IP: Comcast launches HDTV [ comcast does not reach Landenberg PA djf]

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> 29 Oct 2001 20:28
>
> Comcast Launches HDTV
>
> More Than 1.3 Million Customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware
> to Gain Access to Five Channels of High-Definition Programming
>
> Distributed by PRNewswire, PHILADELPHIA Oct. 29
>
> Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. today announced the launch of its
> HDTV services, which will give more than 1.3 million customers in
> Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware access to high-definition
> broadcasts of ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO and Showtime in November. Comcast is
> the only company in the region to offer such a robust lineup of high
> definition programming.
>
> "We are always working to provide our customers with the latest and best
> in television technology," said Michael Doyle, president of Comcast
> Cable's Eastern Division. "The company has invested millions of dollars
> in the complete upgrade of our fiber optic cable network, in order to
> provide our customers with cutting-edge services including digital
> cable, high-speed Internet and video-on-demand. HDTV, the most
> sophisticated form of television commercially available, is the next
> step in this process."
>
> Since most commercial television sets do not have built-in HDTV tuners,
> Comcast will make set-top tuners available to customers. Comcast digital
> cable customers who have an HDTV-ready set will now be able to rent or
> purchase a set-top box similar to their current digital tuner, which
> will allow them to view channels broadcast in high definition. Customers
> will also be able to continue to view standard analog and digital
> stations on their HDTV sets.
>
> With the launch of HDTV, Comcast becomes one of the first major cable
> providers in the U.S. to offer the service, which features a wide-screen
> picture with a width:height ratio of 16:9, identical to that of most
> cinema; more than two million pixels per picture; and color resolution
> that is twice that of analog. The HDTV picture is up to six times
> sharper than the analog picture.
>
> Beginning November 1, Comcast customers in parts of Pennsylvania, New
> Jersey and Delaware will have access to high definition programming
> broadcast by their ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates, as well as HBO and
> Showtime. Over the next several months, the company plans to offer HDTV
> service to customers in parts of central and northern New Jersey.
>
> HDTV was first widely broadcast in 1998, when ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS
> affiliates nationwide broadcast Senator John Glenn's return from space
> in high definition. Currently, ABC, NBC and CBS are broadcasting
> portions of their lineups, including selected movies, primetime
> programming, and special events, in high definition. HBO's HDTV lineup,
> broadcast throughout the day, includes movies, special events, and
> original programming such as The Sopranos and the miniseries Band of
> Brothers.
>
> Customers who subscribe to Comcast digital cable, in addition to being
> eligible for HDTV, may receive more than 270 digital channels including:
> 45 premium movie channels, 45 commercial-free music channels, all 12
> Encore themed movie channels, five Discovery channels, six MTV and VH1
> channels, more than 30 additional pay-per-view channels, a variety of
> sports packages featuring 8 NHL and 12 NBA pay-per-view channels as well
> as college sports, and an interactive on-screen program guide.
>
> Comcast's HDTV package includes the rental of an HDTV decoder and will
> be available to digital cable customers for $10.95 per month. For those
> wanting to avoid a monthly charge, decoders can also be purchased at
> cost for approximately $300.
>
> For more information about Comcast HDTV or other Comcast products and
> services, please call 1.800.COMCAST or visit our web site at
> http://www.comcast.com/.
>
> Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast
> Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSK) (NASDAQ: CMCSA) , (http://www.comcast.com/),
> a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and
> provider of programming content. Comcast Cable is the third largest
> cable company in the United States. Providing basic cable, digital cable
> and high speed Internet services, Comcast Cable 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 approximately
> 18,000 cable division employees serve more than 8.4 million customers in
> six geographic regions.
>
> Comcast Cable serves more than 3.1 million customers in Pennsylvania,
> New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut. Comcast, whose Eastern Division
> offices are located in Oaks, PA, employs more than 5,000 people in
> Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut.
>
>                          COMCAST CABLE HDTV FACTS
>
>   Total number of customers with access to HDTV:          1.3 million
>
>   HDTV Rollout Schedule:
>
>   November 1:
>   Bucks County, PA               Pleasantville, NJ        New Castle, DE
>   Coatesville, PA                Vineland, NJ
>   Delaware County, PA            Burlington County, NJ
>   Levittown, PA                  Gloucester County, NJ
>   Lower Merion, PA               Trenton, NJ
>   Montgomery County, PA
>   Philadelphia, PA
>   West Chester, PA
>   Willow Grove, PA
>
>
>   Channel lineups:
>
>   ABC        Channel 180
>   NBC        Channel 181
>   CBS        Channel 182
>   HBO        Channel 300
>   Showtime   Channel 339
>
>
>   Key attributes of HDTV:
>
>   --    A wide-screen picture with width:height ratio of 16:9
>   --    Six times the sharpness of the current analog picture, with more
>         than two million pixels per screen (1081 vertical x 1920
> horizontal)
>   --    Twice the color resolution of current analog service
>
>   HDTV price structure:               $10.95 over digital rate package
>
>
>
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