Comcast Launches HDTV ON DEMAND Throughout the Washington Metro,Virginia Region
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 -- Comcast today announced the launch of HDTV ON DEMAND for the entire Washington Metro/Virginia Region. Comcast HDTV customers in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, Alexandria, Arlington, Reston and Prince William County in Virginia as well as the District of Columbia can watch newly released movies in high-definition.
Currently, Comcast HDTV customers can view "he Passion of the Christ" and "The Living Sea" in high-definition ON DEMAND. More titles will be added as they become available. The HD movies will be priced between $3.99 and $5.99 per selection, and once a customer orders the movie they own it for 24 hours and can view it as many times as they like during that period. To view an HD program ON DEMAND, a customer must have an HD television and a Comcast digital set-top box that is HD-capable.
"HDTV technology is unquestionably the hottest trend in the cable and telecommunications business," said Jaye Gamble, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast's Washington Metro/Virginia Region. "Comcast continues to be a leader in rolling out new products and services in high-def. By making movies available in high-definition ON DEMAND, we are adding value to our HD service at no cost to the customer and giving them more choices of HDTV content to experience in their homes," added Gamble.
HDTV is a new standard of television featuring dramatically improved, highly detailed picture quality, improved audio quality (including surround sound) and a wide-screen, theater-like display. Some of the technical specifications include a much higher pixel count, a 6 MHz per channel wideband connection, and a 16:9 width to height ratio (vs. 4:3 traditional). HDTV technology provides video and audio that is clearer, sharper and more vibrant than standard video transmission systems.
Comcast currently offers up to 18 HDTV channels as part of the most robust high-definition service available. Customers have access to local networks such as WJLA (ABC), WRC (NBC) and WUSA (CBS) in HD. Viewers can also watch FOX, PBS and the WB in HD on Comcast. Sports fans also have great options to view high-def programming from ESPN HD and Comcast SportsNet HD. Other networks that are offered in HD include HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz!, InHD, InHD2, and Discovery Theater.
ON DEMAND is available to Comcast Digital Cable customers throughout the Washington Metro/Virginia Region. This service offers consumers an extensive, diverse and ever growing library of content with the ability to fast-forward, rewind, pause, stop and restart. Comcast's ON DEMAND library includes approximately 1,800 movies and programs from leading news, entertainment, sports and children's networks like NBC, CNN, PBS KIDS, Nickelodeon, HGTV and E! Comcast also recently signed an agreement that makes news from ABC News available to Comcast's 6 million high-speed Internet customers at no additional cost.
About Comcast Cable
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. With a presence in 22 of the top 25 United States markets, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 59,000 employees serve more than 21 million customers.
Comcast's Washington Metro/Virginia Region serves close to one million households and has invested more than $600 million to upgrade more than 9,000 miles of fiber-optic cable.
