Mediacom upgrading to all-digital lineup

Mediacom Communications announced it is upgrading network technology to provide customers in 10 southeast Iowa counties, including Jefferson County, with a channel expansion to nearly triple its high-definition channel lineup, while also eliminating analog reception for most Family Cable video channels.

Mediacom?s upgrade will eliminate analog television signals for all but a limited number of basic broadcast channels, which is a change to digital-only reception for channels 23 through 78. Company officials describe the digital upgrade as an investment to give all customers improved picture quality and expanded channel lineups, particularly the capacity to deliver more than 100 channels in HD.

?With digital technology, consumers gain more value and a bigger channel selection than ever before, as well as the superior viewing experience of HDTV,? said Mediacom Regional Vice President Doug Frank. ?To make the most of our investments in newer technologies, it makes sense to remove the outdated analog bandwidth. Our customers will quickly gain a huge HD boost and can be confident that we?ll always keep pace with their demand for faster broadband Internet speeds.?

Frank explained Mediacom?s network has been delivering both analog and digital signals to televisions in customer homes and businesses for many years. The upgrade will remove analog signals for the channel series between 23 and 78. As each analog channel is eliminated, he said, network capacity becomes available to potentially carry three high-definition channels or 10 standard definition digital channels. In late June, 65 new HD channels will be added to Mediacom?s lineup. The channel boost will expand Mediacom?s HD lineup from 38 channels to 103. Specific channels will be announced next month, and will include new additions in Family Cable, premium subscriptions and other channel areas.

The phase-out of analog television signals will require customers using nondigital televisions to use digital adapters to view Family Cable channels, generally the cable networks located above channel 22. To transition its customers to digital television, Mediacom will provide digital adapters on a lease-free basis through June 2013 for current customers and limited to three adapters per customer.

Customers using digital cable service or newer televisions with built-in digital tuners known as QAM are digital-ready. Those customers will not need additional equipment, but will need to re-scan or re-program remote control devices to include new channel additions. Frank said nearly 68 percent of Mediacom?s area customers currently subscribe to digital cable to use interactive features or to access HD or other channel sets. But of those 68 percent, he added, many continue to use analog televisions in secondary locations throughout their homes or offices. Digital adapters will allow digital signals to display on those older televisions.

?We?re not advocating that non-digital televisions go to a landfill,? Frank said. ?Instead, we?re trying to get the message out that Mediacom has a solution to transition consumers into the world of digital television where they will gain more viewing choices and greater value.?

Customers will be encouraged to attend open house events between May 14-26 to meet with Mediacom customer service teams and pick up digital adapters. Those will be held in Burlington, Centerville, Fairfield, Keokuk, Mount Pleasant, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa on dates to be announced.

Customers also may pick-up digital adapters at customer service offices at area offices in Burlington, Keokuk, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa.  In addition, a new website at www.MediacomCable.com/getdigital provides information on the ?all digital? process and lets customers order online to have the device shipped to them at no cost.

The phase-out of analog reception will be noticeable to customers on or around June 12. On that date, a subset of Family Cable channels will change to digital reception.  One week later the transition to an all-digital lineup will be complete.  At that time, channels located between 23 and 78 will be viewable only on digital-ready televisions or televisions connected to a digital receiver or a Mediacom adapter.  New HD channels will be added on or around June 27.