Comcast Announces Dates for Lawrence Area Digital Network Enhancement

Comcast Announces Dates for Lawrence Area Digital Network Enhancement

Digital Equipment For Up To Three TVs Available To Customers At No Additional Cost

LAWRENCE, Mass., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the company's ongoing digital network enhancement, Comcast today announced the two dates in November and December when it will move most of its analog channels to the digital lineup in the communities of Andover, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, North Andover and North Reading. This upgrade, which will clear the way for even more On Demand, High-Definition and other digital programming for local customers, is already underway in these eight communities and is slated to launch in other cities and towns across Massachusetts over the course of the next year.

As part of Comcast's digital network enhancement, analog channels 24 through 69 will be digitized in two separate phases in November and December, meaning that customers who don't already have digital equipment on all their TVs will likely need to obtain it in order to continue watching these channels. On November 4, 12 cable networks, including E!, Food Network and The Weather Channel, will be digitized, and on December 3, the remaining 27 additional cable networks, including Nickelodeon, TBS, NESN and ESPN, will be digitized. These 39 networks comprise Comcast's Expanded Basic lineup.

Though the vast majority of Comcast's local customers already have digital equipment on at least one of their televisions, many will likely require digital equipment for their additional sets to continue watching the soon-to-be digital channels without interruption. Comcast is offering customers digital equipment for up to three TV sets (one digital cable box and two digital adapters) at no additional cost. Those customers who have not yet obtained their digital equipment can visit www.comcast.com/digitalnow, call the company at (877) 634-4434 or stop by one of Comcast's local service centers located in Lawrence (92 Glenn Street), Haverhill (66 Emerson Street) and Reading (580 Main Street).

Comcast's 21-channel Basic Cable service, the only low-cost, no-equipment analog video service locally available, will not be affected by the digital network enhancement. Basic Cable customers do not need to obtain digital equipment to continue watching that lineup.

Once Comcast's network upgrade is complete and customers have installed their new equipment, they will see immediate enhancements. Last month, Comcast announced that it had already added programming for customers who had received their equipment -- channels like MSNBC, Hallmark, EWTN, Inspiration, TruTV and Lifetime Movie Network. Comcast is also preparing to significantly expand its High-Definition lineup, which will grow to more than 100 channels after the network upgrade is complete.

"If you don't have digital equipment and currently watch networks like E!, The Weather Channel and ESPN, now is the time to pick up your digital equipment for up to three TVs at no additional charge, to make sure you don't miss any of your favorite shows after we digitize the majority of your lineup in the next few months," said Sue Wante, Area Vice President for Comcast. "Once this digital network enhancement is complete, local customers will be at the forefront of the 'World of More,' with more than 100 HD channels, more On Demand programming and even faster Internet speeds."

With this upgrade to Comcast's fiber-optic network, the company is making it easier for consumers to access the benefits of digital cable -- superior digital picture and sound quality, interactive services like On Demand, more than 40 music channels, parental controls and the interactive program guide. The upgrade will also allow Comcast to double the size of its On Demand library, which already offers digital cable customers more than 10,000 programs at any time, the vast majority of them for no additional charge. The equipment that Comcast is providing to customers for no additional charge includes one interactive digital cable box and two digital adapters that allow customers to watch their favorite digital channels with superior digital picture and sound quality. Customers with more than three TVs can obtain additional digital equipment for an extra fee.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) (NASDAQ:CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.9 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.0 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Comcast Cable

CONTACT: Marc Goodman, +1-617-562-4305, Marc_Goodman@cable.comcast.com,
or Doreen Vigue, +1-978-848-5650, Doreen_Vigue@cable.comcast.com, both of
Comcast Corporation

Web Site: http://www.comcast.net/

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Profile: International Entertainment