Multimedia
Blogs
Forum
Affordable HD
Whitepapers
Newsletters
Events
Advertisers
Blogcast
MillimeterComcast Launches HDTV
Oct 31, 2001 12:00 PM
Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. announced on Oct. 29th 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.
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/.
Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.