After Announcing 31 HD Channels Eight Weeks Ago, the Rolling Launch of 33 Additional Today, Comcast to Offer Total of 101 HD’s
LYNNWOOD, WA (July 20, 2009) – 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.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 6.8 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast’s Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
