Starting today, RCN will begin switching to all digital programming in Chicago, Illinois, a full year (and change) before all broadcast channels must
do the same. Reportedly, the move will enable the cable provider to reclaim excess spectrum and recreate its cable offerings. More specifically, the 80 channel Signature package will be re-launching with 180 channels for the same price, and while we're not told exactly what new HD additions we'll find, a few newcomers are nevertheless promised. Additionally, subscribers in the area can expect more video-on-demand content and new channel pods which will purportedly "provide customers with the ability to pay only for the programming they want to watch." With all this freed up space, the firm's VP and General Manager Tom McKay has boldly proclaimed that it hopes to "make good on the promise of offering approximately 100 HD channels in the future," but sadly, "future" is as detailed as it got. 'Course, some users will need to grab a digital converter box or CableCARD to continue receiving service, but you already knew that, now didn't you?
posted Jan 22nd 2008 10:27AM
I've yet to see the new HD channels (I have the Premium package with all of their currently offered HD Content) and was unable to get an answer from RCN on when they new channels would go live in Chicago.
I called them today. They said the rollout would take place from 1/15 through 4/30, so they aren't just flipping a switch for everyone. The mailer I got last week that told me about this said I needed to get a digital box by February 28th, and that date was put there with a sticker, so I'm guessing that is the date that my area will be converted. Did anyone else get that mailer? What dates did you have?
I got the mailer and my stamped date was Feb 12, so we'll see on Tuesday if all these new promised HD channels kick in.
There are tradeoffs. They're cramming so many bits down the pipe that pixelization is rampant. I've had techs out many times, and only three weeks ago a tech replaced every wire and connector in my apartment; when that didn't solve anything, he followed the wire through its entry point to the hub down the street, which a team managed to replace that afternoon. It's better. But it still isn't very good. Their retransmission of the Patriots game on CBS this Sunday was so grainy it looked like I was watching it through a window screen. (I live near where Uptown, Andersonville, and Edgewater meet, if it makes a difference.)
Amen brother. Same here just a bit further North of you. I am just getting so tired of calling them with issues such as this. The fun one is when the audio and video blink every 60 seconds, I swear you can time it with a stop watch ! The resolution ? Re-boot my box each time. Seems to me the service should work as it is touted and not rely on me to get down on my hands and knees and constantly re-boot their equipment (which I pay them dearly for).
Here is a link to the new channel lineup on the RCN website.
http://www.rcn.com/pdf/chicago_lineups_2008-01-14.pdf
Color me excited! Of course when I called RCN they had no idea what I was talking about when I referred to the new packages, so maybe they won't "flip the switch" until later this week. I haven't seen the channel changes yet (I have cablecards in a Tivo) but I hope it comes soon so that I can reprogram my season passes to the new channels, which will be a royal pain unless Tivo will automatically do it which will help a lot.