Mediacom set for gradual phase-out of analog reception through April 22
Mediacom has announced that it has distributed more than 22,000 digital adapters to area customers over the past eight weeks in preparation for a phase-out of analog television reception that began April 8 and will affect viewing for cable channels 18-66.
Customers who are not yet digital-ready will see the first effect of Mediacom’s digital upgrade with the removal of analog reception for The History Channel, Disney and Food Network. A second group of channels will make the transition one week later, April 15. With the change to a digital-only format, programming will be viewable by Family Cable subscribers using digital televisions, digital cable service, or older televisions connected to digital adapters. A complete phase-out of analog reception for channels 18 through 66 is scheduled to occur April 22.
To assist with the upgrade that requires non-digital televisions to use adapters, Mediacom will host open house events at its Dagsboro office with extended hours and staffing to assist customers. The two-day open house will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12.
The Dagsboro office is located at 32441 Royal Blvd. Local Mediacom employees will be on hand to answer questions about digital television technology and distribute adapters for customers to use on non-digital televisions.
A digital adapter enables an older television to continue to display the programming for channels 18-66 after the conversion to digital-only signal reception. The channels will retain their current numerical locations. Mediacom is providing customers with digital adapters on a lease-free basis through April 2015 (limited to three per customer).
Mediacom customers from nearby communities are encouraged to attend the Dagsboro open houses. In addition to the April 11-12 open houses in Dagsboro, customers can place orders online or by phone and receive free shipping to their homes. Go to www.MediacomCable.com/Order or phone toll-free 1-855-230-2225.
Mediacom’s network upgrade will change Family Cable channels to digital-only reception. Company officials say the outdated technology of analog bandwidth is inefficient, and its phase-out will expand network capacity for delivery of dozens of new high-definition channels and faster broadband service. In June, Mediacom will add dozens of new high-definition channels to its lineup.
Mediacom is the nation's eighth-largest cable television company and one of the leading cable operators focused on serving the smaller cities in the United States, with a significant concentration in the Midwestern and Southeastern regions.
