Bschneider
08-13-2007, 09:16 AM
I know this is not HD..
Public Access TV Going Digital On Bright House
By RICHARD MULLINS The Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 11, 2007
http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBUBKRE75F.html
TAMPA - Fans of public access TV could see those channels go away this December, if they subscribe to Bright House Networks analog cable TV.
That's because Bright House is preparing a major reshuffling of its cable TV lineup, rearranging most of its channels in the Tampa Bay area.
Right now, customers in Pasco County often see ESPN or CNN on a different channel number than customers in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties.
The reshuffle, scheduled for Dec. 11, should standardize everyone on one lineup, spokesman Joe Durkin said.
Amid the changes, Bright House plans to move public access TV from its current spot in the lowest channel number slot to a much higher number slot. Also, it will be available only on more expensive digital tier cable TV packages.
Bright House has yet to decide exactly where public access or any other channel will end up on the channel lineup, but the move, in general, angers supporters of public, education and government (or "PEG") TV in Tampa - productions that include government meetings, music shows and political debate forums.
"They will upset a great number of people," said Louise Thompson, executive director of the Tampa Bay Community Network, which produces much of the public access TV in the area. "They will lose an enormous number of customers to Verizon," she said, speaking of Bright House's chief rival Verizon Communications Inc.
Thompson said she thinks the free speech role PEG channels play in the local democracy should mean the channels are available to the widest-possible audience, and broadcast on the least-expensive, most widely available tier of programming, not more expensive digital tiers.
Right now, about 30 percent of customers at Bright House still have analog cable programming. The rest have an upgraded digital package. That analog programming takes up a disproportionately large portion of the bandwidth that cable companies can broadcast in their networks.
Cable companies across the country also have been investing in new technologies to overcome any shortage of bandwidth in their system - including rearranging less-popular channels off the analog tier.
Both Tampa and Hillsborough County received letters from Bright House this week, notifying them of the change, and officials for the city and county say they are considering their options and any potential response.
Durkin, of Bright House, characterized the channel reshuffle as a way to standardize all customers on the same lineup. He said the company would try to make PEG channels available to customers who want it, yet don't want to upgrade to digital service.
If those customers call Bright House and specifically request PEG channels, the company plans to rent them a special converter box at a lower price than the traditional $6 per month rental fee for a digital box. That price has not yet been determined, Durkin said.
Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at rmullins@tampatrib.com (rmullins@tampatrib.com) or (813) 259-7919.
Public Access TV Going Digital On Bright House
By RICHARD MULLINS The Tampa Tribune
Published: Aug 11, 2007
http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBUBKRE75F.html
TAMPA - Fans of public access TV could see those channels go away this December, if they subscribe to Bright House Networks analog cable TV.
That's because Bright House is preparing a major reshuffling of its cable TV lineup, rearranging most of its channels in the Tampa Bay area.
Right now, customers in Pasco County often see ESPN or CNN on a different channel number than customers in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties.
The reshuffle, scheduled for Dec. 11, should standardize everyone on one lineup, spokesman Joe Durkin said.
Amid the changes, Bright House plans to move public access TV from its current spot in the lowest channel number slot to a much higher number slot. Also, it will be available only on more expensive digital tier cable TV packages.
Bright House has yet to decide exactly where public access or any other channel will end up on the channel lineup, but the move, in general, angers supporters of public, education and government (or "PEG") TV in Tampa - productions that include government meetings, music shows and political debate forums.
"They will upset a great number of people," said Louise Thompson, executive director of the Tampa Bay Community Network, which produces much of the public access TV in the area. "They will lose an enormous number of customers to Verizon," she said, speaking of Bright House's chief rival Verizon Communications Inc.
Thompson said she thinks the free speech role PEG channels play in the local democracy should mean the channels are available to the widest-possible audience, and broadcast on the least-expensive, most widely available tier of programming, not more expensive digital tiers.
Right now, about 30 percent of customers at Bright House still have analog cable programming. The rest have an upgraded digital package. That analog programming takes up a disproportionately large portion of the bandwidth that cable companies can broadcast in their networks.
Cable companies across the country also have been investing in new technologies to overcome any shortage of bandwidth in their system - including rearranging less-popular channels off the analog tier.
Both Tampa and Hillsborough County received letters from Bright House this week, notifying them of the change, and officials for the city and county say they are considering their options and any potential response.
Durkin, of Bright House, characterized the channel reshuffle as a way to standardize all customers on the same lineup. He said the company would try to make PEG channels available to customers who want it, yet don't want to upgrade to digital service.
If those customers call Bright House and specifically request PEG channels, the company plans to rent them a special converter box at a lower price than the traditional $6 per month rental fee for a digital box. That price has not yet been determined, Durkin said.
Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at rmullins@tampatrib.com (rmullins@tampatrib.com) or (813) 259-7919.