Comcast throws in ten HD channels in Grand Rapids, Michigan
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 12th 2009 5:23AM
posted Jan 12th 2009 5:23AM
Grand Rapids just got eight high-def channels in mid-December, but already the cable carrier is adding ten more in order to keep the competition fierce between it and AT&T. As of now, locals can find Travel HD (183), MGM HD (216), Spike HD (HD), Nick HD (228), Toon Disney HD (238), Lifetime HD (239), Fuse HD (250), ESPN HD (257), IFC HD (260) and WE HD (261). Not bad Comcast, not bad at all.[Thanks, Corey]
ESPN should actually be ESPNews HD if Grand Rapids got the same 10 channels that the South Oakland County system got a few weeks back.
Yeah, that is ESPN News. We've had ESPN and ESPN2 for quite some time.
When is Comcast Jersey City gonna add these HD channels? Every day I come on here and see Comcast adding more HD channels in some remote area. Meanwhile in Jersey City we've been without a new HD channel for nearly a year, and the last one added was SNY HD which to a Yankee fan is pretty much useless. Still waiting on FX HD, Food Network HD, Discovery Channel HD, and the dozens of other channels offered by Verizon, Cablevision, etc.
I know you people on the coasts like to consider us "fly over" country but I wouldn't call the southern part of one of the wealthiest counties in America and Grand Rapids "remote." We were recently upgraded to 1Ghz on our "A" cable (which has about a dozen or so analog channels on it, the rest are on the 550 Mhz "B" cable) and I believe Grand Rapids is a 1Ghz system, along with East Lansing. In other words, if the systems have the capacity...they get the channels. Even though even with these 10 additions we are still way behind Chicago and Boston. If it makes you feel any better.
this is to Matt, if you have the option to go to another provider, why not switch. We in Southern NH have no option, so new channels are not happening also.
Don't have other options, just going by what friends and my parents have available to them with different providers in nearby areas. Plus, I am stuck under contract with Comcast and they'd screw me with an early cancellation fee if I left for greener pastures.
Hmm - i wonder if Comcrap is targeting areas where they HAVE competition when they decide who gets what new HD stations?? AT&T is in TN now and making their way across the state but here in Nashvegas we don't have these new HD stations...grumble...
Instead of spending so much money on 500tb bank or tru2way ,why not spend that money on upgrading antiquated systems bringing them up to one standard up to 1ghz then allowing everyone to receive the same channels, People would hold off switching if they were given a realistic date that thei systems would be upgraded and new programming made available.Going on the assumption people are going to switch where there is competion,by letting them know what will be available and when will stave off their switching if they like their current service and reduce flipflopping !!! There should be one standard sytemwide start upgrading from those that have the least and progressing;550mhz,650mhz,750mhz,850/860mhz .
Which is exactly what they have been doing. The only problem is, you can't do all the systems at once. They don't have the money, manpower, or the availability of parts. We were dual 550 Mhz here on the South Oakland system with the rest of Metro Detroit at 860Mhz (single cable). We didn't even have Digital Phone service until the 1Ghz upgrade and it took well over a year for them to complete it for the six communities that make up the South Oakland system. They literally had to touch every piece in the network. Every node, every amp, most if not all the trunk cable, and every last tap as none of it would run at 1Ghz. It takes awhile folks.
I'm in AT&T's back yard in the Tri-valley (SF Bay Area) and they can't even keep up with AT&T. Uverse has all these channels and is a really temping offer, there only hang up is they lack CSNBA-HD which for me currently is the deal breaker. Local sports in SD just isn't the same and the real reason I have the HD setup. If Comcast drags there feet any longer on adding these types of channels in the SF Bay area I may just have to switch and deal with it. How hard is it to add HD channels to an area they already promote as being 100% digital?!?!?!
Can I please get Travel Channel HD in Atlanta??? The new Anthony Bourdain season just started :-P
I'm with Matt I also live in JC and the fact that everyday comcast adds new HD channels to all these other states pisses me off. I pay so much for 20HD channels give me a break. And the reason we can't change providers is because there is a $250 cancel fee that comcast charges so its not exactly easy to get out.
To those living in Jersey City, here in TRENTON,NJ WE ONLY HAVE 34 CRAPPY HD CHANNELS!!!! NONE OF THEM INCLUDE USA HD OR SCI-FI HD!!!! So don't feel too bad...hopefully Fios is your area (not in my neighborhood yet...we've been waiting for over a year) Comcast is horrible here
34 is probably about 14 more than we have so you should feel pretty good.
And Spike HD is located where exactly ?