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Comcast customers soon to receive high-def networks
By Michelle Koetters
mkoetters@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Comcast continues to make its transition from Insight Communications Midwest in the Twin Cities — this time with the addition of new high-definition channels this month.

“From a TV customer’s standpoint, this is definitely the best part,” said Rich Ruggiero, vice president of communications and public affairs for Comcast Illinois.

By the end of the month, Comcast customers will have high-definition programming on 22 more cable stations, though Comcast also will discontinue a few other channels in April, as well. The cable company also will introduce several digital cable networks by April 30.

“It covers the whole range of genres,” Ruggiero said.

Two of the new high-definition offerings launched last week: Disney Channel HD and ABC Family in HD. Channels still to come to the high-definition cable line-up include: A&E HD, Cinemax HD, CNN HD, Comcast SportsNet Chicago HDTV, Discovery HD, Food Network HD, Starz HD and WGN HD.

Digital cable customers will be able to view programs on such channels as Fox Business Network, IndiePlex, MoviePlex, NBA TV, NHL Network, RetroPlex and The Sportsman Channel.

Of the 14 channels Comcast will remove from the line-up, one is the Welcome to Insight Channel.

Customers also will no longer have a few duplicate channels, Ruggiero said. For example, Comcast will discontinue West Coast channels, which have a time delay from another channel with the same coverage, he said. In addition, Comcast cannot carry channels like ESPNU and Lifetime Real Women. TV viewers also will not be able to watch AZN Television when the station goes off the air in general on Wednesday, Ruggiero said.

With the changes, Comcast is responding to customers’ demand for more choice and control, said Greg Capranica, area vice president for Central Illinois, based in Springfield.

Customers want control over when they view a television show or movie, which is what they get with video-on-demand and video recording, Capranica said.

Plus, high-definition programming is the No. 1 requested category from today’s customers, Ruggiero said. Comcast wants to give viewers up to 1,000 high-definition viewing choices by the beginning of next year, he said.

“We’re feeding that consumer appetite,” Ruggiero said.

Comcast recently increased its cable prices, but there will be no new charges for these upgrades.

Previously, Comcast and Insight each owned 50 percent of the Insight Midwest partnership, but Insight managed all of the territories. With a deal that became official in January, both providers own and manage 50 percent. Comcast owns and manages the Illinois cable markets serving Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign- Urbana, Rockford and Quincy.

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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

dwarf wrote on Apr 8, 2008 8:13 AM:

" Watch it with Comcast... If you have HD, be certain to check the video quality.

Comcast - in an effort to compete with DirecTV - has been increasing the number of HD channels without allowing more bandwidth for them. What this means is, basically, that they are cramming 3 channels into a space where there should only be 2. The reduced quality isn't really hi-def at that point. "

walker wrote on Apr 8, 2008 7:56 AM:

" Since Comcast hasn't upgraded their systems, they're compressing all of these new HD channels. The quality will only get worse once the new lineup comes out. Comcast...why don't you invest in your own technology with the price hikes you did? Ahh, I can't wait to move to DirecTV "

Pastafarian wrote on Apr 8, 2008 7:34 AM:

" I'm all for more HD channels. My only request, put our community in your website's records so we can view the lineups online. I laugh when I enter my address into your website and receive a response that Comcast does not currently offer services in my area. Funny, I've already paid the company twice. "
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