Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2010 > July > 20 > Entry
TWC to move access channels to digital delivery
UPDATE (2:55 p.m. Tues.): The date for the switch of the PEG stations from analog to digital is being pushed back to October 1, according to Melissa Sorola, Time Warner Cable Texas Region communications director.
We’re checking on how this will affect the request date for TWC’s digital equipment offer. Stay tuned.
The City of Austin has sent out a press release concerning Time Warner Cable’s status change on the delivery of Public, Educational, and Government access (PEG) channels.
Effective August 5, the City says, the channels will be moved to solely digital transmission. This means that subscribers who currently receive only analog broadcasts will no longer be able to view the following channels (TWC customers with digital receivers will notice no change):
City of Austin Channel 6
channelAustin - Channels 10, 11 and 16
Travis County Television Channel 17
ACC-TV Channel 19
A.I.S.D. TV Channel 22
“We recognize that cable companies will eventually migrate all channels from analog to digital but it should be done in a way that doesn’t reduce access to our local PEG channels,” said City of Austin spokesperson Rondella Hawkins. “In light of that, we want to do our best to be sure that our residents are aware of it and take the appropriate actions, so that they can continue to watch these stations, which are an important part of Austin’s community fabric.”
Read the entire press release, which includes details on how to receive digital equipment free of charge for a limited period of time, after the jump.
Time Warner Cable changing the delivery of Public, Educational, and Government access (PEG) channels
Effective August 5, 2010 Time Warner Cable customers will need digital equipment such as a digital set-top box, a CableCARD-equipped Unidirectional Digital Cable Product (UDCP), or a digital television (or other device) equipped with a QAM tuner to continue viewing Public, Educational, and Government access (PEG) channels.
Although PEG channels will remain a part of basic tier service they will only be available in digital format. Time Warner Cable customers utilizing a digital receiver will not see a change in channel line up. The channels that will be affected by this change are:
City of Austin Channel 6 channelAustin - Channels 10, 11 and 16 Travis County Television Channel 17 ACC-TV Channel 19 A.I.S.D. TV Channel 22
The City’s Office of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs (TARA) has expressed concerns that the move will limit access to these channels for those on the basic and standard (analog) tiers of Time Warner’s service plan. “We recognize that cable companies will eventually migrate all channels from analog to digital but it should be done in a way that doesn’t reduce access to our local PEG channels. In light of that, we want to do our best to be sure that our residents are aware of it and take the appropriate actions, so that they can continue to watch these stations, which are an important part of Austin’s community fabric,” said TARA Officer Rondella Hawkins.
Standard service customers can receive a single standard-definition digital set-top box and remote control at no cost for 12 months if they contact Time Warner Cable within 60 days from August 5th. For those receiving basic service only, Time Warner Cable will provide one digital box at no charge through 2015. Those who have more than one analog TV will have to pay a monthly rental fee for each additional digital box requested if they wish to continue seeing the PEG channels on all TV sets. This change may also affect digital-tier subscribers who have analog TV sets not now receiving digital programming. Those subscribers would be required to rent additional digital boxes in order to view PEG channels on those sets.
“This is a particular concern for us because of the upcoming state legislative session, which is carried live on Channel 6, and because of the number of residents who access our Council meetings and other proceedings on the station,” said Hawkins.
City of Austin Channel 6 programming is available on-line at www.cityofaustin.org/channel6 and at www.youtube.com/austintexasgov. Channel 6 is also available on Grande Communications Channel 6 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.
To inquire about a digital set-top box, contact Time Warner Cable at 512-485-6000.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: TV Technology
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.