It looks like Comcast in Chicago will be leading the way in total digital conversion. Starting in July, customers without a digital STB will only be able to receive local broadcast channels via cable. Comcast will help out by providing one analog conversion box per customer, but will charge a monthly rate for any additional box. This will free up more bandwidth for more HD programing once the official analog channels are cut off in February of 2009.
No word on how much Comcast will charge for additional analog conversion boxes, but I'm sure it will not be cheap. If you have analog TVs in your home, you have less than two years to start phasing them out or pay the additional fees to keep them functioning.
Comcast states that there will be 2 additional HD channels added in a few months, increasing the total to 18. Once the conversion is complete, Comcast says the upgrade will create enough space for as many as 120 HD channels. If 120 channels of HD actually see the light of day remains to be seen.
Once the inefficient analog signal goes bye bye, it should also help Comcast increase their high-speed Internet data stream. Stay tuned!!!
