Comcast Launches HDTV Service in Twin Cities & Western Wisconsin
More Than 630,000 Homes Now Have Access to High-Definition Television Programming
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 4, 2003) Comcast, the nation's leading cable and broadband communications provider, today announced the launch of its high-definition television (HDTV) service to more than 630,000 homes in the Greater Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin area. HDTV programming is now available from HBO, Showtime, ESPN HD and KARE (NBC). Comcast is also carrying enhanced wide-screen digital programming from KMSP (Fox), and plans to launch two 24-hour HDTV channels, INHD and INHD2, later this month.
HDTV technology provides video and audio that is clearer, sharper and more vibrant than previous video transmission systems. The service is available for customers with an HDTV-ready television set and uses a digital cable box, which can be provided by Comcast. In addition, Comcast is working with leading cable and broadcast programmers to offer the most robust HDTV content lineup possible.
Comcast is committed to bringing our customers more and better choices for in-home entertainment, said Bill Wright, St. Paul Area Vice President. In an increasingly competitive environment, we've completed a multimillion dollar upgrade of our fiber-optic cable network to provide customers with a strong lineup of cutting-edge products, including Comcast Digital Cable, Comcast High-Speed Internet, Comcast Digital Phone and now HDTV. Customers want HDTV, and Comcast makes it easy and cost effective while providing a very rich HDTV content offering.
In addition to HDTV, customers who subscribe to Comcast Digital Cable can receive more than 260 channels, including dozens of commercial-free premium movie channels, 45 channels of commercial-free music, an interactive on-screen guide and more.
For more information about Comcast's products and services in the Twin Cities, please call 651-222-3333 or visit the company's Web site at
www.comcast.com.
About Comcast Cable
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, digital cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 55,000 employees, in six divisions, serve more than 21 million customers.
Comcast Cable serves more than 337,000 customers in 87 communities in the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin. Comcast, whose local headquarters offices are located in St. Paul, employs more than 1,200 people in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Product Summary Sheet
High-Definition TV St. Paul Area
September 2003
Programming
Comcast is introducing HDTV in the Twin Cities / Western Wisconsin with a mix of local broadcast and premium cable network high-definition content. We continue to explore additional HDTV programming opportunities and plan to be in a position to provide additional programming in the future.
· Broadcast Stations - Primary high-definition broadcast signals:
¨ NBC affiliate KARE-11 (1080p)
¨ Fox affiliate KMSP-9 (480p)
+enhanced-definition digital simulcast of KMSP's analog signal (480i)
· Basic / Digital Service Tiers - HD cable service channels (must receive service tier):
¨ ESPN HD - Standard Cable Tier (720p)
¨ INDEMAND1 - Digital Basic Tier (1080i)
¨ INDEMAND2 - Digital Basic Tier (1080i)
· Premium Channels: HD premium channels (must receive digital premium channels):
¨ HBO (1080i)
¨ Showtime (1080i)
Availability
Comcast HDTV programming is now available to more than 630,000 homes in the Greater Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin area.
Equipment
· Motorola DCT-5100 set-top
¨ video: component video output
¨ audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 via optic or coax connection
Pricing
High-definition TV is the next great example of the services we can deliver on the Comcast Digital Cable platform. Customers pay only a monthly HDTV equipment charge of $5 per month (per set-top) with no additional monthly charge for HDTV programming (ESPN HD, iDEMAND, HBO and Showtime HDTV channels are available only to customers who receive those services).