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Comcast Changing Channels The Cable Television Provider is Moving Things Around for Digital.

Posted on: Friday, 2 December 2005, 18:00 CST

By ROGER BULL

Comcast is making some changes to its cable lineup and channels. As a result, most subscribers will need a digital converter to continue watching Cinemax and ESPN Classic.

The moves effective Dec. 6 mean:

-- Cinemax, which now is on Channels 14 and 562, will only be on 562.

-- ESPN Classic will move from 47 to 403.

-- Comcast's local channel will move from 57 to 14.

-- Great American Country will move from 74 to 57.And effective Dec. 15:

-- The Tennis Channel will be added on 420.

-- WJWB, Jacksonville's WB network affiliate, will be shown in high definition on 174. It will continue to air on 9 in standard analog.

Most customers need a digital converter to watch anything above 99. Some high-end TVs have cards that read the digital signals, but viewers still can't use the interactive programming guide or video on demand without the converter. The converters rent for $4.35 a month, plus 30 cents for a remote, and each TV needs its own converter to pick up all digital channels.

Bill Watson, Comcast's vice president of operations, said some of the changes are being made to free up bandwidth in the lower channels. Comcast will begin transmitting channels 2-72 and 95-99 in both digital and analog sometime early next year; they now are only in analog.

Owners of digital and high-definition sets will see a noticeable improvement in the quality when the channels are in digital, Watson said.roger.bull@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4296

Source: Florida Times Union

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