David
01-14-2008, 11:54 AM
Cox: TCM move not a digital transition
By John Wolfe
Cox Communications’ decision to move Turner Classic Movies to our Digital Cable package has generated its share of local media attention. So, too, has the looming federal government-required transition of broadcast television from analog to digital transmission by February 2009. Unfortunately, there has been some suggestion that these two events are related. They are not.
The federally-mandated “digital TV transition” is a requirement that all local television broadcasters upgrade from analog to digital transmission on or before February 18, 2009. Congress required this transition to free up the analog spectrum for public safety, wireless communications and other uses. There is some concern, naturally, that analog television sets that are not capable of receiving digital transmissions would be rendered useless as of the February 18, 2009 transition date.
Fortunately, if you are a cable customer, you need not take any action. After February 18, 2009, Cox will take the broadcasters’ digital signals, convert them to analog, and send them down the cable to your TV set, just as we do today. If you have a cable going into the back of a cable-ready TV set, or a set-top receiver from Cox, you will continue to receive the local broadcast channels you receive today.
It is never an easy decision to move any channel on our line-up, as each segment of our customer base has their favorites. Cox’s decision to move Turner Classic Movies to our Digital Cable package is not related to the government’s DTV transition. Rather, this change has freed up bandwidth to offer new products, like more high-definition channels, that our customers demand and our competitors are currently offering. To meet this demand, Cox has doubled the number of HD channels, including A&E HD, History HD and National Geographic HD.
While some of our customers are clearly displeased by this decision, it is important to note that TCM has been carried on our Digital package in northern Connecticut and is carried on the digital tier by other cable providers throughout Connecticut.
Ultimately, our primary goal is to offer a competitive product that appeals to a wide variety of our customer base.
John Wolfe is Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, at Cox Communications.
By John Wolfe
Cox Communications’ decision to move Turner Classic Movies to our Digital Cable package has generated its share of local media attention. So, too, has the looming federal government-required transition of broadcast television from analog to digital transmission by February 2009. Unfortunately, there has been some suggestion that these two events are related. They are not.
The federally-mandated “digital TV transition” is a requirement that all local television broadcasters upgrade from analog to digital transmission on or before February 18, 2009. Congress required this transition to free up the analog spectrum for public safety, wireless communications and other uses. There is some concern, naturally, that analog television sets that are not capable of receiving digital transmissions would be rendered useless as of the February 18, 2009 transition date.
Fortunately, if you are a cable customer, you need not take any action. After February 18, 2009, Cox will take the broadcasters’ digital signals, convert them to analog, and send them down the cable to your TV set, just as we do today. If you have a cable going into the back of a cable-ready TV set, or a set-top receiver from Cox, you will continue to receive the local broadcast channels you receive today.
It is never an easy decision to move any channel on our line-up, as each segment of our customer base has their favorites. Cox’s decision to move Turner Classic Movies to our Digital Cable package is not related to the government’s DTV transition. Rather, this change has freed up bandwidth to offer new products, like more high-definition channels, that our customers demand and our competitors are currently offering. To meet this demand, Cox has doubled the number of HD channels, including A&E HD, History HD and National Geographic HD.
While some of our customers are clearly displeased by this decision, it is important to note that TCM has been carried on our Digital package in northern Connecticut and is carried on the digital tier by other cable providers throughout Connecticut.
Ultimately, our primary goal is to offer a competitive product that appeals to a wide variety of our customer base.
John Wolfe is Vice President, Government & Public Affairs, at Cox Communications.