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Comcast Begins Offering Digital Video Recording Service for Colorado Customers

Posted on: Monday, 27 December 2004, 21:00 CST

Dec. 27--Comcast customers across the state can throw their VCRs away. Earlier this month, the cable provider began offering digital video recorders, or DVRs, throughout Denver and in northern Colorado.

DVRs allow customers to record television programs using a single cable box. Similar to the popular TiVo system, they have the ability to pause, fast forward and rewind live television.

But to receive a Comcast DVR, which can record up to 90 hours of programming, subscribers must arrange for a Comcast technician to come and swap their current cable box for a new one.

The service also features a higher price: The DVR costs an additional $9.95 a month. Subscribers who already have a high-definition box will pay $4.95 a month.

Comcast would not say how many Colorado residents have signed up for a Comcast DVR, but a "significant" number of customers have expressed interest.

Comcast has 680,000 subscribers statewide, all of whom can receive a DVR. In November, customers in the mountains and Pueblo began receiving DVRs.

Comcast began rolling out DVRs to other states in 2003. The boxes are making their way to Colorado later than other markets as the company only recently completed a network upgrade. The upgrade allows for video-on-demand programming and faster Internet speeds.

Comcast said an important part of the upgrade and the DVR rollout was the ability to record high-definition programs.

"Customers are extremely excited about the DVR product, especially given the fact you can record in HD," Comcast spokeswoman Cindy Parsons said.

Satellite-TV competitors EchoStar and DirecTV have offered customers DVRs for several years. DirecTV has an agreement to distribute TiVo's service.

Douglas County-based EchoStar builds and distributes its own DVRs, charging customers $4.98 a month for a box that can hold 100 hours of programming.

Comcast said its DVR service is better because customers don't need to buy additional equipment or use a phone connection. DirecTV and the Dish Network require a phone connection to access video-on-demand and DVR features.

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Source: The Denver Post

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