Cable and satellite outlets are bracing for what could be an onslaught of new business when the analog-to-digital transition occurs next month, according to various companies.
When free television goes digital nationwide on Feb. 17 — or later if some members of Congress have their way — some consumers are expected to view the switch as the last push they needed to turn to pay-TV.
As a result, companies such as Comcast and Dish Network are adding staff to accommodate the additional orders that could come.
And based on what happened when Wilmington, N.C., made the nation’s first switch to digital broadcasts last September, the conversions could be significant.
“We saw a significant spike the day before, the day of and the day after the digital transition there,” said Francie Bauer, spokeswoman for Dish Network. “We’re ramping up in our call centers to ensure we can best handle any uptick we see in calls and subscriptions.”
Some satellite providers, however, are taking a more cavalier approach to the potential of increased business. “We don’t anticipate a significant impact on our business,” DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said. “For the most part these are consumers who have not cared enough about TV to subscribe to a pay-TV service.”
New pay-TV subscribers shouldn’t be surprised if they can’t get hooked-up immediately by their provider, especially if there’s a flood of callers seeking installation. So customers might want to plan ahead.But customers who wait until closer to the cutoff date may find a few good deals to grab, such as a $10 per month rate on basic cable, which includes local channels from Comcast. New subscribers to the company’s Internet and telephone package can get the cable for free.
“It’s not yet clear what we can expect but we’ll be prepared if an onslaught comes,” Comcast spokeswoman Cindy Parson said. “Our hope is not to have a large backlog.”
At Dish Network, new customers can get the 20-channel basic lineup for $9.99 a month — $14.99 if you add the local television stations — as part of its American or Latino Welcome Pack. The downside is you’ll have to pay $140 up front for all the equipment, such as antenna and receiver.
Order their Classic Bronze 100 package after Feb. 1 and you’ll pay $9.99 per month for six months, which includes free installation and the equipment, Bauer said.
DirecTV said it will have “a competitive offer,” Mercer said, “but the digital transition will not be a defining event for our business.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506, dmigoya@denverpost.com
