick up and install the devices themselves, while Comcast is charging $18 for a technician to perform the install. Additional DTAs are available for $1.99 per month; based on level of service, additional set-top boxes cost $5 to $9 per month.

Comcast spokesman Jeff Alexander said the moves are part of the larger conversion to all-digital operation in the Freedom Region, which includes Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs, northern Delaware and New Jersey.

"We've started to deploy devices in the large majority of the greater Philadelphia area as well as in North and South Jersey," he wrote in an e-mail.

The project involves retiring 40 to 50 analog channels, freeing up more bandwidth for high-definition channels, video-on-demand and DOCSIS 3.0 services.

Project Cavalry will cost Comcast about $1 billion total, or less than 10% "of what a physical rebuild would cost us historically," chief operating officer Steve Burke said on the company's first-quarter earnings call in May. The company expects to complete the all-digital conversion nationwide by the end of 2010.

In New Jersey, Comcast is touting the upgrade to digital to customers under the rubric "World of More," advertising the benefits of digital cable, including video-on-demand and other features. The MSO is also explaining that the upgrade will allow delivery of more HD channels and expanded VOD selection

http://www.multichannel.com/article/294767-Comcast_Expands_Project_Cavalry_In_Northern_N_J_.php

lstorm

06-17-09, 03:24 PM

And whether Comcast has the channels you personally enjoy or not, the picture quality is borderline disastrous on all of them. As an example, take ESPN: the gradient in the BottomLine should not be swimming. On FiOS every channel is crystal clear, HD or otherwise.

I live in one of the few apartments in my area that doesn' have FIOS yet (can't friggin wait). My friend does have FIOS. Comcast "HD" is absolutely the WORST picture quality of anything I have ever seen that would have the nerve to try to pass itself off as "HD". Comparing it to the picture quality of my buddy's FIOS makes me want to cry. This is what I see every day when I try to watch Comcast "HD"

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271

and then Comcast has the nerve to say they have the "BEST HD" (as compared to FIOS on their latest commercials in my area)???

Sorry picture quality to me is the absolute, without a doubt, #1 factor for me when it comes to TV - isn't that why high definition was invented??? I'd rather have one true HD signal than 1 million of these compressed, pixelated abominations of channels.:mad:

Marcus Carr

06-17-09, 04:51 PM

New channels coming to the Seattle area around July 21, including TCM HD, MSNBC HD, ESPNU HD, TruTV HD, Outdoor Channel HD, BET HD, Comedy Central HD, CMT HD, VH1 HD, MTV HD, NBA TV HD, Tennis Channel HD, etc.

See the PDF attached here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156209

deuce1973

06-17-09, 08:36 PM

Marcus, thanks for that update. We have a good selection here in Savannah, GA, but dont have any of those channels in HD. I am hoping that we get the same update as well!

sansri88

06-17-09, 08:41 PM

FWIW here is the pamphlet Comcast is giving out in one of the Comcast NJ systems affected by Project Cavalry:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22568661-

jrcorwin

06-17-09, 09:37 PM

Well, no more Comcast tv service for me. I'll keep the internet service however. I just couldn't continue paying more for less. I cannot stand that they can only add new HD channels by removing popular ones. The fact that they include HD On Demand reruns in their HD count is pure nonsense as well. Former Insight customers continue to be treated as lepers by Comcast. Poor internal communication regarding upgrades and changes. Entirely different programming options within even the same region. Many, many more reasons...

Directv will be installed in July. Less money. More HD. Better picture quality. I understand and feel for those of you stuck with Comcast (apartment dwellers and such)...I just don't understand those of you who have a choice and stick with Comcrap. You must not like money and quality service...

slowbiscuit

06-17-09, 10:26 PM

There are many reasons to stick with Comcast depending on where you live, and they have nothing to do with lack of choice.

Obviously, they don't apply to you.

sgtjim

06-17-09, 11:33 PM

New channels coming to the Seattle area around July 21, including MSNBC HD, ESPNU HD, TruTV HD, Outdoor Channel HD, BET HD, Comedy Central HD, CMT HD, VH1 HD, MTV HD, NBA TV HD, Tennis Channel HD, etc.

See the PDF attached here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156209

The best that I see is the addition of TCM HD & MGM HD. In Matyland we don't even receive regulat TCM let alone TCM HD>

Marcus Carr

06-18-09, 01:39 AM

Central PA HD adds 6/22

Lebanon:
AMC
BIO
Cartoon
CNN
E!
LMN
Planet Green
Travel

Millersburg:
AMC
An Plt
BIO
Bravo
Cartoon
CNBC
CNN
DISXD
E!
Encore
Fox Biz
Fuse
FX
G4
Hist
HMC
IFC
Lifetime
LMN
MGM
NBA
NHL
Nick
Planet Green
QVC
Spike
Style
Stz Comedy
Stz Edge
Stz Kids/Fam
TMC
Travel
TV One
TWC
We

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22569996-Central-PA-HD-adds-622

jrcorwin

06-18-09, 08:13 AM

There are many reasons to stick with Comcast depending on where you live, and they have nothing to do with lack of choice.

Obviously, they don't apply to you.
What reasons are those?

Doom878

06-18-09, 08:16 AM

Marcus Carr

06-18-09, 09:21 AM

In [Maryland] we don't even receive [regular] TCM

I do.

slowbiscuit

06-18-09, 01:59 PM

What reasons are those?
:rolleyes: Where to begin?

no rain fade
can buy or build your own DVR (and network them)
can be cheaper than D* with promos
bundled high speed internet and phone deals (Triple Play)
HD quality comparable, if not better
don't have to pay for a box for every TV
etc. etc. etc.

I shouldn't have to spell these out, honestly. Sat is not the magic bullet for TV service, nor is cable. Each local area will have its own strengths and weaknesses, and each person will have to try the providers and decide on their own.

jrcorwin

06-18-09, 02:20 PM

:rolleyes: Where to begin?

no rain fade
can buy or build your own DVR (and network them)
can be cheaper than D* with promos
bundled high speed internet and phone deals (Triple Play)
HD quality comparable, if not better
don't have to pay for a box for every TV
etc. etc. etc.

I shouldn't have to spell these out, honestly. Sat is not the magic bullet for TV service, nor is cable. Each local area will have its own strengths and weaknesses, and each person will have to try the providers and decide on their own.
Let's work our way down your flawed list:

Rain fade is an issue which can be overcome
With DirecTV you can purchase your own DVR and network them as well
With Comcast you are paying more for less. Even with the available promos I will be paying less with DirecTV and receiving many more HD channels.
I already said I am keeping the internet service...I have no use for a home phone
Are you really claiming that the Comcast PQ is superior? Now that's funny...
With Directv I don't have to pay for additional receivers (up to 6)

DeltaBill

06-18-09, 03:06 PM

Let's work our way down your flawed list:

Rain fade is an issue which can be overcome
With DirecTV you can purchase your own DVR and network them as well
With Comcast you are paying more for less. Even with the available promos I will be paying less with DirecTV and receiving many more HD channels.
I already said I am keeping the internet service...I have no use for a home phone
Are you really claiming that the Comcast PQ is superior? Now that's funny...
With Directv I don't have to pay for additional receivers (up to 6)

The PQ issue you perceive/have might be related to your Comcast market. I can tell you that I have seen both D* and Comcast HD on the same TV here in Atlanta and the PQ was nearly identical but Comcast appeared a little better and seemed to have less break-ups. Also, from what I have read in several articles is that D* compresses all of the HD channels about the same. However, Comcast compression varies between channel and market with most local stations in many markets having no compression at all.

My point is that a blanket statement like D* PQ is better than Comcast is not accurate since you may be right is some situations and very wrong in others.

BDCat

06-18-09, 03:08 PM

Not to get embroiled in a rather stupid argument but I have to say one thing. Whether or not Comcast, Dish, DirecTV or Uverse is the least expensive depends on the type of service you require!

I check the cost differences (for me) quite regularly and DirecTV is the most expensive, by quite a substantial amount, every time! I have one HDTV with a DVR, one SD TV with a digital box and two SD TVs with “out-of-the-wall” service. I have regular digital service with HBO and Cinemax – no add-on packages.

Last time I checked (back in February), for similar service, DirecTV was $134, Comcast was $104 and Dish was $105; I don’t have the Uverse figures but they were very close to Comcast (and Dish).

So, it really does all depend on what you are looking for. Oh, and FWIW, a friend has DirecTV and my PQ (from Comcast) is every bit as good as his, at least, to my eyes (and that is what counts)! Of course, channel availability is another story!!!!

DVDO+WESTY=1080p

06-18-09, 03:15 PM

June updates for DC, DE, MD, NC, VA, WV:

http://comcastchannelchanges.com/

Parts of NC and WV are getting HDNet on 6/30.

ION HD is good, I have comcast and FIOS in the house yes it can be done if you ask and am making comparisions between the two, I wish that comcast in Manassas went all digital but they told me that they have too many customers with basic cable and don't want to use those customers.

So far FIOS is superior in every way I can see

DVDO+WESTY=1080p

06-18-09, 03:18 PM

sgtjim

06-18-09, 05:06 PM

I do.

Let's change that to Southern Maryland Comcast in Charles Co.

bicker1

06-19-09, 05:29 AM

Gosh, big surprise: Someone who thinks his personal opinion of his non-Comcast service is better than Comcast service for everyone else, and is apparently incapable or unwilling to accept that the evaluation works out differently for different people.

Rule #1 is to respect the life that each other is living and that includes allowing for differences of opinion. Someone likes DirecTV better, and someone likes Comcast better. Neither are "right" and neither are "wrong"... the only "wrong" is presuming that one's own personal experience is the only possible rational experience.

slowbiscuit

06-19-09, 07:20 AM

Exactly, and I'm not saying that Comcast is great or in any way superior to D*, just that the quality, features, and price of service delivered varies by market. So there *are* valid reasons why a rational person would choose Comcast given a choice, regardless of what jrcorwin personally believes.

serialmike

06-19-09, 09:48 AM

As a person that has had both Comcast and D*. I can tell you from my experience.

D* HD quality doesn't come close to comcasts not close. Rain fade does and WILL happen anything else is a LIE. my satallite was in position with unheard of 98 percent signals and Tstorms will take you out.

D* is also in the game of grabbing you in holding your throat and not letting go unless you spend hiundreds to get out.

I hate em both but if I had to have one it would be comcast.

2cents spent :)

Edit- And as far as price all providers have different pricing for different markets and these are all relatively close to each other. They may be better for a given period of time but overall your better off with the one that provides the most content you watch at the best quality rather than price shopping because the time you spend back and forth could have been spent relaxing watching your setup.

Marcus Carr

06-19-09, 01:45 PM

According to an email I got from Comcast, ESPN360 will be available on August 1.

bigpatky

06-19-09, 05:33 PM

According to an email I got from Comcast, ESPN360 will be available on August 1.

looks like that might be national. i was wondering about that. i got the same email in the utah area.

georule

06-19-09, 07:04 PM

Rain fade does and WILL happen anything else is a LIE. my satallite was in position with unheard of 98 percent signals and Tstorms will take you out.

That's interesting. We just went from Comcast to DirecTV two days ago, in part on the assurances of the chief engineer of a top 15 market broadcast network affilliate that his own home D* system almost never goes out for rain fade, and then for only a few seconds.

Obviously, I hope he's right and you're not, because this is definitely thunderstorm/tornado land where I am. :) We got 98% signal on the install too, so I guess we'll see over the next couple months.

At any rate, all you Comcastians who are hoping/praying for an early arrival of "The World of More" in your area. . . I wish you the very best of luck at being on the 2009 schedule instead of the 2010 schedule. According to Comcast's official statements, each Comcast region has a 50/50 chance.

serialmike

06-19-09, 07:37 PM

Thunderhead storms here in delaware could take me out from 10 min to 45 min. And Tstorms are every dam day to every other day in delaware :)

Sun Storms were worse when they happened.

Snow storms with ice will take you out for days unless the antenna is mounted where you can clean it every few hrs if its a storm snowing at the rate of an inch an hr ish too

georule

06-19-09, 10:16 PM

BSTNFAN

06-19-09, 10:29 PM

looks like that might be national. i was wondering about that. i got the same email in the utah area.

If you go the ESPN 360 site, it says all Comcast customers will get access.

BSTNFAN

06-19-09, 10:37 PM

I'm relatively sure a Delaware guy doesn't want to trade thunderstorm/tornado stories with a Minnesotan, but I'm damn sure you don't want to trade snow stories. :) I'll drop back and bump this post next April with how it went. . .

I'm back in MA now, but I had D* when I lived in FL and I'll jump into the mine is bigger than yours debate for T-storms (I can't help with the snow question!). Any heavy storm clouds definitely had an impact. Usually lasted 15-60 minutes. My signal strength was normally great, but it is what it is. If I left MA (home) again, I'd go right back to it for the out-of-market sports, but I don't think it gives me any benefits here.

MickeyGee

06-20-09, 07:27 AM

According to an email I got from Comcast, ESPN360 will be available on August 1.
Welcome to the "World of More".

serialmike

06-20-09, 08:32 AM

Heh, I wasnt trying to say our Tstorms were bad. In fact that was my point.

The point was even here where they are no where near as bad ....Bam we were down for as I remember it 10-45 min.

We did have penny hail for around 20+ minutes last week....half an inch hail on my deck :)

On the other hand I have had Fios for 2.5 yrs my TV has been down 0 min and my internet was down for 1 day. Only later did I realize it was the router. I could have put my own router on and away I would have went but I was down until they brought a new one the next day.

In other words technically thru foot plus ice and snow. Hail thunderstorms you name it I have been down 0 min in 2.5 yrs.

Now you know why I am pre biased :)

Karl Beem

06-20-09, 09:11 AM

Where can I get information about "your own DVR".

bicker1

06-20-09, 09:19 AM

Where can I get information about "your own DVR".

TiVo HD (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=879469)
TiVo Series 3 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=722696)
Moxi HD DVR (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1119630)
Samsung 3090/3270 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1152474)

DVR with QAM Tuners (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=988785)
DVD-Rs with Comcast (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1143305)
Options for digital recording (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1155279)
DVR and Digital Cable (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1137767)

These will NOT help you... they do NOT work with cable:

DTV Pal Plus DVR (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1088519)

OTA DVRs (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=802310)
OTA HD DVRs (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1090718)

georule

06-26-09, 01:05 PM

http://www.hdtvtwincities.com/forumbb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5130

DCX3400 in the wild in Minneapolis/St. Paul

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/2931/imag0015p.jpg

Morac

06-26-09, 01:52 PM

Comcast launches more HD channels in select areas

Posted by Jeffrey Nukom on Jun 4th, 2009

Comcast added new HD channels to its line-up in northern Delaware, New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. The new channels available in high-definition include Speed HD, FX HD and Fox News Channel HD.

On June 12, Comcast says it will launch ION Television HD and WFMZ-TV HD in select New Jersey areas including Union, Meadowlands and Plainfield, Burlington, Gloucester, Garden State, Maple Shade, and Central New Jersey.

I got ION HD and WFMZ HD (plus the 2 non-HD channels, WYBEM and WYBEG), but did not get Speed HD, FX HD or FNC HD.

For some strange reason my TiVo thinks it's the opposite since today it "added" the channels I don't get, but did not add the channels I do.

rcodey

06-26-09, 04:04 PM

Comcast launches more HD channels in select areas

Posted by Jeffrey Nukom on Jun 4th, 2009

Comcast added new HD channels to its line-up in northern Delaware, New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. The new channels available in high-definition include Speed HD, FX HD and Fox News Channel HD.

On June 12, Comcast says it will launch ION Television HD and WFMZ-TV HD in select New Jersey areas including Union, Meadowlands and Plainfield, Burlington, Gloucester, Garden State, Maple Shade, and Central New Jersey.

A Comcast representative said, “Through our ‘World of More’ digital service upgrade, we’ll continue to bring customers additional HD choices including more than 100 of the very best HD channels.”

http://www.hd-report.com/2009/06/04/comcast-launches-more-hd-channels-in-select-areas/

I'm on the Union system and we don't have WFMZ-TV HD and would be surprised if we get it. We've never received the SD version and I believe WFMZ is in the Philadelphia DMA,not NY.

dyhrdmet

06-26-09, 06:24 PM

I'm on the Union system and we don't have WFMZ-TV HD and would be surprised if we get it. We've never received the SD version and I believe WFMZ is in the Philadelphia DMA,not NY.

there was a caveat somewhere (maybe on a different forum) about WFMZ for the Philly DMA only (which makes sense). No explanation why the Union system never got Speed, FX, and FOX News in HD and all the others in NJ did.

Morac

06-26-09, 07:02 PM

there was a caveat somewhere (maybe on a different forum) about WFMZ for the Philly DMA only (which makes sense). No explanation why the Union system never got Speed, FX, and FOX News in HD and all the others in NJ did.

I'm not in the Union system, but I am in the NJ and I didn't get Speed, FX or FNC in HD either. So it isn't everywhere.

acolby87

06-27-09, 01:24 PM

I live in Bucks County, just outside NE Philadelphia. I don't have any of the new HD channels yet.

sgtjim

07-02-09, 05:01 PM

Since the 6/12/09 DTV conversion with Channels 7 & 9 in DC switching to VHF has anyone else noticed picture freezes as a result of Comcast not having a strong enough antenna to receive these channels in Southern Md. I thought they said if you were hooked to cable there would be no problems. The freezes
are bad enough if you have an OTA setup but this is ridiculous.

Joel Clemons

07-03-09, 11:53 AM

No explanation why the Union system never got Speed, FX, and FOX News in HD and all the others in NJ did.

Now that I've left Comcast, its nice to see that some things never change!

bicker1

07-03-09, 12:22 PM

I didn't get an "explanation" from the folks at FiOS that I asked why they don't have AMC HD. Service providers generally don't provide proprietary information like that to the public. I sure would like it if they did though. It would help me make more personally beneficial decisions.

Marcus Carr

07-04-09, 11:13 PM

More new HD for Portland:

On my bill I received online today, there will be 32 new HD channels and 5 new SD channels coming September 1st:

NEW HD CHANNELS

CH 722: Outdoor Channel HD
CH 724: Tennis Channel HD
CH 725: CBS College Sports HD
CH 726: Big Ten Network HD
CH 727: ESPNU HD
CH 728: NBA TV HD
CH 745: Headline News HD
CH 751: TruTV HD
CH 756: BET HD
CH 760: Comedy Central HD
CH 761: CMT HD
CH 762: VH1 HD
CH 763: MTV HD
CH 784: Turner Classic Movies HD
CH 790: MSNBC HD
CH 836: Starz Edge HD
CH 839: Starz Kids and Family HD
CH 840: Starz Comedy HD
CH 853: HBO2 HD
CH 855: HBO Signature HD
CH 857: HBO Family HD
CH 858: HBO Latino HD
CH 859: HBO Comedy HD
CH 860: HBO Zone HD
CH 864: More MAX HD
CH 866: Action MAX HD
CH 867: Thriller MAX HD
CH 878: Showtime Too HD
CH 880: Showtime Showcase HD
CH 882: Showtime Extreme HD
CH 891: TMC HD
CH 893: TMC Xtra HD

MOVED HD CHANNELS

CH 719: Hallmark Movie Channel HD (moved from CH 717)
CH 744: CNN HD (moved from CH 745)
CH 787: Universal HD (moved from CH 756)
CH 796: Disney XD HD (moved from CH 744)
CH 805: Playboy Channel (moved from CH 853)
CH 834: Starz HD (moved from CH 784)
CH 851: HBO HD (moved from CH 788)
CH 861: Cinemax HD (moved from CH 793)
CH 876: Showtime HD (moved from CH 796)

NEW SD CHANNELS

CH 106: C-SPAN 3 (Digital Starter)
CH 180: Ovation (Digital Classic)
CH 185: Retirement Living TV (Digtal Classic)
CH 405: Sportsman Channel (Digital Classic)
CH 500: Hallmark Movie Channel (Digital Starter)

MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES

Style Network moves down to the Digital Starter tier.
Hallmark Channel will no longer be on CH 185, but will stay on CH 18.
Oxygen will no longer be on CH 500, but will stay on CH 68.

Marcus Carr

07-06-09, 03:56 PM

West Virginia Attorney General Sues Comcast Over Set-Tops

State AG Alleges MSO Violates Antitrust and Consumer-Protection Laws

Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/6/2009 2:47:09 PM EDT

The attorney general of West Virginia has sued Comcast, alleging that the cable operator violates state antitrust and consumer-protection laws by forcing subscribers to lease set-top boxes.

West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw filed suit against the cable company in the Circuit Court of Marshall County, W.Va., on July 1, according to the Mineral Daily News-Tribune in Keyser, W.Va. http://www.newstribune.info/news/x1885881195/AG-suing-Comcast

The suit seeks damages on behalf of West Virginia consumers for the increased cost of cable services, plus statutory damages and civil penalties, and seeks an injunction against Comcast preventing similar conduct in the future, the newspaper reported.

A Comcast spokeswoman said the company had not seen a copy of the suit and declined to comment.

A lawyer in McGraw's office handling the case did not respond to requests for information, including whether the attorney general planned to sue other cable providers or satellite TV operators that provide service in the state.

Under a federal law enforced by the Federal Communications Commission, Comcast and other cable operators already are required to provide CableCard devices to customers who wish to access TV programming using a third-party device, such as a TiVo DVR.

The West Virginia suit appears similar to actions filed by consumers in California against Comcast and in Missouri against Time Warner Cable.

In the California case, a Comcast customer in Stockton, Calif., alleged that the cable company's set-top rental practice represents an "unlawful tying arrangement resulting in an impermissible restraint of trade" violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, among other laws.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/307529-West_Virginia_Attorney_General_Sues_Comcast_Over_Set_Tops.ph p

SharpOne

07-06-09, 04:00 PM

Hello Comcast subscribers.

I currently have Dish satellite service and was foiled in my attempt to upgrade to their HD service, by the neighbor's house and some tall trees.

I've been taking a look at Comcast, and their Triple Play looks interesting. I live in the Chicagoland area. This is a somewhat long thread, which I will peruse in detail down the line, but some of these specials end soon, so I'd like to come to a decision relatively quickly. In any case, can anyone in the Chicagoland area provide some feedback on their service and channel content. From the brief look, I took, they seem to be a bit light on channels compared to Dish. However, it looks like all the majors are there, minus HDNet.

Is my initial assessment accurate? If I go for the triple play and get the phone service in there, I should be able to save a few dollars at least for the year special. Speaking of which, how difficult is it to get the same rate again after the special is over?

Any general comments on any of the three (cable, internet, phone) Comcast services are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

SharpOne

07-07-09, 12:36 PM

grampy

07-07-09, 02:07 PM

Anyone from the Chicagoland area have any comments?
Try posting in the local thread, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241

SharpOne

07-07-09, 10:56 PM

Try posting in the local thread, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241

Thanks for the suggestion...will do.:) That's exactly what I was looking for.

jeepmatt

07-08-09, 09:19 AM

re: Bicker - "I didn't get an "explanation" from the folks at FiOS that I asked why they don't have AMC HD."

It's well known that Verizon and Rainbow Media are enemies. VZ is suing them over the MSG HD mess - where they are withholding the channel from Verizon.

I wouldn't expect to see AMC HD on FIOS in the very near term - and this will also affect WE HD, IFC HD, and their other offerings.

comcast user

07-09-09, 07:41 AM

I got this notice with my monthly bill:

Effective 7/7/09 - Jewelry TV ch 239 added to Digital Starter. Lifetime Movie Network ch 611 moved to Digital Starter. HSN moves to ch 16. CSPAN moves to ch 98.

Efective 7/30/09 - ESPN Classic ch 512 moves to Sports Entertainment Package. ESPN U ch 511 added to Digital Classic. ESPNews ch 513, MLB ch 516, and MLB HD ch 949 added to Sports Entertainment Package.

NBA TV ch 514 added to Digital Classic. NFL ch 547 and NFL HD ch 920 added to Digital Classic. NHL ch 515 added to Digital Classic.

Just wish the NBA, NHL, and ESPNU were also adding an HD Channel!!

kb11

07-09-09, 07:03 PM

jhachey

07-09-09, 07:39 PM

Portland is the only area I know of that has ESPNU HD.Much of the Seattle area will have ESPNU-HD starting August 5th.

Marcus Carr

07-10-09, 08:06 AM

Comcast Going Mostly Digital, Bringing More HD, Faster Internet Service

By LYNN DOAN

The Hartford Courant

July 10, 2009

This month, Comcast will launch its own digital transition in Connecticut.

The company, the state's largest cable provider, is converting most of its lineup of channels from analog to digital, freeing up space for more high-definition programming and faster Internet speeds.

"People are asking why there aren't more HD channels, why there aren't more HD movies. The supermajority is all about more," said Douglas Guthrie, Comcast's senior vice president in the western New England region. "The days of analog are gone."

The conversion will allow Comcast to offer more than 100 HD channels, 10,000 programs a month On Demand, faster Internet services and new telephone service features.

Comcast says its move is unrelated to the nationwide switch on June 12, when the federal government required all television broadcasters to turn off their analog signals and switch to digital signals to free up the airwaves for public safety services and new wireless technology.

Basic cable customers, who receive a limited analog lineup, will not be affected, but customers currently signed up for Comcast's expanded basic cable service, a more expansive analog lineup, could benefit from Comcast's switch.

These customers will have to install a digital converter or adapter box on every television set. But in return, they'll get free access to Comcast's television menus, On Demand content and new digital-quality channels.

Comcast is giving every expanded basic customer one free digital converter box — the standard box that digital Comcast customers receive to access Comcast's television menus and On Demand content. They'll also receive two free, hand-size "digital adapter boxes" that will allow other television sets to display digital-quality channels.

Telecom analyst Jeff Kagan warned that Comcast's switch isn't necessarily going to benefit all customers.

Expanded basic customers who own more than three television sets will have to rent additional digital converter or adapter boxes for about $2 a month each. The upgrade to digital could also pave the way for the company to sell more services to customers.

"From the company's perspective, it makes a lot of sense. It's a way to increase its revenues," Kagan said. "From the customers' perspective, if you have more than three television sets, then you're not going to be happy, because you're paying more in order to get a handful of more channels."

Comcast officials said they were giving three free digital boxes to each customer because the average household owns about three sets. If a television set isn't hooked up to a digital converter or adapter following the switch, it will display about one-third of the channels it does now.

The company is scheduled to digitize its lineup in the Vernon area — which includes Andover, Bolton and Ellington — on July 22. Its Plainville service area — which includes Avon, Berlin, Bristol and Farmington — will be converted in August.

The rest of the company's Connecticut service areas will follow.

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-comcast-digital-quality-0710.artjul10,0,7103460.story

Marcus Carr

07-10-09, 10:00 AM

Comcast to Launch 80 New Networks in Portions of San Francisco Bay Area as it Offers a 'World of More' Programming

Posted : Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:31:14 GMT

51 New HD Networks, 14 International Channels and 13 Spanish Language Networks Come To Areas of South Bay and North Bay After Successfully Converting Customers to Digital Services, Comcast Now Has 92 HD Networks and Delivers on Programming Promise With Slew of New Viewing Options in Phase One of Bay's Digital Upgrade

LIVERMORE, Calif., July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK, CMCSA), the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced that it is launching 80 new networks on August 11 in portions of the San Francisco Bay Area, including up to 51 high-definition (HD) networks, 13 Spanish language channels, 14 international premium networks and two standard definition channels (see complete list of networks and channel numbers below). Twenty-six communities in the South Bay and North Bay (see complete list of cities below) will now have access to 92 HD networks and will be receiving a slew of new programming in the first phase of channel launches as a result of Comcast's recent digital upgrade of customers from analog to digital.

Earlier this year, Comcast began a digital migration called "The World of More," offering digital upgrades to Standard Cable customers to migrate from analog to digital, and converting channels 31 and above to a digitally delivered format. Comcast's digital upgrade reclaimed analog bandwidth to allow the company to provide more products and services to customers, such as faster Internet speeds, more channels and more ON DEMAND content. Comcast continues its digital migration in other portions of the Bay Area and those areas will receive the new programming in subsequent phases later in 2009.

"We've heard from customers that they can't get enough HD and multicultural programming, so we're excited to exponentially increase our offering of those networks and give even more value to our customers as part of our digital upgrade," said Steve White, Senior Vice President of Comcast's California Region. "These channel launches are about delivering on Comcast's promise to customers that by converting to digital, we could offer more of the products and services they want, right away. And this is just the beginning as we roll out 'The World of More' in California."

Beginning August 11, the new programming will be available to residential homes and businesses in the following cities: Belvedere, Corte Madera, Cupertino, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Los Altos, Marin, Mill Valley, Milpitas, Mountain View, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sausalito, Sunnyvale, Tiburon and Woodacre. (Note: Los Altos, Milpitas, Saratoga and Sunnyvale have already launched 12 of the HD networks and Retirement Living TV, so those cities will be receiving 67 new networks).

The new HD networks will include: BET HD, Biography Channel HD, Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, CBS College Sports HD, CMT HD, CNBC HD, Comedy Central HD, Disney XD HD, E! HD, Encore HD, ESPN News HD, Fox Business Network HD, Fox News Channel HD, Fuse HD, FX HD, G4 HD, Hallmark Movie Channel HD, HBO Comedy HD, HBO Latino HD, HBO Zone HD, IFC HD, Lifetime HD, Lifetime Movie Network HD, MGM HD, MLB Network HD, MSNBC HD, MTV HD, NBA TV HD, NHL Network HD, Nickelodeon HD, Outdoor Channel HD, Planet Green HD, QVC HD, Showtime Too HD, Speed HD, Spike HD, Starz! Comedy HD, Starz! Edge HD, Starz! Kids & Family HD, Style Network HD, Thriller MAX HD, Action MAX HD, TMC The Movie Channel HD, Travel Channel HD, TV One HD, VH1 HD, WE HD, The Weather Channel HD, WGN HD and a pay-per-view (PPV) HD channel.

In addition to these new HD Channels, Comcast continues to deliver more HD content ON DEMAND, so customers can watch HD when they want to watch it. With more than 1,000 HD choices, Comcast is delivering the HD programming that aligns with what consumers want to watch and how they want to watch it, for example:

live HD sporting events from all of the major local broadcasters, Comcast SportsNet, ESPN and ESPN2, TBS, TNT, Versus, etc.; more than 200 HD movies from top movie providers; nearly 300 television shows including highly acclaimed television series like "Mad Men," "Weeds" and the "CSI" series, available on linear and on HD On Demand the day after they air; and hundreds of music offerings in the music category, which is one of the most popular categories currently On Demand.

Customers who do not receive HD channels will have new programming options as well. All of the areas will receive Hallmark Movie Channel and those areas that have not already launched Retirement Living TV, will receive that network as well. All cities will receive the 14 international premium networks, which include Antenna One, Band Internacional, C1R, Deutsche Welle, GMA Life, MYX, PFC 100% Futebol, RTP, Setanta Sports, STAR India GOLD, STAR India NEWS, STAR ONE, TV Globo and Vijay, as well as the 13 Spanish language channels, which include AYM Sports, Bandamax, De Pelicula, De Pelicula Clasico, EWTN En Espanol, Latele Novela, Multimedios, Ritmoson Latino, SUR Mexico, TeleHit, Teleritmo, TBN Enlace and Utilisima.

In addition to the new networks, up to 29 additional international and HD networks are changing channel numbers in order to group together genres of programming as well as channels that share a similar language or country of origin (see complete list of networks and channel numbers below).

The following lists can also be found at http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com

51 NEW HIGH DEFINITION (HD) NETWORKS

Network New Channel #
------- -------------
WGN HD 717
QVC HD * 719
ESPN News HD726
NBA TV HD 727
NHL Network HD 728
MLB Network HD 729
Speed HD * 731
CBS College Sports HD 732
Bravo HD * 733
TV One HD 740
FX HD * 741
Style Network HD742
Spike HD743
G4 HD 744
Comedy Central HD 745
E! HD * 753
Travel Channel HD *755
Fox News Channel HD * 760
Fox Business Network HD * 761
CNBC HD * 762
Disney XD HD763
Cartoon Network HD * 766
Nickelodeon HD 767
Planet Green HD 771
Biography Channel HD 772
The Weather Channel HD 776
BET HD 777
CMT HD778
Fuse HD 779
VH1 HD 781
MTV HD 782
Outdoor Channel HD 784
MSNBC HD787
IFC HD 790
WE HD 791
Hallmark Movie Channel HD *794
Lifetime HD 795
Lifetime Movie Network HD 796
MGM HD 797
HBO Comedy HD 805
HBO Zone HD807
HBO Latino HD 808
Encore HD * 809
Starz! Edge HD817
Starz! Comedy HD818
Starz! Kids & Family HD819
Showtime Too HD826
Action MAX HD 840
Thriller MAX HD841
TMC The Movie Channel HD 847
PPV Events HD 870

* Has already launched in Los Altos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Saratoga and
Sunnyvale

2 NEW STANDARD DEFINITION NETWORKS

Network New Channel #
------- -------------
Hallmark Movie Channel 500
Retirement Living TV * 205

* Has already launched in Los Altos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Saratoga and
Sunnyvale

14 NEW INTERNATIONAL PREMIUM NETWORKS
For programming information visit www.comcast.com/internationaltv

Network New Channel #
------- -------------
Setanta Sports(English/International) 300
TV Globo(Portuguese/Brazilian) 305
PFC 100% Futebol (Portuguese/Brazilian) 306
Band Internacional(Portuguese/Brazilian)307
RTP(Portuguese) 310
Antenna One(Greek) 312
Deutsche Welle(German) 315
C1R(Russian)325
STAR India NEWS(South Asian - Hindi)341
STAR ONE(South Asian - Hindi) 342
STAR India GOLD(South Asian - Hindi)343
Vijay(South Asian - Tamil) 349
MYX(English + Taglish) 368
GMA Life(English + Tagalog) 370

13 NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE NETWORKS

Network New Channel #
------- -------------
AYM Sports(sports) 626
Multimedios(news) 632
SUR Mexico(news)641
Latele Novela(soap operas) 645
Utilisima(women)646
TeleHit(music/entertainment)653
Ritmoson Latino(music/entertainment)654
Teleritmo(music/entertainment) 655
Bandamax(music/entertainment) 656
TBN Enlace(religious) 658
EWTN En Espanol(religious) 659
De Pelicula(movies) 664
De Pelicula Clasico(movies) 665

29 CHANNEL CHANGES

Network Old Channel # New Channel #
------- ------------- -------------
TV5Monde(French) 252 317
Raitalia(Italian) 254 319
RTN(Russian) 255 324
TV Japan(Japanese)245 330
SBTN(Vietnamese) 248 331
tvK(Korean) 263 332
Zee TV(South Asian) 246 336
TV Asia(South Asian) 247 337
SET Asia (SONY)(South Asian) 249 338
STAR India PLUS(South Asian) 250 340
CTI-Zhong Tian Channel (Chinese/Mandarin) 243 354
CCTV-4(Chinese/Mandarin) 244 355
Phoenix Info News (Mandarin/Dragon Pack) 257 356
Phoenix North America
(Mandarin/Dragon Pack) 258 357
ETTV-Super Channel
(Mandarin/Dragon Pack) 256 358
Jade(Chinese/Cantonese) 262 360
The Filipino Channel(Filipino)241 367
GMA Pinoy TV(Filipino)242 369
Playboy en Espanol(Spanish) 613 676
ABC Family HD 764 768
Disney Channel HD 765 769
Palladia HD 743 783
Hallmark Movie Channel HD 749 794
AMC HD769 798
HBO HD770 801
Encore HD 775 809
Starz! HD 780 816
Showtime HD 785 825
Cinemax HD792 838

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/comcast-to-launch-80-new,888067.shtml

bigpatky

07-10-09, 03:33 PM

holy cow! that's a lot of great HD channels. i just hope comcast is quick to roll this out in the rest of the country.

bicker1

07-10-09, 04:36 PM

Last word I read was that this will be practically everywhere by the end of 2010.

bigpatky

07-10-09, 04:40 PM

judging by my market (slc, ut), i can expect this sometime around late december, 2010- scratch that, judging by comcast's history with meeting announced deadlines, i can expect this to reach me by about 2012. just in time for the end of the world. :D

Lodef

07-10-09, 09:44 PM

georule

07-10-09, 10:53 PM

holy cow! that's a lot of great HD channels. i just hope comcast is quick to roll this out in the rest of the country.

If we got that in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I'd still be a Comcast subscriber. By their own timeline, they are talking about late 2010 to get all Comcast subscibers on "World of More", and by the iron law of large projects, that really means they'll be into 2011. That's not a Comcast dig, that's just the way it goes with big projects.

What they've also said is that they will have 50% of their footprint "started" on the World of More thing by 1/1/2010. The process seems to take 6 months or more from public start in a region to getting everyone in that region all the goodies.

So, if World of More hasn't kicked off publicly in your region yet, do the math. . . The math says you have less than a 50/50 chance of having those channels by 1/1/2010, and probably better than 33% chance of not getting those channels until after 7/1/2010.

Be nice if they'd publish the schedule, but they don't dare --regions on the backend of it would probably have wholesale defections to the competitors.

blitzen102

07-10-09, 11:43 PM

If we got that in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I'd still be a Comcast subscriber. By their own timeline, they are talking about late 2010 to get all Comcast subscibers on "World of More", and by the iron law of large projects, that really means they'll be into 2011. That's not a Comcast dig, that's just the way it goes with big projects.

What they've also said is that they will have 50% of their footprint "started" on the World of More thing by 1/1/2010. The process seems to take 6 months or more from public start in a region to getting everyone in that region all the goodies.

So, if World of More hasn't kicked off publicly in your region yet, do the math. . . The math says you have less than a 50/50 chance of having those channels by 1/1/2010, and probably better than 33% chance of not getting those channels until after 7/1/2010.

Be nice if they'd publish the schedule, but they don't dare --regions on the backend of it would probably have wholesale defections to the competitors.

It depends on what they mean by "footprint". If they mean geograpical area, that could be more than than half of the subscribers if they covered the major metropolitan areas.

I would think if they meant subscribers, they would have used the word subscribers.

georule

07-11-09, 02:13 AM

Well, you're leaving out "started" tho. I think one of the areas, either Seattle or Cali Bay Area, they said it would take a full year to do everyone in that region from public launch. I believe it was the CFO who gave the "50% started by 1/1/2010" quote --I'll see if I can find it. The "November 2010" to finish quote was Brian Roberts in a conference call in May 2009 where he said they had another 18 months to go.

Edit: Nope, not the CFO. CTO Tony Werner:

http://www.millis.org/index.cfm?cdid=14432&pid=13853 Not the only ones to report it, just the quickest one I found. My bold.

In a video interview at the cable show, comcast chief technology officer Tony Werner said he's been pleased with the performance of the DTAs so far, and that Comcast is on track to have about half its markets started down the all-digital path by the end of 2009. Werner's comments about the DTAs appear at the six-minute mark of the video, embedded below:

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=175456&site=cdn&print=yes <http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=175456&site=cdn&print=yes>

If you have any questions or concerns and/or communications, please contact Comcast or Millis Community Media.
Comcast : 1800-COMCAST
Millis Community Media : 508-376-7057, cable@millis.net

Ah, on rereading your post, the point you're making is that 50% of their markets might represent far more than 50% of their subscribers? Hmm, might be some merit there. Tho the "started" thing still reels that back somewhat from whatever percentage you think 50% of their markets might represent as a percentage of subscribers.

There certainly seems to be priority given to 1) Larger markets or 2) Markets where FIOS is a competitor.

Marcus Carr

07-11-09, 03:10 AM

Comcast, Cablevision Don’t Want to Carry Viacom’s Epix Channel

By Andy Fixmer and Sarah Rabil

July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable-television provider, and Cablevision Systems Corp. said they aren’t interested in carrying the new Epix premium movie channel.

“It’s a bad idea,” Stephen Burke, Comcast’s chief operating officer, said in an interview at the Allen & Co. media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. “I haven’t heard of anyone that’s interested.” Consumers already have an adequate number of choices, he said.

Cablevision Chief Executive Officer James Dolan said in a separate interview at the conference that he’s “in perfect agreement” with Burke. Cablevision is the fifth-biggest U.S. provider of cable-TV service.

Epix, owned by Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., was created after the three studios failed to reach new agreements to show their movies on CBS Corp.’s Showtime pay channel last year. Epix, which pits Sumner Redstone’s CBS and Viacom against each other, has yet to announce pickup by cable systems ahead of its planned October debut.

“We are in advanced discussions with a number of distribution partners and remain very confident that we will have agreements with them in place at our launch in October 2009,” Mark Greenberg, head of Epix, said in an e-mailed response to the cable companies’ comments.

Epix plans to provide films and original series on pay TV systems and the Internet. Burke said he hasn’t looked at a preview of Epix that was put online to entice cable and satellite TV companies to carry the channel.

Rights to ‘Transformers’

The network will have rights to the studios’ films such as “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Iron Man,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It will go head-to-head with pay channels including Showtime, Time Warner Inc.’s HBO and Liberty Media Corp.’s Starz.

“Transformers,” from Paramount, is the top-grossing film in the U.S. this year with box-office revenue of $310.4 million as of today, according to Box Office Mojo LLC, a Sherman Oaks, California researcher that tracks receipts.

Cablevision, based in Bethpage, New York, rose 20 cents to $17.82 today in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Viacom, based in New York, rose 19 cents to $21.98. Lions Gate, run from Santa Monica, California, gained 12 cents to $5.77. Philadelphia-based Comcast fell 11 cents to $13.39 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

MGM is controlled by Providence Equity Partners Inc. and TPG. Sony Corp. and Comcast have 20 percent stakes, with the remainder belonging to DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=akMbpdAiHm2w

Zazzik

07-12-09, 10:26 AM

Anyone in CT got any new HD channels recently?
No new HD channels in our area since like January/February of this year.

Has anyone heard of any CT HD channel additions?

Marcus Carr

07-12-09, 01:17 PM

Cover Story: Failure To Lift Off

VOD Posts Solid Growth, But It's No 'Killer App'

by George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 7/13/2009 2:00:00 AM EDT

Even as cable operators firmly embrace video-on-demand as a business, recent research shows that the platform still falls short of expectations.

VOD usage rates continue to grow at a healthy clip, and cable operators have deployed on-demand services in more than 90% of their footprint. On the other hand, VOD continues to lag behind the rates of both digital video recorder usage and Web-video adoption.

Perhaps even more problematic: The industry has yet to develop VOD advertising models that could make on-demand content much more profitable for operators and programmers.

“The growth in VOD has been steady because digital cable growth is relatively steady,” said Magna Global global director of forecasting Brian Wieser. “The VOD libraries that the MSOs offer are certainly popular and they may be contributing to churn reduction, but they still don't account for a significant amount of time spent with TV. … VOD advertising is still very difficult to buy and it doesn't account for a significant quantity of consumption, so there are better alternatives for most large advertisers.”

Cover image July 13, 2009As a result, Magna estimates that advanced advertising — which includes VOD as its largest component — will grow to only $161 million in 2010, up from $138 million this year.

Slightly better news on the economics of VOD comes from PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2009-2013. That recently released report predicts that VOD revenues for operators will reach $4.5 billion in 2013, up from about $2.8 billion this year.

Consumer-usage data is also mixed. Use of VOD continues to lag behind both live-TV and DVR viewing, according to survey data from Horowitz Associates.

“If you look at each demographic, DVR usage is 30% to 50% higher than VOD,” said Howard Horowitz, the research firm's president. “VOD has a lot of cable business momentum driving it into consumer homes and consumers are responding, but not in an overwhelming kind of way. It is another useful, very convenient device, but not a killer app.”

VOD also comes up short compared to consumer adoption of online video. The April 2009 Magid Media Futures survey, by Frank N. Magid Associates, found that about 43% of the population is now watching online video. That's compared to 21% of survey respondents, who used VOD “frequently or occasionally,” said Magid senior vice president Jill Rosengard Hill.

“For consumers, on-demand is not top of mind,” said Rosengard Hill. “Operators must commit more marketing inventory and dollars to build awareness of on demand if they want to see usage increase.”

Still most analysts stressed that these issues should not obscure on demand's growth in recent years or its value to both consumers and operators.

“We have a tendency to forget that this is an evolutionary process,” said Bruce Leichtman, president and principle analyst at Leichtman Research Group.

“If we go back to 2004, the number of people using on demand on a monthly basis was only 6.5 million; but by 2008, we were talking about 23 million using it monthly. That is tremendous growth.”

That view is confirmed by a slew of data from Rentrak, which collects VOD usage data from most of the cable footprint.

Between the start of 2007 and the end of 2008 “we saw a 21% increase in the number of VOD orders and 11% increase in those using the platform,” said Sandra Kilbridge, vice president of operations at the Advanced Media and Information division of Rentrak.

Overall, about half of those who have access to VOD use it every month, and those viewers spend significant time with the platform, calling up about 18 programs each month.

Virtually every other possible metric has also shown growth, Kilbridge added: The amount of time viewers spend watching VOD is up 23%; 24% more free on-demand titles are on offer; and subscription VOD titles are up 14% throughout 2007 and 2008.

High-definition choices have grown particularly rapidly. “In 2008 alone we saw a 175% increase in orders and a 91% increase in unique HD set-top boxes” capable of accessing HDTV content on demand, according to Kilbridge.

VOD VIEWING AND USAGE
VOD viewership continues to climb, with 788.9 million orders in the first quarter of 2009 — up from 435.2 million orders in the first quarter of 2007, according to Rentrak.
Unique Quarter Orders* Set-top Boxes*
* In millions.
SOURCE: Rentrak OnDemand Essentials, excludes adult and RTE content. Includes only MSOs with full reporting across full time frame. The date listed for each quarter is the first date in the three-month period it covers. So the Jan. 1, 2009 data covers from Jan. 1 through the end of March, 2009.
Free Video On Demand
1/1/2007 435.2 15.1
4/1/2007 518.4 16.5
7/1/2007 611.1 17.5
10/1/2007 656.4 18.5
1/1/2008 667.5 19.3
4/1/2008 674.6 19.2
7/1/2008 723.1 20.6
10/1/2008 763.2 21.6
1/1/2009 788.9 22.3
Subscription VOD
1/1/2007 176.1 10.7
4/1/2007 205.4 11.6
7/1/2007 223.3 11.8
10/1/2007 221.2 11.9
1/1/2008 224.3 12.4
4/1/2008 207.5 12.0
7/1/2008 215.2 12.4
10/1/2008 217.1 12.7
1/1/2009 199.6 12.4
Transactional VOD
1/1/2007 23.7 7.2
4/1/2007 23.9 7.3
7/1/2007 24.8 7.6
10/1/2007 27.2 8.1
1/1/2008 29.4 8.6
4/1/2008 28.7 8.5
7/1/2008 24.1 8.0
10/1/2008 25.7 8.3
1/1/2009 28.8 8.7

http://www.multichannel.com/article/314874-Cover_Story_Failure_To_Lift_Off.php

Lodef

07-12-09, 11:57 PM

Thanks Marcus, those are interesting numbers.

Marcus Carr

07-13-09, 09:47 AM

Our analog reclamation will supposedly happen by the end of the summer.

georule

07-13-09, 11:17 AM

Marin county, across the bay to the north of San Francisco, getting 51 new HD channels on Aug. 11th.

http://www.marinij.com/ci_12812126?source=most_emailed

CardassianVol

07-14-09, 06:40 PM

Big update in Knoxville, TN today. I am pleased.

New:
443 Nick HD
447 Disney XD HD
449 ESPN News HD
452 Spike HD
453 Comedy Central HD
454 Fuse HD
455 WE HD
456 IFC HD
459 Lifetime HD
460 MGM HD
461 Style HD
462 G4 HD
463 TV One HD
464 Biography HD
465 Lifetime Movie Network HD
466 Planet Green HD
467 Encore HD
468 Hallmark HD
469 Fox Business HD
473 MTV HD
474 VH1 HD
475 BET HD
476 CMT HD
735 ESPNU (standard definition)

georule

07-15-09, 08:36 AM

I'm relatively sure a Delaware guy doesn't want to trade thunderstorm/tornado stories with a Minnesotan, but I'm damn sure you don't want to trade snow stories. :) I'll drop back and bump this post next April with how it went. . .

A month in, we had our first DirecTV rain fade last night during a thunderstorm where NOAA radar showed red over top of us at the time. Lasted about 2 mins.

sansri88

07-15-09, 09:02 PM

FWIW lot's of digital transitions happening in the Freedom Region in the next few weeks/months.

Comcast of Plainfield is having 14 channels migrate to digital on July 28th, with the rest of B2 going digital about 30 days after.

Philly burbs having some channels move to digital August 18th and approx 30 days later the rest are going.

For Comcast of Union, we have a report of someone receiving a call about the digital migration for August 25th. I'm assuming the same thing about the 30 days after as well.

Great news for us in NJ and Philly burbs!

TygerClaw

07-15-09, 09:51 PM

Is anyone having trouble viewing certain HD channels here in Miami FL?

For example Channel 423 CNNHD is displaying pixelation stuttering all over the place.

generix

07-16-09, 11:13 AM

Is anyone else having issues with the Comcast guide? I have a number of programs that aren't marked as new or repeats, so I'm having to cancel upwards of 20 programs a day that are repeats.

ak3883

07-16-09, 12:19 PM

Is anyone else having issues with the Comcast guide? I have a number of programs that aren't marked as new or repeats, so I'm having to cancel upwards of 20 programs a day that are repeats.

ComcastGeorge has confirmed this issue over on BBR and claims that Comcast knows about it and is working with the supplier of the guide data to get it fixed. It is not an issue on your end, or even with Comcast, it is with the company that supplies the program data.

djgemmati

07-16-09, 12:58 PM

Does anyone know when comcast is launching all the new HD channels or if can get the DCX3400 yet? I left U-Verse after about a week because of poor poor HD quality and went right back to comcast. They told me on June 12th they would be launching a bunch more HD here with the digital transition but no dice yet. And forget about asking customer care, they are clueless!!

Snowmaker

07-16-09, 01:12 PM

Is anyone else having issues with the Comcast guide? I have a number of programs that aren't marked as new or repeats, so I'm having to cancel upwards of 20 programs a day that are repeats.

Yup. I have House, South Park, and a few other show repeats being recorded when I have only new episodes selected.

I'm adding a 2nd HDTV to the house to replace a CRT that died. I just called Comcast to see about trading in my non-HD box and they want to charge me an additional $8.95 a month for a 2nd HD box. Is that normal? I didn't think I'd have to pay more for the HD channels I'm already paying for. :mad:

wareagle

07-16-09, 01:27 PM

generix

07-16-09, 01:38 PM

ComcastGeorge has confirmed this issue over on BBR and claims that Comcast knows about it and is working with the supplier of the guide data to get it fixed. It is not an issue on your end, or even with Comcast, it is with the company that supplies the program data.

Right, thanks. I forgot to mention that I knew it was the data supplier, just unsure if Comcast had acknowledged it and was working on it. At lunch, I noticed the guide had been repushed and it was marginally better than before. Thanks for the confirmation; I guess I should check BBR more often. :)

Amnesia

07-16-09, 03:21 PM

Where is "here"?????His post is entitled "wsb/psl, fl". I can only assume that mean "West Palm Beach/Port St Lucie, Florida"

Marcus Carr

07-16-09, 03:59 PM

Comcast has added new high-definition (HD) channels to areas in Southern New Jersey. Customers in Comcast’s Garden State markets will now get History Channel HD (Ch. 217), CNN HD (Ch. 221), USA HD (Ch. 222), Discovery Channel HD (Ch. 224), Animal Planet HD (Ch. 230), and AMC HD (Ch. 238).

http://www.hd-report.com/2009/07/16/comcast-adds-6-hd-channels-to-s-jersey-areas/

djgemmati

07-16-09, 04:19 PM

Where is "here"?????

Correct Amnesia, West Palm Beach/ Port Saint Lucie Florida. I was hoping someone might have some insight on the new HD channel line up as well as the new equipment I'm seeing in other parts of the country on this thread. When is South Florida gonna get them?

wareagle

07-16-09, 04:47 PM

Have they started the process of converting expanded basic from analog to digital in wpb/psl? That has freed up considerable bandwidth in the Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco Bay areas.

LRZNole

07-16-09, 05:24 PM

I don't think the have started the transition in West Palm Beach or South Florida in general. We in the WPB market are a former Adelphia system, which I understand wasn't so great so we there lag behind neighboring counties that are close by, which were always Comcast systems. They have quite a few more channels compared to us. We still don't have Cinemax HD for whatever reason I can't even imagine.

djgemmati

07-16-09, 06:39 PM

I do believe they have. We are freed up here according to some but they have not added any new HD in quite some time. When I moved to PSL in 2007 we had probably the best HD PQ I had ever seen. I was coming from Dish and planned on keeping it but when I saw the PQ I kept comcast. Plus the internet here is very fast, i dl @ over 23mbps. However since the digital transition the PQ has gone south. Plus I have an old 8300hd SA and want to try the new dcx3400 since my box has HDMI issues. I heard d* has quite good PQ these days so thinking of switching. And LRZNole is correct, we have maybe a handful of HD channels with no cinemax. Only one HD for HBO and one for Starz. UVerse is killing everybody in HD channels (but I don't consider them HD, think back of few years to HD Lite only worse)

LRZNole

07-16-09, 08:01 PM

djgemmati:

You might want to post your question in the Local - West Palm Beach thread as you might get more responses but most of the people over there are into OTA anntena HD.

Also curious to know who did you hear about new HD channels from?

Also from what I was told, the June 12th digital transition has nothing to do with Comcast's analog to digital reclamation project. I heard our area is maxed on bandwidth.

QZ1

07-16-09, 09:51 PM

I'm adding a 2nd HDTV to the house to replace a CRT that died. I just called Comcast to see about trading in my non-HD box and they want to charge me an additional $8.95 a month for a 2nd HD box. Is that normal? I didn't think I'd have to pay more for the HD channels I'm already paying for. :mad:
HD boxes cost Comcast much more than SD boxes.

djgemmati

07-16-09, 10:26 PM

suki84

07-17-09, 01:40 AM

bicker1

07-17-09, 05:08 AM

Does Comcast post this info anywhere that I can access it?Right before they implement the change (perhaps a month or two beforehand) they put out notifications, often printed on the printed monthly bills they sent to you.

That is the only place that Comcast posts this type of information, consistently across the entire nation. In some local areas, local requirements may require other notifications, and Comcast of course complies with those local requirements, but none of them, AFAIC, rely on the Internet for such dissemination.

georule

07-17-09, 07:55 AM

I was told by the tech who came to turn comcast back on that they were switching to all digital and simultaneously launching several new HD channels. When I called to set up new acct the lady on the other end also confirmed it. This was late may. The area im in was never adelphia so that could explain the better PQ and internet speed compared to what I once had in WPB with Adelphia. I guess I'll try the local WPB thread for my questions previously but your right it's usually OTA over there.

They are doing that across their entire national footprint, starting late last year and scheduled to run to the end of 2010. Several of their regions have publicly launched this project, known by the internal code name of "Project Cavalry" and the public marketing name of "The World of More". It seems to take about 6 months+ from public launch to availability of the HD channels to all the customers in all the head-ends of a given Comcast region, but that is a rolling process with some in that region getting them earlier and some later. Offering free "dta" (digtal to analog) convertors to customers who have TVs that have not been using a cable box of any kind is usually the first public step in that process.

There has been no public announcement that I've seen yet that any Comcast region in Florida has launched that process yet.

Just curious --how many HD channels does your Comcast have today? Most pre-conversion Comcast regions (with exceptions) are the in upper 20s to upper 30s.

BDCat

07-17-09, 08:13 AM

... There has been no public announcement that I've seen yet that any Comcast region in Florida has launched that process yet.

Just curious --how many HD channels does your Comcast have today? Most pre-conversion Comcast regions (with exceptions) are the in upper 20s to upper 30s.According to a Comcast supervisor here in South Florida they are starting a 13 month project next month to convert all of South Florida area by area (others in the area have heard similar rumblings).

They will be starting in Broward County and it sounds as if it will be handled in a similar fashion as it has in other areas with, and as an area is converted, two free DTAs, faster internet and additional HD channels.

Presently we have 40 HD channels.

Snowmaker

07-17-09, 08:58 AM

HD boxes cost Comcast much more than SD boxes.

Which is why I'm already paying more for HD channels. It just seems like a double charge.

They charge me more for the HD channels, but I cannot view the channels unless I pay even more for the HD box. And yet if I completely remove the box, I can view the basic HD channels for free.

LRZNole

07-17-09, 09:57 AM

In Palm Beach County, Florida which is just north of Broward, we have in the low 30s around 33 if I remember correctly.

generix

07-17-09, 10:06 AM

Could anybody tell me if they know of any HD channel additions for Savannah, Ga. I feel like we're being left out with all these cities getting new channels. Does Comcast post this info anywhere that I can access it?

From my June bill here in Savannah, Ga:

New channels! The following channels will be available on
August 3rd: ION Life (Digital Classic Channel 181), Qubo
(Digital Classic Channel 183), Comedy HD (Digital Starter HD
Channel 453), MTV HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 473) and
VH1 HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 474).

wareagle

07-17-09, 10:49 AM

Which is why I'm already paying more for HD channels. It just seems like a double charge.

They charge me more for the HD channels, but I cannot view the channels unless I pay even more for the HD box. And yet if I completely remove the box, I can view the basic HD channels for free.

They don't charge for HD channels, just the HD hardware. If you need more hardware you pay more.

Morac

07-17-09, 11:16 AM

Right before they implement the change (perhaps a month or two beforehand) they put out notifications, often printed on the printed monthly bills they sent to you.

In my area, they rarely if ever put change notifications on the monthly bills. In fact I don't think they do any kind of official notification.

Most of the time I find out about channel changes because my TiVo tells me. If Comcast never bothers to send out the updates to Tribune (which isn't that uncommon), I might not find out for weeks or months.

QZ1

07-17-09, 10:56 PM

They don't charge for HD channels, just the HD hardware. If you need more hardware you pay more.
Exactly. Alternatively, one can get the same HD channels by buying a CableCard HD DVR or a CC TV or a tru2way CC TV, and renting a CC; the first CC is usually included in one's subscription, or it is no more than $2, depending on the Comcast region.

georule

07-18-09, 12:07 AM

According to a Comcast supervisor here in South Florida they are starting a 13 month project next month to convert all of South Florida area by area (others in the area have heard similar rumblings).

They will be starting in Broward County and it sounds as if it will be handled in a similar fashion as it has in other areas with, and as an area is converted, two free DTAs, faster internet and additional HD channels.

Presently we have 40 HD channels.

Ah, that's another one year one then. Either San Francisco or Seattle is a year one too. I'm feeling better and better about bailing out of Comcast here in the Twin Cities (where there is still no announcement or rumors of imminent announcement)

LongRufus

07-18-09, 01:03 AM

Exactly. Alternatively, one can get the same HD channels by buying a CableCard HD DVR or a CC TV or a tru2way CC TV, and renting a CC; the first CC is usually included in one's subscription, or it is no more than $2, depending on the Comcast region.

Don't expect this pricing model to continue for very long. My local franchise now considers each CableCard to be an HD addressable converter box and charges the $6 HD Converter fee for each and every CableCard you rent from them. And if you order multiple Cablecards, each one(after the first card) will add the additional outlet fee. So in my case, I am currently paying $6 a month for the CableCard in my Moxi DVR. If I wanted to add a CableCard for my TV tuner or another Moxi or Tivo, it would cost me an extra $14.95 a month($6 HD converter fee + $8.95 additional outlet fee). Needless to say, I don't intend to add any new equipment anytime soon.

deuce1973

07-18-09, 11:30 AM

From my June bill here in Savannah, Ga:

New channels! The following channels will be available on
August 3rd: ION Life (Digital Classic Channel 181), Qubo
(Digital Classic Channel 183), Comedy HD (Digital Starter HD
Channel 453), MTV HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 473) and
VH1 HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 474).

Thanks for that info. Also live in Savannah did not get that notice.

I was wondering if they were going to add ESPNU at that time as well.

What the hell is Qubo!?

generix

07-18-09, 01:43 PM

Thanks for that info. Also live in Savannah did not get that notice.

I was wondering if they were going to add ESPNU at that time as well.

What the hell is Qubo!?

Hey Deuce,

They are adding ESPNU as well. I have no idea what Qubo is either. Here's the full announcement from that bill. I didn't include it the first time because Suki only asked about HD channels:

News from Comcast
Great news sports lovers! On August 1st, NFL Network, ESPN
U, NBA TV and the NHL Channel will be available on Digital
Classic service as well as the Sports Entertainment Tier. Keep
up with all your favorite teams and dont forget you can watch
highlights on Comcast ON Demand. For channel number
information go to www.comcast.com. To upgrade to Comcast
Digital call 1-888-COMCAST today!

Important information! The following channels will be moving
to Digital service on August 3rd: ION Television moving to
Digital Basic Channel 178, Inspiration moving to Digital Basic
Channel 244, and Style moving to Digital Starter Channel 118.

New channels! The following channels will be available on
August 3rd: ION Life (Digital Classic Channel 181), Qubo
(Digital Classic Channel 183), Comedy HD (Digital Starter HD
Channel 453), MTV HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 473) and
VH1 HD (Digital Starter HD Channel 474).

Ken H

07-18-09, 02:21 PM

What the hell is Qubo!?An ION network.
http://www.qubo.com/

QZ1

07-18-09, 03:00 PM

Don't expect this pricing model to continue for very long. My local franchise now considers each CableCard to be an HD addressable converter box and charges the $6 HD Converter fee for each and every CableCard you rent from them. And if you order multiple Cablecards, each one(after the first card) will add the additional outlet fee. So in my case, I am currently paying $6 a month for the CableCard in my Moxi DVR. If I wanted to add a CableCard for my TV tuner or another Moxi or Tivo, it would cost me an extra $14.95 a month($6 HD converter fee + $8.95 additional outlet fee). Needless to say, I don't intend to add any new equipment anytime soon.
It is nothing new for Comcast to misapply its fees to CCs. They try to claim the $6.50 HD fee is for HD channels, when it is for the HD box, which CC owners don't have. (HD channels are included in various services, as you probably know.)

Addtl. Outlets have always been in effect for every box or CC. Here, we have a $4.95 Starter AO and a $8.90 Classic AO added to the box or CC fee, unless one doesn't want Starter or Classic on that outlet. (Only a second (and subsequent) DVR integrates the AO into a DVR AO fee, and it is $4.95 more than a first DVR regardless of service.)

BlackwaterStout

07-22-09, 01:17 PM

Is anyone else having issues with the Comcast guide? I have a number of programs that aren't marked as new or repeats, so I'm having to cancel upwards of 20 programs a day that are repeats.

I'd like to hear more about this. What HD box are you using. The only one available here is the SA8300 and as far as I can tell the box is pretty much "retarded". It doesn't have the ability to record only first runs.

KenPog

07-22-09, 01:50 PM

There seems to be an issue. I too have to continually delete repeated shows. I believe an earlier post commented on a software problem.

homcom

07-22-09, 02:01 PM

There seems to be an issue. I too have to continually delete repeated shows. I believe an earlier post commented on a software problem.

The problem is with the guide data not having shows marked as repeats.

bicker1

07-22-09, 02:18 PM

Yes, contact the network and ask them to provide correct information to the program guide services.

BlackwaterStout

07-22-09, 02:24 PM

You guys make it sound like it has at one point or another worked properly for you. Mine has never worked properly. In fact, my SA8300 doesn't even ask me if I want to record first runs

tkoui

07-22-09, 02:32 PM

You guys make it sound like it has at one point or another worked properly for you. Mine has never worked properly. In fact, my SA8300 doesn't even ask me if I want to record first runs

It did work properly until recently. I have a couple of Motorola boxes that provide the option of recording first-run episodes only or all of them not to mention on one channel or all channels. The guide data does not list the repeats as such, therefore, the DVR thinks it is a first-run program.

homcom

07-22-09, 03:03 PM

Yes, contact the network and ask them to provide correct information to the program guide services.

It was not the networks that caused this problem. They were passing correct information but the guide service company caused the problem with how that information got sent out.

bicker1

07-22-09, 03:06 PM

That's very rare. Typically the program guide services are very good about just passing through what they get. By contrast, the broadcasters sometimes make a lot of mistakes.

Tybee

07-22-09, 05:12 PM

Marty Milton

07-23-09, 12:03 AM

I seem to have problem with the cable networks. Right now I have Eureka set to record only new episodes, but I have to go through the guide to cancel some episodes that are listed as being originally broadcast in 2008.

homcom

07-23-09, 02:44 AM

I too am having the same problem with reruns being recorded as new (even when it says "REPEAT" in the show desc.). Started maybe a two or three weeks ago with late night reruns of King of the Hill and one or two other things being recorded, but has gotten to be more of a problem in the last week, with lots of old Mythbusters, Psych, Deadliest Catch showing up on my Motorola 3416. Rarely had this problem in the past.

It got so bad weekend before last that I was at about 24% full and a one-day Mythbusters marathon filled the DVR and pushed off a lot of programs...
The episodes marked "REPEAT" were originally marked with no tag at all, because of that the DVR is set to record it. The guide data has since been updated with the "REPEAT" flag. If you delete the series recording then again set up the series recording the episodes where the guide data has since been updated and are now marked "REPEAT" will no longer be scheduled to record.

sansri88

07-23-09, 02:53 PM

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22754546-Comcast-of-Union-Digital-Transition-Communication

Thank you to mdelcorso on BBR for scanning the information we got in the mail about our digital transition. Like in most areas where this is happening, some channels are migrating first, and then 30 days the rest are going.

Our system will have 28 analogs remaining as a part of lifeline/limited basic service. We have 36 channels migrating to digital (9 on August 25th, 27 about 30 days after that), leaving us with enough room to add 108 HD channels at a 3:1 mux. We already have Docsis 3.0 so no more space needs to be dedicated to that, as well as 5 or 6 channels for VOD (so no more needed for that either). However, 1 or two of those freed up channels will most likely be used for international programming so (obviously) we won't see 100+ HD channels added at once. Hopefully more like 60-70 by October or November.

kenvt

07-23-09, 03:09 PM

The episodes marked "REPEAT" were originally marked with no tag at all, because of that the DVR is set to record it. The guide data has since been updated with the "REPEAT" flag. If you delete the series recording then again set up the series recording the episodes where the guide data has since been updated and are now marked "REPEAT" will no longer be scheduled to record.

I complained about the recording problem to Frank Elison's ComcastCAres group and they said this was a known problem. They asked me for samples and I haven't heard back from them,

-Ken

Lodef

07-23-09, 08:47 PM

keenan

07-23-09, 08:54 PM

You mean to tell me that they will continue with the QAM stuffing even after the digital migration?

Why not? The complaints and/or loss of subscribers has probably been negligible so why would they change the policy now, it just gives them even more room to add more "HD" channels. It sucks, but that's the business of cable TV.

Lodef

07-23-09, 09:01 PM

Why not? The complaints and/or loss of subscribers has probably been negligible so why would they change the policy now, it just gives them even more room to add more "HD" channels. It sucks, but that's the business of cable TV.

Not only is Journalism dead in America but so is Quality! :D

I'm glad I have FIOS!

sansri88

07-23-09, 09:04 PM

You mean to tell me that they will continue with the QAM stuffing even after the digital migration?

There hasn't been as much impact as of late since they switched most muxes to 2 1080i channels and 1 720p channel.

Also, Comcast still has to compete with the channel count...at a 2:1 mux they aren't going to catch up to VZ on these 750Mhz systems...

keenan

07-23-09, 09:10 PM

Not only is Journalism dead in America but so is Quality! :D

I'm glad I have FIOS!

You're lucky having FiOS, the rest of us are stuck with less than "lossless" HD, at least for anything other than locals which Comcast still passes "as is".

When I want a real HD image quality experience I fire up the PS3 with a Blu-ray disc, TV has fallen far behind in the quality race, most likely permanently. :)

homcom

07-23-09, 09:20 PM

You're lucky having FiOS, the rest of us are stuck with less than "lossless" HD, at least for anything other than locals which Comcast still passes "as is".

When I want a real HD image quality experience I fire up the PS3 with a Blu-ray disc, TV has fallen far behind in the quality race, most likely permanently. :)

There are other channels other then the locals that Comcast passes 2:1. Typically ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, Versus, and a few others are passed 2:1.

keenan

07-23-09, 09:38 PM

There are other channels other then the locals that Comcast passes 2:1. Typically ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, Versus, and a few others are passed 2:1.

Yes, this is true, although I wasn't aware TBS was a 2:1 pack, are you sure about that?

chitchatjf

07-24-09, 01:28 AM

Probably only Versus and Golf channel if that. Maybe CSN :)

homcom

07-24-09, 01:31 AM

Yes, this is true, although I wasn't aware TBS was a 2:1 pack, are you sure about that?

Last time I looked TBS was in a 2:1 MUX.

CRT Dude

07-24-09, 07:15 PM

As said earlier its likely any channel with regional sports coverage will get its feed straight from the broadcaster instead of HITS. Its probably the same reason the "all digital" markets still are 3:1 Comcast doesn't want to waste bandwidth sending duplicate channels.

homcom

07-24-09, 09:00 PM

Marcus Carr

07-25-09, 04:09 AM

On 7/30 in Baltimore, Comcast is moving NBATV and NHL Network to Digital Classic. NFL and NFL HD move to Digital Starter. ESPN Classic moves to Sports and Entertainment.

Morac

07-29-09, 09:43 AM

The following was in my local paper yesterday and applies to Comcast of Maple Shade (NJ). Looks like they are making room to possibly add more HD channels (they had 12 HD channels added back in April (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16033834#post16033834).

On or about September 1, 2009, you'll need digital equipment from Comcast to watch these channels:

23 - TBS (moving from 37)
24 - ESPN
25 - TNT
26 - Comedy Central
27 - Speed
28 - A&E
29 - ABC Famliy
30 - Syfy
34 - Comcast Sportsnet
33 - Nick
35 - MTV
31 - Discovery
32 - CNN
38 - TV Land
39 - Golf Channel
40 - USA
42 - ESPN2
45 - CNBC
46 - VH1
47 - HLN
48 - E!
50 - Bravo
53 - Spike
60 - Versus
62 - FX
63 - Discovery Health
66 - Fox News
78 - Disney Channel

I'm not in the Maple Shade system, but I've noticed 4 channels have been removed from my analog line up within the last month. These include: Style, CN-8, WFMZ 69 and G4.

LongRufus

07-29-09, 10:30 AM

The following was in my local paper yesterday and applies to Comcast of Maple Shade (NJ). Looks like they are making room to possibly add more HD channels (they had 12 HD channels added back in April (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16033834#post16033834).

On or about September 1, 2009, you'll need digital equipment from Comcast to watch these channels:

I'm not in the Maple Shade system, but I've noticed 4 channels have been removed from my analog line up within the last month. These include: Style, CN-8, WFMZ 69 and G4.

That's my franchise, and I have been getting mailings warning me that I need to call and order my DTA's by August 5th to avoid any interruption of service.

jhachey

07-29-09, 10:55 AM

The following was in my local paper yesterday and applies to Comcast of Maple Shade (NJ). Looks like they are making room to possibly add more HD channels (they had 12 HD channels added back in April (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16033834#post16033834).

On or about September 1, 2009, you'll need digital equipment from Comcast to watch these channels:
--snip--Based on what we've seen on the west coast, you lose about 20 analog channels in the first cut, another 20 or so about four weeks later, and then you get about 60 new HD channels two weeks after the second cut. In other words, the big addition of HD occurs about six weeks after the first big cut in analog service.

Sounds like the countdown is about to start for you. Good luck!

ak3883

07-29-09, 12:28 PM

The following was in my local paper yesterday and applies to Comcast of Maple Shade (NJ). Looks like they are making room to possibly add more HD channels (they had 12 HD channels added back in April (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16033834#post16033834).

Yea, the "Freedom Region" of Comcast is moving forward with analog reclaimation/Project Calvery. I've read several reports from users all over, from North Jersey to South Jersey to the PA suburbs of Philadelphia, that the first wave of channels is being dropped in July or August, with the second wave coming 30 days later. Should be complete by the end of the calendar year, and is a large somewhat coordinated effort in this region. There has been no word yet for Cental PA, or the actual city of Philadelphia yet. But I'd imagine they will follow in the not too distant future.

dyhrdmet

07-29-09, 01:26 PM

Based on what we've seen on the west coast, you lose about 20 analog channels in the first cut, another 20 or so about four weeks later, and then you get about 60 new HD channels two weeks after the second cut. In other words, the big addition of HD occurs about six weeks after the first big cut in analog service.

Sounds like the countdown is about to start for you. Good luck!

Most of the Philly/NJ region is starting to or has started to lose analog channels in the first cut. Some started I think in the past week, and my system is about 3 1/2 weeks from now (and like you said, more analogs planned on being cut about 30 days later).

if that's true about new HD coming 2 weeks after the second cut, we'll see it in 6-10 weeks in different parts of Philly/NJ.

Any clue as to what new HD was added on the west coast that hopefully would filter down to us?

jhachey

07-29-09, 01:51 PM

Most of the Philly/NJ region is starting to or has started to lose analog channels in the first cut. Some started I think in the past week, and my system is about 3 1/2 weeks from now (and like you said, more analogs planned on being cut about 30 days later).

if that's true about new HD coming 2 weeks after the second cut, we'll see it in 6-10 weeks in different parts of Philly/NJ.

Any clue as to what new HD was added on the west coast that hopefully would filter down to us?Here's what's due to arrive at my house next week. These are rolling our across Washington State this summer and fall. Some areas near Seattle got these a couple of weeks ago and are now at about 100 HD channels (the City of Seattle itself won't get these until the fall).

Once these are rolled out, about the only interesting HD channels we will be missing are HDNet and HDNet movies.

dyhrdmet

07-29-09, 04:00 PM

Here's what's due to arrive at my house next week. These are rolling our across Washington State this summer and fall. Some areas near Seattle got these a couple of weeks ago and are now at about 100 HD channels (the City of Seattle itself won't get these until the fall).

Once these are rolled out, about the only interesting HD channels we will be missing are HDNet and HDNet movies.

that's a pretty good haul. what i noticed that's important is the sports and movie packages in HD (i.e. "premium" channels/packages).

Marcus Carr

07-30-09, 02:59 AM

ESPN360.com is now available.

sansri88

07-30-09, 08:42 AM

It's been working since Tuesday evening, as I reported here: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22780626-ESPN360-now-active

and as Frank Eliason reported on his twitter.

Doom878

07-30-09, 08:52 AM

How does 360 work. I have to go to the site from my home computer right?

dyhrdmet

07-30-09, 09:02 AM

How does 360 work. I have to go to the site from my home computer right?

yes. go to www.espn360.com and it should say "Powered by Comcast" if you're on a Comcast ISP.

Morac

07-30-09, 09:27 AM

Sounds like the countdown is about to start for you. Good luck!

Well as I mentioned in my original post, I'm not in the Maple Shade system, that's one system over.

I haven't seen any word of the digital switchover for my own system other than the flyers at the local office saying "coming soon". I have noticed 4 channels are no longer analog, but it seems strange to simple move 4 channels and it's not the 20 channels a month you mentioned (unless they are removing a few channels every few days).

dyhrdmet

07-30-09, 10:24 AM

Well as I mentioned in my original post, I'm not in the Maple Shade system, that's one system over.

I haven't seen any word of the digital switchover for my own system other than the flyers at the local office saying "coming soon". I have noticed 4 channels are no longer analog, but it seems strange to simple move 4 channels and it's not the 20 channels a month you mentioned (unless they are removing a few channels every few days).

your system may be behind the others. over the past year, we've had a few analog channels removed, then some HD added a few months later, and now we're up to the big analog removals. there should be notifications 30 days in advance (usually a mailer) of the analog channels being removed so that you're not surprised.

Morac

07-30-09, 11:51 AM

your system may be behind the others. over the past year, we've had a few analog channels removed, then some HD added a few months later, and now we're up to the big analog removals. there should be notifications 30 days in advance (usually a mailer) of the analog channels being removed so that you're not surprised.

I don't think Comcast believes in sending mailers in South Jersey. I've never received a letter even when they've done massive lineup changes and some have come as a surprise. Comcast usually just reports the changes in the local newspaper.

Daniel Murray

07-30-09, 12:20 PM

I don't think Comcast believes in sending mailers in South Jersey. I've never received a letter even when they've done massive lineup changes and some have come as a surprise. Comcast usually just reports the changes in the local newspaper.

I got my first mailer with the last new HD channels. But that has been the first I got in 14 years with Comcast here in Eastampton NJ.

dyhrdmet

07-30-09, 01:46 PM

I don't think Comcast believes in sending mailers in South Jersey. I've never received a letter even when they've done massive lineup changes and some have come as a surprise. Comcast usually just reports the changes in the local newspaper.

I think the mailings are a recent thing. some minor changes we've had to find in the newspaper, or online from the newspaper's website (which i've learned isn't real reliable), or on forums where people post what they find. i've been saying for some time that Comcast needs better communication for these matters (like a website/blog, email/rss link, and an analog bulletin board tv channel).

bicker1

07-30-09, 01:53 PM

I think we've seen mailings recently just because they've actually made some decisions that resulted in quicker action than would be supportable by notifications going through the normal process. Not sure about that though.

Beyond that, I don't think they "need" better communication for these matters. Since they're a corporation, in order for there to be a "need", you have to show how their owners benefit financially from what you're suggesting as a "need". My guess is that most of those things you're suggesting would actually represent cost for the corporation, and present no up-side whatsoever. I've seen such mechanisms result in baseless expectations, and when such presumptions by readers go occasionally unfulfilled, result in significantly more detraction than there was ever any chance of benefit.

discodol

07-30-09, 03:35 PM

In Ft. Lauderdale, FL when I was having Comcast installed the beginning of June the tech told me that we will be getting free DTA converters at the end of the year which means we will be getting more HD channels after that.

joeshan99

07-30-09, 06:47 PM

Can anyone answer who has a better HD picture. Comcast offered me a deal i'm having a hard time passing up but picture quality is a big deal. I remember before comcast added HD channels there HD looked better but there wasn't alot of them. Just want to make sure with adding more channels there qality hasn't declined.

Marcus Carr

07-30-09, 07:29 PM

Comcast has moved NFL Network/HD to Digital Starter in Baltimore.

There is a blank channel among the sports channels. Might be ESPNU.

maxman

07-30-09, 09:11 PM

I got my first mailer with the last new HD channels. But that has been the first I got in 14 years with Comcast here in Eastampton NJ.

Which new channels did you get Daniel?

Daniel Murray

07-30-09, 09:53 PM

Hstryhd 217
cnnhd 221
usahd 222
dschd 224
aplhd 230
amchd 238

heed316

07-30-09, 11:05 PM

Comcast has moved NFL Network/HD to Digital Starter in Baltimore.

There is a blank channel among the sports channels. Might be ESPNU.

ESPNU is added at my location. NFL Network, NHL Network, and NBATV are now on digital starter also.

suki84

07-31-09, 01:07 AM

I don't see ESPNU yet, and NFL Net. is still not accessible, but NHL, and NBA are available in Savannah, Ga.

Daniel Murray

07-31-09, 07:08 AM

Maxmam, How is Fios and how many channels are you up to now?

maxman

07-31-09, 07:33 AM

Maxmam, How is Fios and how many channels are you up to now?

122 HD channels.

Satcom15

07-31-09, 08:27 AM

jhachey

07-31-09, 09:06 AM

OK, just started looking through this forum, but a message I'm getting is that on some systems (and maybe the plan is for all systems at some point) Comcast is removing analog channels to free up bandwidth for digital channels. Is that a correct statement? Could I lose the Discovery, History, AMC, Turner Classics, Wx Channel (all non HD) channels? And of course Comcast "HD" channels are not true HD channels due to their compression algorithms.Pretty much all of your analog will disappear, except for channels provided as part of "Limited Basic" (typically local channels plus government access channels). You will get SD digital versions of the channels.
Does anyone know if there is a roll out schedule (i.e. which franchises are being affected when)? How do they notify subscribers and how much lead time to cut-over do they give? Are they pushing some sort of D to A converter box for those of us with old analog, non-ATSC tuner TVs? And of course they probably charge for it. It seems every couple of months or so my bill creeps up a dollar or two with no change in service. :mad: I'm about ready to give up on cable and go OTA/satellite. Wish I had FiOS. :DComcast seems to keep the roll-out schedule pretty close to the vest. In the Seattle area, Comcast announced just before Christmas that digital conversion was coming. The Seattle area rollover is being done in pieces and it was about three months later that the first parts of the Seattle area began to lose analog. My area began to lose analog in June. In my area, we got a mailer informing us that we needed to get converter boxes about six weeks prior to the losing our first 20 analog channels. We got a least one other mailer and one phone call prior to the first cut of analog. The second cut of analog came four weeks after the first cut. Additional HD channels arrive two weeks after the second cut (which, in my area was last week). We will have about 100 HD channels next week (that's what folks have here in areas where the analog conversion is complete).

When the change happens, you can "upgrade" to a digital starter package that costs about the same as your current expanded basic package. The digital starter package includes one full-featured SD cable box. The box will give you access to the TV guide, OnDemand, PPV, etc. You can also get two DTAs (digital transport adaptors) that will let you watch SD digital channels on your analog TVs without the TV guide, OnDemand, PPV, etc. If you have more than three TVs, additional DTAs are $1.99 per month. Without the DTAs, all you get is limited basic on your old analog TVs.

Personally, the nuisance of the change is a small price to pay to get to 100 HD channels.

bicker1

07-31-09, 09:59 AM

Here, they seem to be putting out an advance notice about 100 days prior.

We're looking forward to the new services, while a bit disappointed that the days of maximal simple utility for our analog DVRs are coming to an end. Bittersweet.

iontyre

07-31-09, 11:11 AM

Comcast has moved NFL Network/HD to Digital Starter in Baltimore.

There is a blank channel among the sports channels. Might be ESPNU.

Same here in Harford County, though we DID get ESNPU!

Anyone know if this digital conversion for Comcast is coming to our area soon?

ak3883

07-31-09, 12:42 PM

ESPNU is added at my location. NFL Network, NHL Network, and NBATV are now on digital starter also.

Both you and Marcus Carr, you got these sports networks on Digital Starter and not Digital Classic? That's great. I thought the nationwide rollout of these was to digital classic level of service?

comcast user

07-31-09, 01:09 PM

ESPNU is added at my location. NFL Network, NHL Network, and NBATV are now on digital starter also.

They added those channels to my lineup too, but it's with the Digital classic, so you have to pay an additional $15 to get those channels. They are not on Digital starter.

LongRufus

07-31-09, 01:16 PM

They added those channels to my lineup too, but it's with the Digital classic, so you have to pay an additional $15 to get those channels. They are not on Digital starter.

They were blocked on Digital Starter for me as well in NJ. I added the $5 Sports & Entertainment pack and got MLB-HD, NFL-HD, as well as ESPNU and ESPNews in SD. Not a bad deal.

comcast user

07-31-09, 01:24 PM

They were blocked on Digital Starter for me as well in NJ. I added the $5 Sports & Entertainment pack and got MLB-HD, NFL-HD, as well as ESPNU and ESPNews in SD. Not a bad deal.
Our sports and entertainment pack is $7.99 and ours is MLB, CBS college, tennis, ESPNews, GOL and fox sports channels.

joeshan99

07-31-09, 01:38 PM

Marcus Carr

07-31-09, 01:46 PM

Both you and Marcus Carr, you got these sports networks on Digital Starter and not Digital Classic? That's great. I thought the nationwide rollout of these was to digital classic level of service?

NFL is on Starter. The rest are supposed to be on Classic but haven't moved yet.

comcast user

07-31-09, 01:56 PM

I already asked this but have not gottin a responsce. How is the picture quality of the channels both HD and SD. Switching from Direct and just want to make sure they are as good as the MPEG4 offered by Direct TV. Thanks guys.
PS I live in Baltimore
I only watch the HD channels. We have about 40 of them. I don't have any problems with picture quality at all.

homcom

07-31-09, 03:31 PM

NFL is on Starter. The rest are supposed to be on Classic but haven't moved yet.

NFL Network is on Digital Classic here in Michigan.

keenan

07-31-09, 03:38 PM

Comcast has moved NFL Network/HD to Digital Starter in Baltimore.

There is a blank channel among the sports channels. Might be ESPNU.

Do you have MLB-HD yet, and if so, where is it located? I'm hoping it gets placed on Digital Starter out here in SF.

Marcus Carr

07-31-09, 03:41 PM

Do you have MLB-HD yet, and if so, where is it located?

No.

keenan

07-31-09, 03:54 PM

No.

Thanks, I didn't see the next page here before I posted. It looks like several others are curious why these sports channels are on Starter in some areas and some are on Classic in others. I just upgraded from Limited Basic to Starter for a price of $29.95 per mo and was hoping MLB-HD would make it to that tier, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen in my area.

Morac

07-31-09, 04:56 PM

They were blocked on Digital Starter for me as well in NJ. I added the $5 Sports & Entertainment pack and got MLB-HD, NFL-HD, as well as ESPNU and ESPNews in SD. Not a bad deal.

I get MLB, NFL and ESPNU without subscribing to the Sports package.

homcom

07-31-09, 05:15 PM

I get MLB, NFL and ESPNU without subscribing to the Sports package.

Yes, there are two options to get those channels, get digital classic or the sports tier. If those sports channels are all you want it is going to be cheaper to get the sports tier rather then digital classic.

Satcom15

07-31-09, 07:06 PM

Hi jhachey,
Thanks for the information. I've not seen anything about a conversion here yet.

Pretty much all of your analog will disappear, except for channels provided as part of "Limited Basic" (typically local channels plus government access channels). You will get SD digital versions of the channels.

Comcast seems to keep the roll-out schedule pretty close to the vest. In the Seattle area, Comcast announced just before Christmas that digital conversion was coming. The Seattle area rollover is being done in pieces and it was about three months later that the first parts of the Seattle area began to lose analog. My area began to lose analog in June. In my area, we got a mailer informing us that we needed to get converter boxes about six weeks prior to the losing our first 20 analog channels. We got a least one other mailer and one phone call prior to the first cut of analog. The second cut of analog came four weeks after the first cut. Additional HD channels arrive two weeks after the second cut (which, in my area was last week). We will have about 100 HD channels next week (that's what folks have here in areas where the analog conversion is complete).

When the change happens, you can "upgrade" to a digital starter package that costs about the same as your current expanded basic package. The digital starter package includes one full-featured SD cable box. The box will give you access to the TV guide, OnDemand, PPV, etc. You can also get two DTAs (digital transport adaptors) that will let you watch SD digital channels on your analog TVs without the TV guide, OnDemand, PPV, etc. If you have more than three TVs, additional DTAs are $1.99 per month. Without the DTAs, all you get is limited basic on your old analog TVs.

Personally, the nuisance of the change is a small price to pay to get to 100 HD channels.

So, my options:

1. Do nothing. I'll still get local and government channels. All expanded basic channels go away.

2. Take possession of the two DTAs boxes that perform the D to A conversion "upgrade" to the digital starter package to get back the old expanded basic analog service plus some new channels. All service will be SD (no HD). I'm presuming these are small boxes that connect between the cable and TV. Do they have a remote or are channels controlled through the TV tuner?

3. Get a true converter box that gives access to the digital starter package like Option #2 but also provides a programming guide, PPV, and onDemand service. I there a monthly or one time charge for this box? All programming is SD through this box, correct? Tuning is done with a remote control for the box.

4. Buy an HD TV with ATSC tuner to eliminate the box in Option #3. This, coupled with purchase of some type HD service package gives HD PQ (well, as good as the Comcast HD compression algorithms allow anyway :mad: ).

5. Buy an HD TV with ATSC Tuner, ditch cable, and go with OTA and satellite.

6. Scrap TV altogether. :eek:

Lovely. I can hardly wait. If only we had FiOS and real free market competition :D

Thanks again for the information jhachey.
Cheers

georule

07-31-09, 07:40 PM

All the DTA's I've seen pictured have their own remotes. It's not a straight pass-thru from coax to coax or somesuch. It's basically just a small, limited-function cable box.

Ken H

07-31-09, 11:31 PM

NFL Network is on Digital Classic here in Michigan.

Special compensation for not having an NFL team.

Ken H

07-31-09, 11:48 PM

So, my options:
1. Do nothing. I'll still get local and government channels. All expanded basic channels go away.If you are currently paying for Expanded Basic, when the analog channels (other than locals and public access) go away, at a minimum you'll want to call and change your package. No sense in paying for something you aren't going to use.

2. Take possession of the two DTAs boxes that perform the D to A conversion "upgrade" to the digital starter package to get back the old expanded basic analog service plus some new channels. All service will be SD (no HD). I'm presuming these are small boxes that connect between the cable and TV. Do they have a remote or are channels controlled through the TV tuner?Yes, assuming you subscribe to Expanded Basic, DTA's have their own remote, and yes, they connect between the coax & TV. The DTA remotes also control TV power and volume.

3. Get a true converter box that gives access to the digital starter package like Option #2 but also provides a programming guide, PPV, and onDemand service. I there a monthly or one time charge for this box? All programming is SD through this box, correct? Tuning is done with a remote control for the box.These days, Comcast would probably give you an HD digital cable box, there is a monthly charge in the range of $7. (Do they still even offer SD digital cable boxes?) It receives all programming; SD & HD. And yes, it also gives you IPG, OnDemand, PPV. For a few dollars more, you can get an HD DVR, which is akin to getting air conditoning in a car; once you have it you never go back.

4. Buy an HD TV with ATSC tuner to eliminate the box in Option #3. This, coupled with purchase of some type HD service package gives HD PQ (well, as good as the Comcast HD compression algorithms allow anyway :mad: ).The tuner needed for any digital service from Comcast is known as QAM. ATSC is for OTA only. Many current HDTV's and some STB's have both QAM & ATSC tuners. But, and this is a big but, even with a QAM tuner, all you'll get are the local HD channels. All the other channels are encrypted, but all Comcast cable packages, even Limited Basic, include local HD in clear QAM. Also, in most areas, Comcast passes local HD as they receive it. It's the national HD channels that are additionally compressed.

Going forward, if you want any channels from Comcast other than locals and public access, you'll either need a box from them, or a CableCARD capable device. Right now, there are two commonly available CableCARD devices; TiVo HD & Moxi. Both are HD cable HD DVR's, but they will not do OnDemand or PPV. In the near future, roughly the end of this year, new CableCARD devices called 'tru2way' will add all the same capabilities as the Comcast supplied digital cable boxes. tru2way will be available in both HDTV's and outboard boxes from a number of manufacturers.

5. Buy an HD TV with ATSC Tuner, ditch cable, and go with OTA and satellite.Yes, that is a legitimate option, although in most areas you can get local HD from your sat provider, so you wouldn't necessarily need an HDTV with a ATSC tuner.

6. Scrap TV altogether. :eek:Another legitimate option.

homcom

07-31-09, 11:54 PM

If you are currently paying for Expanded Basic, when the analog channels (other than locals and public access) go away, at a minimum you'll want to call and change your package. No sense in paying for something you aren't going to use.

If you take no action by either ordering DTAs to continue to receive expanded basic or upgrade to a digital package you will be automatically downgraded to limited basic.

QZ1

08-01-09, 01:30 AM

Do they still even offer SD digital cable boxes?
Yes, they do. I am surprised you didn't know that. It is listed on the Comcast price card. In fact, here, and in many areas, Digital Starter (the replacement for Analog Standard) includes a Digital SD box and two DTAs. As per our bill, this has been the case here, since ~mid-February.

QZ1

08-01-09, 01:36 AM

If you take no action by either ordering DTAs to continue to receive expanded basic or upgrade to a digital package you will be automatically downgraded to limited basic.
Those would both be actions.:)

I think you meant:

If you take no action by either not ordering DTAs to continue to receive expanded basic or not upgrading to a digital package you will be automatically downgraded to limited basic.

That is the first I heard of that, but it makes sense.

homcom

08-01-09, 01:52 AM

Do they still even offer SD digital cable boxes?

They certainly do and there is quite the collection of them out there including the DCH70, DCT2000, DCT2500, DCT700, a few more Motorola ones and also all of the SA boxes they use in SA markets.

homcom

08-01-09, 01:52 AM

Those would both be actions.:)

I think you meant:

If you take no action by either not ordering DTAs to continue to receive expanded basic or not upgrading to a digital package you will be automatically downgraded to limited basic.

That is the first I heard of that, but it makes sense.

Thanks, that is what I meant to write.

Rammitinski

08-01-09, 05:30 AM

4. Buy an HD TV with ATSC tuner to eliminate the box in Option #3. This, coupled with purchase of some type HD service package gives HD PQ (well, as good as the Comcast HD compression algorithms allow anyway :mad: ).If you wanted to "baby step" your way into HD, you could just take that SD tuner they give you and split the cable signal between that and a new HDTV, and then change inputs to watch the HD locals on the TV's QAM tuner, and the rest of the SD digital channels on the cable box.

Then you wouldn't have to pay any more for the service or equipment until or if you ever wanted to.

bicker1

08-01-09, 05:38 AM

Lovely. I can hardly wait. If only we had FiOS and real free market competition :DThen you would already have had to do this. The change that you're discussing is a change that is making Comcast more like FiOS. FiOS already imposes this situation on you, and already has for many years. From many people's perspective, this is Comcast "catching up" with FiOS.

Morac

08-01-09, 10:26 AM

The tuner needed for any digital service from Comcast is known as QAM. ATSC is for OTA only. Many current HDTV's and some STB's have both QAM & ATSC tuners. But, and this is a big but, even with a QAM tuner, all you'll get are the local HD channels. All the other channels are encrypted, but all Comcast cable packages, even Limited Basic, include local HD in clear QAM. Also, in most areas, Comcast passes local HD as they receive it. It's the national HD channels that are additionally compressed.

Not all the non-local channels are encrypted. Currently none of the channels receivable by using a DTA, those in the expanded tier, are encrypted since the DTA can't decrypt them. So you can get all the channels you currently if you have a QAM tuner in your TV, but good luck finding them since the listed channels numbers won't match up to the actual QAM channel numbers. There's also no guarantee the channels will stay where they are are not be encrypted in the future.

Ken H

08-01-09, 12:10 PM

Not all the non-local channels are encrypted. But they will be very soon, which is why I made the comment I did.

The forums are littered with complaints from people who were getting something for free and when it gets taken away, they get indignant. Might as well set the expectations correctly from the start.

I can tell you for a fact Comcast will encrypt everything except local and public service channels.

FCC: Bring on the DTAs

Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, June 3, 2009

The FCC has granted a waiver request to Evolution Broadband for two low-cost digital terminal adapters — or DTAs — and has signaled it’s ready to give the OK to other manufacturers of similar devices if warranted.

The FCC, in the order released Tuesday, noted the Evolution Broadband waiver was the first granted for a low-cost device rather than for a specific cable operator’s deployment of such a device.

“We recognize the potential competitive implications of this outcome and will attempt to ensure that other manufacturers with similar devices can enter and compete as quickly as possible,” the FCC said.

For waiver requests pertaining to limited-function boxes, the FCC’s Media Bureau will release a public notice seeking comment on those certifications for a period of 10 calendar days, “after which the Bureau will expeditiously grant a waiver similar to the one granted herein, deny such a waiver, or take other appropriate action,” the agency said.

Comcast has been deploying low-function DTAs, from vendors including Motorola and Pace, that do not have security features enabled — they convert in-the-clear digital broadcasts to analog — thereby sidestepping the FCC’s separable-security rule.

Now it seems safe to assume that Comcast will be filling out a waiver application, if it hasn’t already, to get an exemption for a security-enabled DTA or two.