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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Comcast digital converter box.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, March 7, 2009 Comcast readies digital TV switch By Yoshiaki Nohara Herald Writer Comcast is scrambling to distribute hundreds of thousands of free converter boxes to its Washington customers, getting ready to increase the number of digital-only channels this year. The company aims to finish the transition by the end of this year to better compete with other companies such as Verizon and Direct TV, said Steve Kipp, a spokesman for Comcast. Additional digital-only channels would let the company provide more high-definition channels and faster Internet connections. "It's really a digital upgrade for our customers," he said, adding that the change won't increase cost for customers, Kipp said. The change is expected to affect those who subscribe to Comcast's expanded basic cable service, said Steve Kipp, a spokesman for Comcast. They have access to 70 channels in a simultaneous analog and digital broadcasting. The company aims to convert 40 of those channels to digital-only broadcast, which would require a digital converter box to watch. As a result, viewers should be able to have better picture quality on channels such as ESPN, CNN and Bravo, Kipp said. They will also have access to more than 10,000 on-demand titles and additional new channels such as Bloomberg Television and Lifetime Movie Network. Starting the week of March 16, Comcast will being the transition in Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and Clearview, Kipp said. Meanwhile, the federal government is set to let broadcasters switch from analog to digital on June 12. The process is separate from the Comcast's plan, Kipp said. But the national transition seems to be prompting people to sign up for cable service with Comcast, Kipp said. Cable customers will be able to continue to view television after the switch. "The whole world is moving toward digital," he said. "This is the way of the future." Comcast is distributing one digital converter box and two adapters per household, Kipp said. This year, it expects to mail about 1.9 million converter boxes, which should be easy to install. The boxes and adapters are free, Kipp said. The transition is part of the company's long-term strategy to boost its profits and expand its customer base. "It's competition," he said. "That's the big driver for us here. We want to be able to provide more high-definition channels. We want to provide faster Internet access." Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029, ynohara@heraldnet.com. Digital transition Comcast plans to add digital-only channels this year. The change requires customers with expanded basic cable service to install a new converter box. For more information, call Comcast at 877-634-4434. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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