Non-Digital Broadcast Television to End in Santa Cruz June 25

The long-awaited and long-hyped Comcast migration to all-digital broadcasting will be completed June 25 - which means that any Santa Cruz County television without a free digital box won't receive local TV shows.

All Comcast customers who watch stations from 2 to 82 will need the Digital Transport Adaptor to see them. The boxes can be mailed out and self-installed.

"Delivering channels via digital format is a more efficient use of the existing cable infrastructure," says a Comcast press release.  "By re-allocating analog channels to exclusive digital delivery, Comcast is able to triple the space on its network to give customers more of what they want – more HD channels, international networks and On Demand, as well as much faster Internet service.  One analog channel occupies as much space as 10 digital channels or three HD channels."

Customers can either call 1-877-634-4434 or log on to www.comcast.com/digitalnow, and a representative will be happy to assist and mail the self-install adapters to customers.

How do you know if you have the right equipment? 
If you have a digital box already plugged into Comcast, you don't need to do anything. If your set is using an antenna, you need to get a box.

While many have already done this, Comcast wants to remind people who have several televisions that may not be hooked up to a converter, that they won't work without one. 

You can also pick up boxes at local offices, but expect lines around the deadline. The offices are at:  123 Doyle St. in Santa Cruz; 2440 Fremont St. in Monterey and 1481 N. Davis Rd. in Salinas.    

What does this cost customers? Comcast says: 

Limited Basic only customers will:

1. Receive up to three digital adapters at no additional monthly service charge
2. After the first three DTAs, each additional DTA will be $.50 a month. (in other words, only people with more than three TVs would pay this charge)

Expanded Basic or Standard customers who currently have no digital equipment will:

1. Receive up to three digital adapters at no additional monthly service charge.
2. After the first three DTAs, each additional DTA will require a $1.99 DTA additional outlet service fee per month.

Expanded Basic or Standard customers who currently have equipment, as well as Starter and Above digital customers, will:

1. Receive up to one DCT (larger set-top box) and two digital adapters at no additional monthly service charge. 
2. After the first two DTAs, each additional DTA will require a $1.99 DTA additional outlet service fee per month.
3. Additional DCT traditional set-top boxes are available for a Digital Additional Outlet Service rate of $8.00 per month.

Santa Cruz (Monterey – Salinas DMA)

19           KYMB this

102         Leased Access

103         Leased Access

104         Comcast Hometown Network

108         California Channel

109         CSPAN 2

116         Jewelry TV

164         Shop NBC

188         KSMS LATV

189         KQED Encore & Life

190         KQED World

191         KQED Vme

192         KQED Kids