Comcast to offer HDTV channels

[Gregg Lengling]

Comcast announced Wednesday that it will begin offering high-definition TV channels on its local cable network Saturday.

The Philadelphia-based cable company said customers will be able to view HDTV programming from Fox, Showtime, NBC, HBO and ESPN for a monthly equipment fee of $5 with a Digital Cable package. Comcast, which purchased AT&T Broadband last year, has more than over 500,000 customers, including users in Arlington, Bedford, Colleyville, Coppell, Dallas, Denton, Euless, Flower Mound, Grand Prairie and Grapevine.

AT&T spokeswoman Angel Biasatti said the company is close to completing a $70 million upgrade of its cable network in the Metroplex that will allow the company to offer these new services.

Comcast also recently announced cable-rate increases scheduled to take effect Dec. 1 in the Metroplex. Expanded basic customers will see an average increase of about 6.8 percent, but basic cable customers will not see an increase at this time, Biasatti said.

Customers must have a HD television set or an HDTV-capable set in order to receive the high-definition TV programming.

Charter Communications, which serves primarily Tarrant County including Fort Worth, has offered HDTV programming since February. The cable company has seven HDTV channels: Fox, Showtime, NBC, HBO, Discovery and HDNet and HD Movies, which are operated by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Charter spokeswoman Dusty Matthews said Charter does not plan to raise its cable rates.

[Todd Wiedemann]

The article above relates to Texas, right ??

[Gregg Lengling]

Yep but I thought it was pertinent...seeing as TWC here doesn't offer ESPNHD