Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2008) -- Comcast today said that it now has more than 1,000 High-Definition viewing 'choices' in its HD On Demand lineup.
Over the last year, the cable operator has heavily promoted its HD On Demand service rather than marketing its carriage of 24-hour linear HD networks. Comcast offers less than 40 full-time linear HD channels in most markets, compared to more than 100 or more offered by DIRECTV, Dish Network (and Verizon's FiOS in several markets.)
But Comcast says the On Demand lineup gives their subscribers more high-def 'choices' than any other TV provider.
"Consumers can't get enough HD, so we’re now offering over a thousand HD choices, five times more than last year. However, it's not just about HD volume, but about having the highest-quality content consumers really want, whether they want to watch live or on their schedule," said Derek Harrar, Comcast's General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services, said in a statement.
Comcast COO and President Steve Burke last February told an investors group that a "typical" local Comcast system will carry between 50 and 60 full-time HDTV channels by year's end.
Asked yesterday if the company will still meet that goal, a spokeswoman yesterday said: "I know we’re at 30-40 now, and haven’t heard any different on this (50-60 channels by year's end)."
Comment on this article!
Over the last year, the cable operator has heavily promoted its HD On Demand service rather than marketing its carriage of 24-hour linear HD networks. Comcast offers less than 40 full-time linear HD channels in most markets, compared to more than 100 or more offered by DIRECTV, Dish Network (and Verizon's FiOS in several markets.)
But Comcast says the On Demand lineup gives their subscribers more high-def 'choices' than any other TV provider.
"Consumers can't get enough HD, so we’re now offering over a thousand HD choices, five times more than last year. However, it's not just about HD volume, but about having the highest-quality content consumers really want, whether they want to watch live or on their schedule," said Derek Harrar, Comcast's General Manager and Senior Vice President of Video Services, said in a statement.
Comcast COO and President Steve Burke last February told an investors group that a "typical" local Comcast system will carry between 50 and 60 full-time HDTV channels by year's end.
Asked yesterday if the company will still meet that goal, a spokeswoman yesterday said: "I know we’re at 30-40 now, and haven’t heard any different on this (50-60 channels by year's end)."
Comment on this article!
_____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
______________________________________________________
Phillip Swann is
president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in
dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox
News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
Click TVPredictions.com to read more news and features on TV
technology.