Comcast Going Digital Basic In Four Communities

Comcast is reminding cable customers in the communities of Hamtramck, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Roseville to take steps to receive digital equipment for up to three TVs for no additional cost before the company starts digitizing the majority of its analog cable channels beginning on Tuesday, June 30. 

Limited Basic Cable customers are not affected by Comcast’s digital network enhancement, which is clearing the way for even more On Demand, High Definition and other digital programming for local customers. The network enhancement is already underway in these four communities and is slated to launch in other cities and towns across Michigan over the course of the next year.
 
As part of Comcast’s digital network enhancement, analog cable channels 29 through 72 will be digitized in two separate phases in June and July, meaning that Comcast customers who don’t already have digital equipment on all their TVs will likely need to obtain it in order to continue watching these channels.  On June 30, 13 cable networks, including AMC, FX, SCI-FI, E!, Cartoon Network, GAC, Versus, Travel Channel, Turner Classic Movies, Animal Planet,  Style, TV Land and TRU TV, will be digitized.  On or after July 21, the remaining cable networks, including Nickelodeon, TBS, and ESPN will be digitized. These networks comprise Comcast’s Standard Basic and Value Pak lineup.
 
The benefits of this digital upgrade will be apparent to local customers immediately.  Already, Comcast has added new channels for customers using digital equipment and the company expects to start adding HD channels within days of the June 30 channel moves. Once Comcast’s network upgrade is complete, the company will significantly expand its HD lineup, growing it to more than 100 channels.
 
Though the vast majority of Comcast’s local customers already have digital equipment on at least one of their televisions, many will likely require digital equipment for their additional sets to continue watching the soon-to-be digital channels without interruption. Customers who have not yet obtained their digital equipment can visit www.comcast.com/digitalnow, call the company at  (877) 634-4434 or stop by Comcast’s local service centers in Warren (30736 Hoover Road) or Royal Oak (450 Delemere Boulevard) to receive equipment. If customers go online or call (877) 634-4434 they could choose to have the digital equipment shipped to them at no additional cost so that they can install it themselves within minutes on their own schedule.
 
Comcast has used a variety of methods to educate area consumers about the digital network enhancement in Hamtramck, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Roseville.  To date, the company has mailed several customized letters and postcards, made door-to-door contact and telephoned customers to inform them about the action they will likely need to take in order to continue watching some of the affected channels.
 
Comcast’s Limited Basic Cable service, the only low-cost, no-equipment analog video service locally available, will not be affected by the digital network enhancement.  Limited Basic Cable customers do not need to obtain digital equipment to continue watching that lineup.
 
“Time is running out for those customers who are still watching these channels without digital equipment, and we want to be sure we can get them their digital equipment before the channels start going digital,” said Mike Cleland, Area Vice President for Comcast in Metropolitan Detroit.  “If you don’t have digital equipment and currently watch cable networks like E!, AMC and Versus, now is the time to visit one of our local service centers to pick up your digital equipment for up to three TVs at no additional charge, to make sure you don’t miss any of your favorite shows.  Once this digital network enhancement is complete, local customers will be at the forefront of the ‘world of more,’ with more than 100 HD channels, more On Demand programming and even faster Internet speeds.”
 
With this upgrade to Comcast’s fiber-optic network, the company is making it easier for consumers to access the benefits of digital cable – superior digital picture and sound quality, interactive services like On Demand, more than 40 music channels, parental controls and the interactive program guide.  All of the interactive services like On Demand, parental controls, and the interactive program guide are only available with a digital cable box. The enhancement will also allow Comcast to double the size of its On Demand library, which already offers digital cable customers thousands of programs at any time, the vast majority of them for no additional charge. The equipment that Comcast is providing to customers for no additional charge includes one interactive digital cable box and two digital adapters that allow customers to watch their favorite digital channels with superior digital picture and sound quality. Customers with more than three TVs can obtain additional digital equipment for an extra fee.
 
More at www.comcast.com.
 
Comcast’s Michigan Region serves more than 1.2 million customers statewide and employs more than 4,200 people.  Comcast has three major call centers located in the state and houses its Michigan Region headquarters in Southfield.