Comcast Offers More Channels To Coincide With Going Digital

Local cable TV provider Comcast is announcing good news for cable subscribers.

About 20,000 homes serviced by Comcast in the Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid areas will have the option to pick up 19 more channels, with the additional digital channels at no extra charge, starting on or about Oct. 1.

Elaine Lunkes, of Comcast, said the cable provider was able to free up band width space for additional channels and to increase the number of new high definition (HDTV) channels available.

"We really listened to our valued customers in Central Florida and we're thrilled that we're able to offer the digital channels to them at no additional charge," said Lunkes.

Mark Lipford, vice president and general manger of Comcast's West and Central Florida System, said the company "went out and listened to our customers in Highlands County."

Lipford credited Comcast's engineers and technicians for making the changes possible at no cost to customers.

"I wanted to make it as painless, and economically as easy as possible, for customers to experience digital programming," said Lipford.

A brochure mailed to Comcast customers stated that the picture on HDTV television screens will be sharper and clearer, with five times the resolution of regular television. Comcast will also broadcast HDTV in widescreen format and "crystal clear Dolby Digital Surround Sound."

National Geographic HD will be offered by Comcast for Digital Preferred HD service users.

While sports viewers rave about the advantages of HDTV, Lipford talked about National Geographic and the Discovery channel with HDTV.

"If you're not a sports fan, the HDTV channels really bring vivid programming to life and you'll see a significant difference in the picture," said Lipford.

Six HDTV channels are now available to Central Florida Comcast subscribers, and on Oct. 1, the number of channels available will increase to 19.

New channels added to Comcast's Preferred service on Oct. 1 : Current TV; Fox Reality; Biography; History International; Lifetime Movie Network; Fine Living Network; Oxygen; Nick Toons; Hallmark Channel; Fuse; G4; Logo; IFC (Independent Film Channel; IndiePlex; RetroPlex; GMC (Gospel Music Channel); TV One; Shop NBC; and Bloomberg.

Customers, who already subscribe to "Full Basic Service" and currently do not have a digital box, can receive their first digital box with Digital Starter Service (including digital music channels and interactive programming guide) at no additional monthly charge.

Contact Comcast at 1-800-COMCAST, or visit the local office at 3010 Herring Ave., Sebring.