We would like to take this opportunity to respond to inaccuracies presented in Ms. Jonetta Rose Barras’s column on Wednesday, June 23, regarding Comcast’s services and options in Washington, D.C.
All media is evolving to digital, and television is no exception. Approximately 85% of Comcast’s customers are already enjoying digital TV, and our goal is to keep customers ahead of the digital curve and bring them access to even more innovative products and services, while also making it easy and affordable for our analog customers to take advantage of the benefits of digital TV. One analog channel consumes about the same amount of bandwidth as 10 digital channels or three high-definition channels, and by delivering more channels in digital, we are able to use our network more efficiently so we can add more of the services our customers want and expect.
This March, we began rolling out our “World of More” digital service enhancement in Washington, D.C., which brought additional benefits to our customers including more high-definition (HD), faster Internet speeds, more video on demand and the ultimate in digital video and sound quality. To do this, we upgraded our Expanded Basic analog customers to digital service at no additional monthly cost, and provided them with up to three pieces of digital equipment, also at no additional cost. With the digital equipment, those customers had immediate access to more than 45 additional channels. Since March, we have also added 50 new HD channels in D.C., including popular networks like Bravo HD, Hallmark Movie Channel HD, MASN2 HD, Nick HD, Telefutura HD and Univision HD, and have expanded our video on demand offerings to more than 25,000 choices. To note, our Limited Basic customers were not impacted by this enhancement, and Expanded Basic customers who did not wish to take advantage of World of More could receive our Limited Basic service.
We communicate with our customers early and often through a variety of ways to ensure they are prepared for any changes and to help deliver the best possible experience. We understand changes can cause discomfort to some, but have heard positive feedback from the vast majority of our customers who are now enjoying more channels, more HD choices, and more On Demand offerings.
Alisha Martin is senior manager of public relations for the Comcast Beltway region.
