Comcast Media Center Adds 14 HD Channels to HITS Lineup
Lifts Transport Agreements To 20 Enhanced Networks
By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 7/27/2008 6:02:00 PM
Orlando – Comcast Media Center has signed transport agreements for 14 additional HD channels, bringing to 20 the roster of HDTV channels that will be available through HITS.
The additional HDTV services, which represent eight programming groups, will be delivered via the Comcast Media Center’s Quantum MPEG-2 programming service.
The center’s most recent transport agreements will add: History HD from A & E Television Networks; Animal Planet HD, Discovery Channel HD, HD Theater, Science Channel HD and TLC HD from Discovery Communications; ABC Family HD and Disney Channel HD from the Disney-ABC Television Group; Fox News HD from Fox News Channel; Lifetime Movie Network HD from Lifetime Networks; USA HD and SCI FI HD from NBC Universal; Outdoor Channel HD from Outdoor Channel; and Travel Channel HD from Travel Channel Media.
These HDTV networks join A&E HD, HGTV HD, Food Network HD, National Geographic Channel HD, Starz HD and Universal HD, which all launched on HITS Quantum last year. HITS Quantum’s HD channel lineup is delivered via SES Americom’s AMC-18 HD-PRIME satellite.
“The demand for HD is expected to grow to over 47 million households by the end of this year and the CMC and our colleagues in the video programming community are working to continuously give cable operators programming to meet this growing demand,” Gary Traver, Comcast Media Center’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “HITS Quantum’s HD programming solution provides cable systems operators with a more efficient option for expanding their HD channel lineups.”
HITS Quantum’s linear programming lineups currently include more than 210 digital video and audio services that are designed to support the cable industry’s migration to all digital. By converting more of their analog channels to standard-definition or HDTV digital formats, cable operators can reclaim bandwidth for offering additional advanced video and broadband services.
HITS Quantum’s MPEG-2 programming services include the HITS Quantum Classic lineup of more than 150 digital video and audio services typically carried on digital tiers; the HITS Quantum standard-definition lineup of digital feeds for nearly 70 widely carried basic and expanded basic channels; and an expanding lineup of HDTV channels.
The linear channels, as well as VOD programming available via the VOD In a Box service, may be received with one “triple-feed” antenna. The all-digital platform, which features secured authorization, optimized DPI triggers for the insertion of ads, and high-quality video and audio, also provides television networks with greater potential for additional penetration on HITS Quantum’s cable systems affiliates.
Additional HITS Quantum services available from Comcast Media Center include HITS Broadband, a carrier-class IP connectivity service, and HITS AxIS, a centralized resource to support the development, delivery and management of advanced interactive applications that use the ETV Enhanced Television-Binary Interchange Format platform, as well as the emerging tru2way platform.
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