Space et all, looks like Grand Rapids and Chicago are next on the TCI/HLIT bandwagon of build-outs. I wonder why? COuld it be that
21stcentury.com is putting pressure on them to upgrade?
I love competition,it spurs innovation,and HLIT has the leading edge products.
Wednesday, August 26, 1998
TV for the 21st century is on its way.
Beginning this week, TCI Cablevision customers in parts of northeast Kent County will be able to tune in to 185 television channels, including 13 additional basic cable channels.
And by this time next year, all TCI customers in the Grand Rapids area will be added to the new network.
About 15,000 to 20,000 homes in the Grand Rapids area will be added to the new network each month through September 1999 while TCI's Optical Fiber Network Project is brought on line.
The $50 million program to build a high-capacity optical fiber network will vastly increase cable TV possibilities as well as pave the way for interactive services, such as high-speed Internet connection from @Home among TCI's 130,000 homes in the area.
"We're building a system that's second to none that will allow us to do all the things and more that customers want from a telecommunications system," said Tom Tidd, general manager of TCI Cablevision of West Michigan Inc.
In December, TCI introduced 32 digital channels, including on-screen pay-per-view movie ordering, a commercial-free, 10-channel digital music service, and additional cable and "multiplex" premium movie channels.
TCI's new digital cable lineup will add such stations as Discover Civilization, Lifetime Movie Network, Trinity Broadcast Network, Ovation, BET on Jazz, plus 14 more special interest stations, 25 additional channels of Digital Music Express, 20 more pay-per-view channels and seven additional premium channels such as HBO2, HBO3 and HBO Family.
"The system we're building doesn't exist anywhere," Tidd said. "It has capacity greater than any anywhere."
The new fiber optic network will expand basic cable from 21 to 25 channels and expanded basic from 22 to 31 channels. But since 96 percent of TCI customers have both, most viewers will see their combined basic and expanded basic channels increase from 43 to 56. Basic and expanded basic cable prices will remain the same, Tidd said. The additional charge for digital cable also will remain the same $10 a month. "We started it last year with $10, and it's still $10," Tidd said.
Several networks, such as CNBC, Fox Sports-Detroit, WKBD and
C-SPAN2 that shared a single channel each will have individual channels in the new fiber optic system. Sneak Preview, featuring pay-per-view schedules, will be available to basic cable customers following their upgrade.
Grand Rapids is the first TCI market to introduce the optical fiber network,but others will follow soon.
"The equipment here had gone longer than most others without
enhancements and improvements and replacements, so there was the most to gain by building a new system here first," Tidd said.
"What's being done here soon will be done in Chicago, so while Grand Rapids is first, it's barely first."
Wow, things are beginning to heat up,this fall could be hot for HLIT.
But then again,I am always looking for the rainbow around the corner,I could be wrong.
Tim |
