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Comcast Not Discarding WINK From Channel Line-Up

By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: June 1, 2008

SEBRING — Comcast Cable television subscriber Marian Barr wants her WINK TV.

When Comcast employees mistakenly told Barr on Wednesday that the cable provider intended to drop the Fort Myers CBS affiliate for Highlands County subscribers, she considered changing to satellite television.

Comcast set off a firestorm a year ago when it considered dropping WINK from the line-up locally, but then backed off.

The issue surfaced recently when bills went out with higher rates and additional stations.

Barr, a former Port Charlotte resident, especially enjoys WINK weather coverage, which includes forecasts for Lake Placid.

Mark Lipford, Comcast vice president and general manager, explained Wednesday afternoon that local viewers will still get WINK.

But those who don't have a converter box for digital stations will need one to watch WINK and the new channel offerings. WINK, which now is channel 11 for county cable subscribers, also will move to channel 213.

Basic cable subscribers will see bills going up by 3 percent, and will receive every channel they presently do – including WINK – plus 13 new channels.

The upgrade and access to WINK will be free for the first TV in each home. Lipford said that for a year the service will be free – a regular $6.99 service – and $1.99 for the second TV.

"We listened to people for a couple of things – they wanted more programming and WINK," said Lipford. "We've not really done a good job of supplying new programing in Sebring. We're now doing our best to supply programming our customers want."

New all digital additions for Comcast subscribers in Highlands County include WTSP, a CBS Tampa affiliate Fox Business; National Geographic Channel; DIY Network ( Do it Yourself); PBS Kids Sprout; Movieplex; three new PBS channels, WEDU Florida, WEDU National and World; and WTSP, CBS, Tampa, an all-weather channel.

Three new high definition channels will be added: ABC, CBS and WEDU.

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