Go digital, or go dark. That’s the Comcast threat.
No digging. No climbing. That’s the Comcast promise.
For the next round of what they call “enhancements” — as opposed to “upgrades,” which did mean people scaling poles and rooting around in your yard — you’ll need to equip your TV sets with digital boxes.
Anyone with expanded basic or higher-priced service is in for more high-definition channels. Currently there are 50 HD channels; with the enhancement, we can expect more than 100 HD channels.
Get ready for a major “migration.”
That’s Comcast-speak for moving to digital.
Here’s the catch: If you don’t install the free equipment, you’ll revert back to basic. That’s right, the channels are going dark if you don’t have fully digital service.
The switch in Longmont, Loveland and the south metro suburbs is complete.
“Denver will migrate in June,” a Comcast spokesperson says. Keep up, the whole herd is moving.
The core metro area, north metro and Colorado Springs will be offered a slew of new channels next month.
Expect CNN, MSNBC and Fox News in HD; Discovery, MTV, Animal Planet, Lifetime, Bravo in HD. A batch of HBO and Starz channels; Comedy, AMC, TCM and others — all in HD this summer.
Comcast has 350,000 digital adapters in the field and expects to have 1 million by the end of the year.
It’s about “more effective use of bandwidth to offer a whole new suite of services,” according to marketing executive Bill Mosher.
The necessary equipment is free and easy to order online. Seriously, I tried it. It took maybe 20 minutes to arrange the plug-ins once the box arrived. You can get up to two more additional adapters at no charge.
Comcast isn’t worried, because more than 90 percent of their customers have the digital equipment already on one set in the house. They’ll migrate, no problem. The trouble may come for people like me, who have not bothered to get digital equipment on the other TVs in the house. (That set in the basement? Better get a digital whatchacallit.)
My own test drive of the system was uneventful. After the easy online order, the self-install kit worked just fine. They’ve got an idiot-proof demonstration on line in addition to clear directions that come with the kit.
May sweeps.
Denver’s late-news contest continues to be an exceedingly close race for No. 2. That’s amazing, when you consider what an advantage the CBS prime-time slate gives is affiliate, Channel 4.
For the first 18 days of the May sweeps, when ratings are measured to set future advertising rates, KUSA-Channel 9 rules at 10 p.m. with a 5.4 rating (adults 25-54).
Well behind, KCNC-Channel 4 follows with a 2.9 rating; KMGH-Channel 7 has a 2.5 rating. And, broadcasting at 9 p.m., KDVR-Channel 31 scores a 2.9 rating.
Meanwhile, what did Channel 4’s morning shakeup do for the ratings? Not much.
KMGH is No. 2 in the mornings, behind market leader KUSA.
The sweeps have 10 more days to go.
AP broadcast awards.
KUSA-Channel 9 took 12 out of 22 Associated Press broadcast awards over the weekend, including honors for investigative, general, spot news, feature and sports reporting. Deborah Sherman claimed top honors with photographer Anna Hewson for reporting on an identity-theft ring.
KMGH-Channel 7 won for best documentary, “Health Care: The National Emergency,” by Tony Kovaleski, Tom Burke, Art Kane and Doug Schepman. KMGH’s Mike Nelson won for weathercast.
Public radio station KUNC won seven awards, including feature, investigative reporting and best morning newscast.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
