Charter Communications is well on its way in achieving its goal of having 100 HD channels deployed across its footprint by mid-year. To wit: Charter will add 20 HD channels in Michigan next month.
During the cable operator’s first-quarter earnings call earlier this month, Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said the original plan was to have 100 HD choices available across its footprint by year’s end, but Charter moved that date up to mid-year. A spokeswoman for Charter said it has been rolling out 28 HD channels over the past few months ahead of reaching the goal of 100 HD offerings by July.
The new HD channels in Michigan include various offerings from HBO, Showtime and Starz, as well as TV Land and the Hallmark Movie Channel.
The new HD channels will be available on June 12 in the following Michigan communities in the Eastern Lower Peninsula: Alpena, Oscoda, West Branch, Bay City, Saginaw and Monroe. In the Upper Peninsula and Western Lower Peninsula, the channels are available in Traverse City, Cadillac, Ludington, Big Rapids, Kalamazoo, Coldwater, and Grand Haven, among others, and are scheduled for June 14.
Also in Michigan, Charter is moving six analog channels to digital in order to clear up bandwidth headroom for more HD offerings and other data and voice service enhancements.
“We want our customers to have the best television experience on all their screens,” said Joe Boullion, Charter’s vice president and general manager for Michigan. “Today’s television experience extends far beyond the living room and onto a variety of connected devices. We’re committed to providing the highest-quality video experience, more choice, greater reliability and additional value.
“I’m confident our customers will be excited about this product evolution that provides them with 20 additional HD channels, a wealth of 2-D content to every device in the home, 3-D movies on-demand, and the ability to take some of their favorite movies and shows wherever they go.”
