Got Comcast? New HD channels on the way

Alki-area resident Shauna Causey, who works in communications for Comcast, just sent this news release and we thought you’d be interested since the news is just now starting to make the rounds – new HD channels that are being added elsewhere in the region tomorrow and on their way to West Seattle within months – read on:

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK, CMCSA), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced that it is launching 33 new HD networks and five standard definition networks to areas around Western Washington starting tomorrow (see complete list of networks and channel numbers below). The launch includes popular channels like CBUT HD, ESPNU HD, MTV HD, VH1 HD, MSNBC HD among others. After the community-by-community launch which is slated to be complete at the end of the year, Comcast will offer a total of 101 HD channels in Western Washington.

In May, Comcast announced the launch of 31 new HD networks, also launching on a rolling basis. The 31 HD channels announced in May are 50 percent launched in Washington state; some areas will receive both HD channel upgrades at once, adding 64 new HD networks.

Earlier this year, Comcast began a digital migration called “The World of More,” offering digital upgrades to Basic Cable customers to migrate from analog to digital, and converting channels 30 and above to a digitally delivered format. Comcast’s digital upgrade reclaimed analog bandwidth to allow the company to provide more products and services to customers, such as faster Internet speeds, more channels and more ON DEMAND content. Comcast continues its digital migration across Western Washington through the end of the year while also launching the new HD networks.

“We’ve heard from customers that they can’t get enough HD programming, so we’re excited to exponentially increase our offering of those networks and give even more value to our customers as part of our digital upgrade,” said Tom Pierce, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Washington State. “These channel launches are about delivering on Comcast’s promise to customers that by converting to digital, we would offer more of the products and services they want, right away. This is just the beginning as we roll out ‘The World of More.’”

Beginning tomorrow, the new programming will be available to residential homes and businesses in the following communities:

Everett, Brier, Clearview, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, Pacific, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Carbonado, Eatonville, Graham, Orting, Roy, South Prairie, Wilkeson, Algona, Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila,, Edgewood, Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, Parkland, Puyallup, Sumner, Vashon Island, Arlington, Beverly Lane, Goldbar, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, Silver Lake, Snohomish,, Startup, Sultan, Woodscreek, Centralia, Chehalis, Lacey, Lewis County, Mason County, Olympia, Rainier, Rochester, Shelton, Tenino, Thurston County, Tumwater and Yelm.

Comcast expects to make the new programming available to the remainder of its Washington service area, including Seattle and Tacoma by the end of this year.

STARTING TOMMORROW, 33 NEW HIGH DEFINITION (HD) NETWORKS BEGIN ROLL-OUT

New Channel Number and Network

588 TMC West HD
589 TMC Xtra West HD
619 CBUT HD
621 ESPNU HD
630 NBA TV HD
631 NHL Network HD
632 Big Ten Network HD
633 CBS College Sports HD
634 Tennis Channel HD
635 Outdoor Channel HD
661 MSNBC HD
686 CMT HD
687 VH1 HD
688 MTV HD
689 BET HD
700 MGM HD
701 TCM HD
703 Hallmark Movie Channel HD
704 Comedy Central HD
705 Tru TV HD
706 The Weather Channel HD
543 HBO2 West HD
544 HBO Signature West HD
545 HBO Family West HD
546 HBO Latino West HD
547 HBO Comedy West HD
548 HBO Zone West HD
564 MoreMax West HD
571 Showtime Too West HD
572 Showtime Showcase West HD
573 Showtime Extreme West HD
440 iNDemand Team HD

Simulcast of select Games from NBA/MLS PPV Sports Packages (ch. 441-450) will be shown.

456 iNDemand Game HD

Simulcast of select Games from NHL/MLB PPV Sports Packages (ch. 457-470) will be shown.

New Standard Definition Channels

400 ESPN U
500 Hallmark Movie Channel
559 HBO Comedy West
550 HBO Zone West
593 TMC Xtra West

HD channels announced in May (currently launching across the state): Encore HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Starz Comedy HD, Starz Edge HD, Speed HD, ESPNews HD, WE TV HD, Style HD, E! HD, Bravo HD, Lifetime HD, Travel Channel HD, Fox News Channels HD, Fox Business HD, CNN HD, CNBC HD, Spike HD, TBS in HD, Nick HD, Cartoon Network HD, Disney XD HD, Fuse HD, TV One HD, QVC HD, G4 HD, BIO HD, Planet Green HD, AMC HD, LMN HD, IFC HD and InDemand PPV Events HD.

Patrick July 20, 2009 (1:32 pm)

OK, but every time I look at The Weather Channel there’s a crawl that says I’ll need digital equipment to get any channel above 29.

What’s the deadline for that?

Robert July 20, 2009 (1:53 pm)

Good to see Comcast staying competitive with DirecTV’s HD offerings. I don’t see Versus HD though – watching the Tour de France in HD is awesome!

James July 20, 2009 (2:21 pm)

VerSus HD is already available. I watched NHL games on it and I am a Comcast sub.

KSJ July 20, 2009 (2:30 pm)

Robert, I think we already have Versus HD, it’s up near where we watch the M’s, around 627 I think?

clark5080 July 20, 2009 (2:31 pm)

Yes Versus is already HD. But I want Speed now not at the end of the year I wan tot watch F1 races in HD. Why Seattle so low on the totem pole for the upgrades.

schwaggy July 20, 2009 (3:21 pm)

98116 will have a couple of new HD channels in Aug and the remainder by Nov 30th. Called last weekend to inquire. West Seattle is the last to go on the “Jumpstart” program due to old infrastructure.

Idaho Spud July 20, 2009 (4:22 pm)

I can’t wait for CBUT-HD. The regular picture right now is CRAP. :-)

Todd July 20, 2009 (4:46 pm)

BBC America HD just launched today — is there any hope of Comcast picking this up anytime soon?

Carole July 20, 2009 (7:03 pm)

Well, as far as more On Demand offerings, it would be nice if On Demand were consistent. Within the last week several series which had been offered regularly suddenly didn’t appear (mid-series) until nearly a week after broadcast, or not at all. There was a delay for Rescue Me and Army Wives is now two weeks behind. There were other programs that usually show up the next day, but did not show up for a week, if at all. With VCRs virtually useless now and On Demand not reliable if you miss a show, that leaves DVR..at additional cost. News on On Demand is pitiful – CNN..what happened to CNBC, MSNBC, and why are there no ABC shows?

Mike July 20, 2009 (9:10 pm)

“BBC America HD just launched today — is there any hope of Comcast picking this up anytime soon?”

Only if you live outside of West Seattle. I have friends in Federal Way with the same Comcast package as I have and they get it, I don’t… Comcast claims my friends don’t have it…uhhh ya…

Todd July 20, 2009 (11:37 pm)

Hey Mike,

Who did you speak to at Comcast? I’d love to give them a call…

Thanks,
Todd

Shauna July 21, 2009 (12:57 am)

Hi, Shauna here– we are launching the new HD channels on a community-by-community basis through the end of the year. The first areas will launch with the 33 new HD channels starting today (Tues). That means that through the rolling launch, some areas of Western Washington will have HD channels earlier than other areas. The areas around Seattle, closer to downtown, are scheduled to get the new HD channels a couple months from now.

Patrick, Can we help get you the free equipment so you can view the digital signal? You can have the equipment sent to you and find more info here: http://www.comcast.com/digitalnow/ You can also email me at Shauna_Causey@cable.comcast.com or send me a tweet @WA_Comcast. Thanks!