Alan Reed

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Trigg County subscribers to Mediacom’s cable television service have greater choice and improved service to anticipate as the cable provider upgrades to an all-digital network.

“People may have heard about the digital transition for television,” said Mediacom Spokesman Randy Hollis. “It involves more than just the broadcast industry, and it’s what’s happening in Cadiz and Trigg County.”

Hollis said that on November 19, Mediacom would cease analogue cable TV service, and provide the purely digital service. Customers without a digital tuner in their televisions will need a set-top tuning box to receive the signal. He said that the company would provide one box per household and charge a nominal fee for additional boxes. For example, a second tuner would cost $1.99 per month. “Over-the-air” broadcast television stations are required to switch to digital transmission in February of next year. Without the set-top box or a TV equipped with a digital tuner, analog cable subscribers will no longer be able to receive the signal. Hollis said that Mediacom “planned ahead” for the transition and possesses ample tuners to offer customers.

“The digital signal offers subscribers a better sound and picture,” said Hollis. “It also allows them to enjoy some other services like the use of a digital video recorder (DVR), and high definition television (HDTV). With the digital service, we will be adding 60 channels, including 20 hi-definition channels. They are not available yet, but will be added to the lineup on November 19. The way I look at it is that we are in a digital age. It’s where the world is going and we are getting there now.”

What else can subscribers expect from Mediacom? Find out in The Cadiz Record.