US Cable Support > Comcast Cable TV > Comcast of NJ II Channel Line-Up

Comcast of NJ II Channel Line-Up

A similar thing occurred down here earlier this week. GSN was added to Digital Classic ch.179 and WCAU 10 was added to Limited Basic ch.253. Both are still on their old analog positions as well (ch.54 & ch.10). They're however only taking up the space of one digital channel,since they're being mapped.
--
Comcast of Ocean County (Brick)

reply to dmasterscott
With every Analog (6 MHz) channel removed they can add 2 HD channels or 12 SD channels or a combination of both.

My guess is that every few months, until we reach 2009, we are going to see Analogs removed and replaced only on Digital. Thus freeing up the need bandwidth to provide more channels and services.
--
Comcast of NJ II - Union/Verona

reply to dmasterscott
If they take WCAU (NBC 10) away from Ocean County analog, they're going to have ALOT of complaints on their hands from everyone who lives in Toms River and south.

Here in West Windsor, Mercer County (Comcast of Central NJ) they're doing the converse; sticking WNBC (NBC 4, New York City) on digital ch. 253. Right now it's simulcast on channels 4 and 253.

reply to CRP

reply to Steely
Is there a general reason for why Comcast is doing this? I've always been under the assumption that these must carry/significantly viewed channels were required to be carried on the most basic analog tier (Limited Basic). Now those who watch WCAU will have to rent a digital STB for an additional fee.
--
Comcast of Ocean County (Brick)

reply to CRP
I don't know the legalities, but I DO believe that if and when Comcast removes those NBC channels from their traditional analog dial positions they're going to start hearing it like crazy from unwary customers caught completely off guard. Of course most of those calls will go to out-of-state reps who'll do little more than look at the channel guide on the screens in front of them and tell the folks that they have the correct lineup and there's nothing they can do except call their local office.

reply to CRP

I've contacted Comcast regarding this situation and will hopefully get some relevant piece of information back. What you seem to not realize celeritypc is that while you might believe that the Philly locals are only "nice to have", a lot of us beg to differ. The Philadelphia locals actually carry news and programming that is more relevant to this area than the NY locals. Not to mention Philadelphia teams like the Eagles especially have a large fanbase down here in Ocean County. That is not to say, that the NY locals aren't popular, but there is definitely an argument that could be made for keeping the PA locals on analog. I honestly don't see how WCAU could condone their channel being moved to a higher tier and thus getting less viewership. If you happen to know more, please enlighten us celeritypc .

Edit: Typo
--
Comcast of Ocean County (Brick)

From my perspective, take everything you've said and apply it exactly in reverse to this area. "Technically" we are in the local Philly area (by one town), but demographically, spiritually, mentally, etc. the population here is very mixed, splitting associations almost equally between New York City and Philly. Not only do I want to continue receiving every single NYC channel w/o a digital box requirement, I want them in high definition. (Wishful thinking I know, but one day I think everything will be in high def. Eventually 4:3 and 480i will go the way of the DoDo bird.)

reply to dmasterscott
If anything, they should be adding the HD feed of WTXF so Eagles fans can view their team in HD. When driving around Ocean County, even the northernmost portions like Brick Township and Pt. Pleasant, I see PLENTY of Eagles bumper stickers and other team ornaments. Comcast provides sections of Maryland with both DC and Baltimore FOX affiliates just for this reason, actually. Not sure why they won't do it here.

And, as has been mentioned already, some of the Philadelphia coverage (ESPECIALLY when it comes to weather) is more relevant to Ocean County.

I'm not getting into the legalities of carrying WCAU's analog feed, but the fact is that the people of much of Ocean County watch this channel. They'll be getting tons of calls from the Senior Citizen community too. Those customers are probably the most likely to watch local news and the least likely to have digital.

Again, same sentiments here but substitute "Giants" and "Jets" for "Eagles," and "WNBC' for "WCAU."

Speaking of news and weather, a HUGE chunk of the working population living here in West Windsor and its surrounds commutes daily to New York City or points north in NJ (I go to Newark a few days a week, for example). Do you think they (we) care much about Philly news, traffic or weather? No, because it's not pertinent to our daily lives. Does Comcast care? Honestly, I don't know the answer to that.

reply to CRP

said by CRP:

...What you seem to not realize celeritypc is that while you might believe that the Philly locals are only "nice to have", a lot of us beg to differ. The Philadelphia locals actually carry news and programming that is more relevant to this area than the NY locals. Not to mention Philadelphia teams like the Eagles especially have a large fanbase down here in Ocean County. That is not to say, that the NY locals aren't popular, but there is definitely an argument that could be made for keeping the PA locals on analog. I honestly don't see how WCAU could condone their channel being moved to a higher tier and thus getting less viewership. If you happen to know more, please enlighten us celeritypc .

reply to CRP
here is nyc dma map
»www.truckads.com/Affiliate/New_York.htm

mercer co is not in nyc dma while ocean co is

That's not the issue. Everyone on this board (as we're all either TV enthusiasts or in the business) knows where the DMA lines are drawn. That's a simple technicality.

The reality is that in half of Ocean County, the population watches ALOT of Philadelphia over NYC. In half of Mercer county, the population watches ALOT more NYC over Philadelphia. There is a REASON that Comcast has always carried both sets of channels. If there was no demand, they wouldn't offer them. Like I said in my previous post - this move probably affects the HUGE senior citizen population of Ocean County most; the people who are most likely to watch local evening news and are least likely to have digital service.

As someone else mentioned, not only should BOTH sets of channels be available on analog, both sets should eventually be carried in HD - especially given the MASSIVE penetration of Eagles viewership in Ocean County. It's an absolute disgrace that Eagles fans in Ocean County who spent thousands on an HDTV and a ton of money for Comcast service cannot see their team's home games in HD. Why Comcast does not offer WTXF-DT (as they do with FOX in Maryland, carrying both DC and Balt affiliates) puzzles me.

Perhaps the ultimate proof is in Comcast's own actions. They think enough of Philadelphia team viewership in Ocean County to carry CSN Philadelphia on a FULL TIME HD channel (remember, CSN Philly is hard-wired too, not just received via dish) while not carrying their NYC RSN, SNYHD. Why can they not carry WTXF-DT for Eagles home games? It would be nice to have WPVI-DT as well, as they do their news in HD.

When I flicked on my bedroom TV earlier tonight to catch the start of the Giants game on channel 4 New York, I was greeted with a marquee-type banner scrolling across the top of the screen reminding me that this week WNBC will be moving to a digital-only channel. It dawned on me that beginning the 15th I won't be able to lie in bed and watch Chuck and Sue do the 11:00 PM news anymore unless I want to pay the monthly charge for an extra digital box. That's not happening. Comcast SUCKS for removing channel 4 New York from my non-digital lineup. They don't have to do this. It's a voluntary, bonehead move on their part. Let them find another less-popular channel to eliminate if they have to, not the flagship NBC station, not MY NBC station! Another slap in the face, another reason I supported Verizon's push to win statewide TV franchise rights, another reason I plan to order FiOS when it becomes available.