These 4-digit channel numbers apparently follow a standardized "Master Channel Lineup" (MCLU) that Comcast has developed. Many of the new HD channels that were additions with the "World of More" upgrades have channel numbers in the 1000's.
This has also been discussed in some previous threads:
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Standardized cable lineups coming soon»
Master Channel Line Up»
[HD] Channels in the 200 RangeI don't know how close Comcast is in rolling this out nationally, but here is what was said in a response on Feb. 14, 2011 to a question in the Comcast Voices blog entry on the new channel guide (»
blog.comcast.com/2010/01 ··· r.html):Comcast is in the process of creating one Master Channel Lineup for all Comcast markets. This means that most networks will have the same channel number, regardless of what part of the country the Comcast subscriber lives in. This project is rolling out market by market in a phased approach.
Phase one of that project is that we are moving new and existing HD channels into the 1000's channel range and introducing 4 digit channel numbers.
Phase two will see the channels being re-aligned into genre-based locations.
Comcast continues to add new and exciting programming content to our digital video channel lineup, including HD channels made available through the "World of More" program.
To ensure customers get the full value of all programming content, Comcast is realigning channels into logical, genre based locations. This channel realignment will help customers find the content they want easier. I don't know if anyone has this Master Channel Lineup yet (like in Philadelphia? It was also said that few systems in Indiana would be testing it back in June 2010), but here is a list of some non-premium, HD channels with 4-digit numbers that I have compiled from my own system and other's posts so far:
1216 Bloomberg
1217 C-SPAN
1218 News12
1225 BBC America
1231 Crime & Investigation
1232 ID
1262 Nat Geo Wild
1265 Smithsonian Channel
1271 H2
1281 Cooking Channel
1291 DIY
1307 Hallmark
1315 Jewelry TV
1316 TV Guide Entertainment
1318 EWTN
1325 Game Show Network (GSN)
1334 Oxygen
1345 Ovation
1368 Galavision
1407 CMT
1505 Sprout
1511 The Hub
1512 Fox Soccer
1513 GOL TV
1556 EWTN
1621 MavTV
1630 Outdoor Channel
1631 Sportsman Channel
1632 World Fishing Network
1712 NBA TV
1717 GOL Soccer
1862 IndiePlex