Comcast Wrapping Up Digital Network Upgrade

Comcast is in its final phase of a digital network enhancement that means more on-demand programming and more HD channels -- but that means that customers using analog equipment to watch cable TV have to upgrade to digital receivers.

Customers who have not yet obtained their digital equipment can visit www.comcast.com/digitalnow, call the company at (877) 634-4434 or visit Comcast's customer service center at 4500 Delemere in Royal Oak. Customers who go online or call Comcast may 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 is providing digital equipment for up to three TVs in every household free.

Comcast has used a variety of methods to educate area consumers about the digital network enhancement. 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 need to take in order to continue watching 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.

Communities affected by this phase of the digital upgrade are Auburn Hills; Berkley; Clawson; Ferndale; Huntington Woods; Oakland Township; Pleasant Ridge; Rochester; Rochester Hills; Royal Oak; and Troy.

As part of Comcast's digital network enhancement, analog Standard Basic cable channels 13, 24-31, 33-34, 36-44, 46-48, 50-66 and 70 will be digitized in two separate phases this week and again in late April. 

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.  This week, eight cable networks, including: Turner Classic Movies; American Movie Classics; Versus; E!; Animal Planet; Cartoon Network; Syfy; and Travel Channel are being digitized, with the remaining 33 cable networks, including Nickelodeon, CNN, ESPN, among others, slated to be digitized on or after April 26.

The benefits of this digital upgrade will be apparent to local customers immediately. Comcast has already added new channels for customers using digital equipment and the company expects to start adding more HD channels within days of today's channel moves. Once Comcast's network upgrade is complete, the company will significantly expand its HD lineup, growing it to more than 100 channels.

"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," said Mary Beth Halprin, vice president of public relations and community affairs for Comcast in Michigan. "If you don't have digital equipment and currently watch cable networks like E!, Travel Channel and Versus, now is the time to contact us to obtain your digital equipment for up to three TVs at no additional charge so 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 the 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 up to two digital adapters that allow customers to watch their favorite digital channels with superior digital picture and sound quality and up to one digital cable box. Customers with more than three TVs can obtain additional digital equipment for an extra fee.

Comcast's Michigan Region serves more than one million customers statewide and employs approximately 4,000 people. Comcast has three major call centers located in the state and houses its Michigan Region headquarters in Plymouth.