How would you change your local cable lineup if you had the clout?

[Tim from Springfield IL]

This assumes that a la carte will not be an option anytime in the near future.

A little background: Springfield has been a Comcast (Xfinity) market since Jan. 2008 (previously Insight from 2001-07 and before that, AT&T, TCI, Dimension Cable and perhaps others). Hopefully this link works, but this is Comcast's channel/package lineup for the Springfield area (which is for the most part a holdover from the Insight days, particularly the dual SD channels of CNN, ESPN, WGN America and the like):

https://www.comcast.com/Clu/ChannelLineUp

Now if I had the clout, here's how I would like to change this lineup:

Excluding Music Choice (which I would move to the 450-495 range as I'll explain more later), move all the Limited Basic SD channels on chs. 89 and above (subchannels, etc.) to between roughly channels 22-39 (and fill in the lower channel number gaps accordingly while also reserving space for future use, such as more subchannels). Then move the 17-ish additional Digital Economy SD channels (e.g., CNN, Fox News, TBN, H2) to the 40s/50s channel range--and so on and so forth for the additional channels in other tiers (Digital Starter, Preferred, Premier). Also move the "Comcast 101" info channel to Limited Basic and on channel 1--and if possible create a "Channel 0" for On-Demand.

The HD channels would, in most cases, be the corresponding SD channel's number plus 500. Examples: WICS-HD at 502, WCIA-HD 503, QVC-HD 513, etc.

And now that Springfield is in the ranks of all-digital cable, get rid of the dual SD channels (e.g., WGN on 9 and 115; CNN on 26 and 407; etc.).

How would you change your area's cable lineup (including new packages you would like offered, etc.)?

 

[nathannah]

In my market (Charter in Sheboygan, WI), everything is pretty well, though not perfectly set.

Video on Demand 1,
Basics 2-100,
Digital Cable at 100-200,
Latino is at 200-300,
Digital Sports have 300-400,
Showtime/TMC have 400-500,
HBO/Cinemax 500-525
Starz/Encore 525-550,
Premium HD's 550-600,
Broadcast HD's 600-620,
HD Cable Networks 620-799,
PPV 799-805 (used to be alot more, but VOD killed it except for ring sports),
Porn 880-900,
MC 900-950,
Broadcast subchannels 960-980,
Public access and C-SPAN 980-999

Other than natural or artificial channel shifts and fitting in post-channel switch networks (Big Ten Network and MLB are in the 70's and 80's instead of the low 30's because there was nowhere to put them), Charter does a great job with their maps. I usually avoid the 2-100 tier the vast majority of the time because I have most of the networks except the Weather Channel, Univision, and the Green Bay broadcast channels (in our market we only get the Milwaukee channels in HD) in HD. Only a few channels are duplicated in both the 00's and 100's, mainly to help along older viewers for awhile before they're fully moved out of the basic tier.

The one thing I need to see die though; individual VOD "channels" in certain tiers. We have one VOD space where everyone goes, Channel 1. That's all we need. It is annoying to want to flip from HBO to Cinemax and have to remember to skip over the "Cinemax on Demand" channel slot. They're all out of my TiVo, but on the Motorola box TV Guide software there's no deletion at all (the Favorite Channel "shortcut" only makes sense to viewers who stick to 20 channels, period, not regular channel surfers). It seems more like an intrusive advertisement that ruins surfing flow than a good service (Charter didn't have them until last year, so I assume it's the channels forcing them to put a VOD channel shortcut aside, not their plan). It's most apparent on Time Warner systems from my experience though, who seems to have not taken the Comcast template of "one channel, one destination".

The only other thing is to make the HD nets equal to their 00's and 100's SD channels (the broadcast nets are equal or near equal now), but until the day the HD nets finally get to bump down to the 00's, that's not likely to come, and as I said, each genre is well tiered right now outside of the kids networks, which because of Nick and Turner taking halfway to forever to get their HD negotiations done, means Disney Channel, which had them done eons ago, gets 630 right among the Big Ten cable networks, while Nick and Cartoon Network are stuck in the 690's next to Disney XD and HDNet.

I'm pretty happy about my cable system as it is now outside of the junk boxes running on terrible software (to be taken care of when TiVo by Charter rolls out), some annoying broadcast agreements which keep certain channels Time Warner-only (WTMJ and WGBA will not sell their subchannels to them at all), and lack of QAM (hopefully the end of digital carriage hastens this, but I'm not holding my breath about seeing ESPNHD without a box on my computer).

 

[ShawnHill1]

I don't have TV service with my cable provider (Time Warner); I have internet with them instead. However, they already provide a pretty large lineup of programming available, so if anything, they just need small additions. For one, I would like to see Bounce, This, and Me-TV added to the lineup; maybe they will eventually, but I'm not holding my breath. Also, NFL Network would be a must-add as well, and if the digital cable companies as whole can get the Sunday Ticket package, I would switch from DirecTV practically in a heartbeat. Last, but not least, I would sure like to see the Epix channels, as they have the Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate libraries.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Here's a revised idea for Comcast in Springfield--taking into account the future possibility of a standardized cable channel lineup for most networks (which might explain why Insight had dual SD channels for most "expanded basic cable" networks prior to passing the torch to Comcast here locally). Refer to my link in my original post for channels included in each package:

--0 (if possible): On Demand
--1: Comcast Info channel
--2-39: Limited Basic Service channels (local network affiliates, all subchannels, shopping, PEG, CSPAN, some religious)
--40-99: Expanded Basic (including Digital Economy) (I assume Comcast will move some E.B. channels to higher tiers)
--100-199: International programming and Music Choice
--200-399: Digital Preferred and Sports, Entertainment packages
--400-499: Premium services and PPV

For HD channels, add 500 to the above categories (e.g., Limited Basic from 502-539, HD premiums starting at channel 900).

 

[K6JHU]

Something in this thread about deck chairs and big ships. Doesn't make a difference what the channel lineup is if there is nothing worth watching.

Having said that, it looks like the FCC has finally decided to let analog go. So that frees up a few channel numbers.

And in these days of modern electronics why can't the set top boxes let you pick the channel numbers. Say the cable company uses 132 for TNT. You tell the box that you would rather have it on 3. Should not be all that hard. Unless you are one the very small per centage that uses Cable Cards.

And at the same time in this day of modern electronics, program only an HD signal and let the viewer decide whether the box should convert it to SD.

Frees up a lot of spectrum space and channel numbers.

 

[mnradiofan]

Comcast has said they want to move to the following system:

- 99 and Below: Will remain the same with channel numbers decided by the local market. All channels in this range will be replicated in higher channel numbers.

- 100's: News, Local, and Public Service, Educational, Government.

- 200's: General Entertainment and Lifestyle cable channels (FX, TNT, Discovery, etc)

- 300's: General Entertainment and Lifestyle cable channels (Lifetime, A&E, TLC, shopping channels etc)

- 400's: Music Channels

- 500's: Kids and Religious channels

- 600's and 700's: Sports

- 800's: Movies and PPV

- 900's: Premium channels

- HD channels will move to the 1000's with the same channel number as the SD version + 1000.

- International Channels will be in the 2000's.

This was something that went out in 2010 though, and here we are halfway through 2012 and we still don't have this lineup here.

 

[K6JHU]

New proposed Comcast lineup not even close here. Comcast seems to put channels in wherever there is room. For instance HD channels are found in both the 200's and 800's. And only a rudimentary grouping within the numbers.

 

[Joey1986]

On Time Warner Cable SoCal, I would create a 1000 block for the HD channels. TWC already does it this way in the Carolinas. For example, if they were to do that here in SoCal, that would be nice. For example, with TBS SD on channel 103, TBS HD would be channel 1103. So to change from the SD to the HD, the subscriber would put a "1" in front of the SD channel number. As for the local channels' HD feeds (that is, any local HD channels above 13), that would vary depending on where they are on the analog lineup. But for example, on my lineup (City of Los Angeles) where KCET SD is on channel 6, KCET HD would be channel 1006. On my parents' lineup (Hollywood-Westchester) where KCET SD is on channel 3, KCET HD would be channel 1003. That way, all the HD channels are arranged by type of programming (locals in one place, sports in one place, etc.). As it is now, the HD channels go from 391 through 500, and the only ones that are together are the locals. Everything else is just put in randomly (like ESPN is on 424, ESPN2 is on 425, and ESPNews is 426, and ESPNU is on 467). Creating a 1000 channel block would solve that problem.

As for mapping channels for subscribers with a digital TV with a QAM tuner who choose not to rent a box, the subchannels that TWC carries would map to would be the same as they are OTA. For example, on my Sony HDTV's QAM tuner, KTLA DT2's Antenna TV (which shows up as channel 139 on the cable box) maps to channel 87.635 on the HDTV with the cable line plugged right into the set, whereas I would have it map to channel 5.2, which is how it shows up OTA.

 

[jerseyfla]

I would treat my digital cable like Directv and Dish. The big thing that I hate about Digital Cable is local HD channels being on Channels in the 800s or 1000s so what I would do is if you have an HD Box, all HD versions of channels are on the same channel numbers as their SD versions and you can have the option in settings to "turn SD duplicates off". If you are using your QAM tuner on your TV without the box, the HD channels below 100 will be set with their channel number -1, -2, etc. (i.e. WLOX 13 ABC is Channel 13-1, CBS is 13-2, Bounce is 13-3). HD Channels above 100 will be Channel 10-XXX.

 

[mnradiofan]

New proposed Comcast lineup not even close here. Comcast seems to put channels in wherever there is room. For instance HD channels are found in both the 200's and 800's. And only a rudimentary grouping within the numbers.

Not even close here either, on both the Minneapolis and St Paul systems. They may be waiting for the next phase of Project Calvary to make the change.

 

[ajc_trw]

Dump all SD versions / simulcasts of HD channels.

And if anyone complains about having a cheap SD only box simply remind them at one time cable-ready NTSC TV's were in the same boat when analog went away. And you got far more channels without a cable box. And you could tape one channel while watching another.

And as for STB size they have small HD-ready models.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I would treat my digital cable like Directv and Dish. The big thing that I hate about Digital Cable is local HD channels being on Channels in the 800s or 1000s so what I would do is if you have an HD Box, all HD versions of channels are on the same channel numbers as their SD versions and you can have the option in settings to "turn SD duplicates off". If you are using your QAM tuner on your TV without the box, the HD channels below 100 will be set with their channel number -1, -2, etc. (i.e. WLOX 13 ABC is Channel 13-1, CBS is 13-2, Bounce is 13-3). HD Channels above 100 will be Channel 10-XXX.

I agree--there also needs to be digital cable boxes with QAM-like capability for at least the local channels' subs plus treat channel "offsprings" (e.g., ESPN2, Fox Business, extra Big Ten Network feeds, Music Choice) as "subchannels" of the parent network (e.g., have, say, channel 114-1 be Fox News, 114-2 Fox Business; ESPN channel 101-1, ESPN2 101-2, ESPNU 101-3, ESPN Classic 101-4; Music Choice channels could be channels 999-1 through 999-50 or however many of them are offered).

Or if that's not possible I would have subchannels located between channels 2-99 like the locals--even if in large markets (LA, NYC, Chicago, etc.) it means bumping existing basic cable channels in that range to themed tiers in the 100s without a transition from their "traditional" channel positions.

 

[w9wi]

And in these days of modern electronics why can't the set top boxes let you pick the channel numbers. Say the cable company uses 132 for TNT. You tell the box that you would rather have it on 3. Should not be all that hard. Unless you are one the very small per centage that uses Cable Cards.

I *really* like this idea.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

What would you do with your cable channel lineup if you had the clout?

This is inspired by similar threads on radio and broadcast TV. Which channels would you move (and where), add or drop? Would there be "themed" channel groups? And which channels do you want in HD? You can use some of the entries in the "Worst Cable Systems" thread as examples.

 

[ftballfan]

Charter did complete an upgrade of the systems around my area recently, but there are some things I would still like to see changed in my hometown of Manistee, MI.

Re-addition of the following out-of-market stations that were carried in the past:
WBAY (ABC) Green Bay
WFRV (CBS) Green Bay
WLUK (FOX) Green Bay
WZZM (ABC) Grand Rapids

Addition of these stations which have never been carried in Manistee to the best of my knowledge:
WGBA (NBC) Green Bay
WGVU (PBS) Grand Rapids
WPNE (PBS) Green Bay

Addition of all the preceding stations' digital subchannels if applicable (the TC-Cadillac market only has two digital subchannel networks, Create and Grit)
Addition of WMNN's digital subchannels (the main feed is already carried)
Addition of CBC Montreal (CBC Montreal is seen on other Charter systems in Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula and the Tri-Cities area)
Addition of ION and CW in HD (both channels are currently in analog picture even on the all-digital Charter system)

 

[MarcB]

This is what I would do with COX Cable Meriden, CT. Currently all HD Channels are in the thousands same channel number as analog. Example WFSB is Channel 3. WFSB-HD is 1003. This would not change.

2 WGBY 57 PBS Springfield (Moved from 17)
3 WFSB 3 CBS Hartford (Same)
4 WVIT 30 NBC New Britain (Same)
5 CPTV 24 PBS Hartford (Same)
6 WTIC-TV 61 FOX Hartford (Same)
7 WZME 43 METV Bridgeport (Moved from 75)
8 WTNH 8 ABC New Haven (Same)
9 WCTX 59 My Network New Haven (Same)
10 ION 26 New London (Same)
11 WCCT-TV 20 CW Waterbury (Same)
12 TBS (Same)
13 CT-N The CT Goverment Channel (Moved from 2)
14 Town Channel (Same)
15 COX Public Access 15 (Same)
16 Town High School Channel (Same)
17 WRDM-LD Telemundo Hartford (Moved from 20)
18 WUVN 18 Univsion Hartford (Same)
19 WUVN 18.3 UniMas (Moved from 79)
20 WUVN 18.4 LaTV (NEW)
21 Galavision (Moved from 80)
22 WWLP 22 NBC Springfield (NEW)
23 WCBS 2 CBS NYC (NEW)
24 WGGB 40 ABC Springfield (NEW)
25 WWOR 9 My Network TV NYC (NEW)
26 WGGB 40.2 FOX Springfield (NEW)
27 WPIX 11 CW NYC (NEW)
28 ESPN (Same)
29 ESPN2 (Same)
30 YES Network (Same)
31 SNY Sports Net New York (Moved from 62)
32 NESN (SAME)
33 Comcast Sports New England (Moved from 51)
34 FOX Sports 1 (Moved from 85)
35 NBC Sports (Moved from 93)
36 Golf Channel (Moved from 86)
37 ABC Family (Same)
38 AMC (same)
39 Food Network (Same)
40 Comedy Central (Same)
41 Lifetime (Same)
42 A&E (Same)
43 New England Cable News (NEW)
44 CNN (Moved from 33)
45 MSNBC (Same)
46 CNBC (Same)
47 Fox News (Same)
48 Fox Business (Moved from 94)
49 The Weather Channel (Moved from 35)
50 Weather Nation (NEW)
51 EWTN (Moved from 50)
52 E! (Moved from 49)
53 HLN (Same)
54 POP (Moved from 87)
55 Bravo (moved from 56)
56 TNT (Moved from 25)
57 Travel Channel (Same)
58 Cartoon Network (Same)
59 History Channel (Same)
60 Animal Planet (Same)
61 VH-1 (Same)
62 MTV (Moved from 52)
63 MTV2 (Moved from 188?)
64 BET (Moved from 48)
69 FX (Moved from 24)
70 FXX (Moved from 95)
66 Investigation Discovery (Same)
67 Discovery Channel (Moved from 26)
65 TLC (Moved from 36)
68 Spike (Moved from 27)
76 TVLAND (Moved from 70)
71 QVC (Moved from 31)
72 QVC Plus (NEW)
73 Liquidation Channel (SAME)
74 HSN (Moved from 7)
75 Jewelry TV (Moved from 68)
77 USA (Moved from 34)
78 TruTV (Moved from 69)
79 Disney Channel (Moved from 43)
80 Nickelodeon (Moved from 44)
81 CSPAN (Moved from 76)
82 CSPAN2 (Moved from 77)
83 CSPAN3 (Moved from 78)
84 OWN (Same)
85 Hallmark Channel (Moved from 90)
86 Hallmark Movie & Mysteries (Moved from 91)
87 WGN America (Moved from 82)
88 National Geographic (Moved from 83)
89 Movie Plex (same)
90 Sonlife Bible Network (Moved from 72)
91 TBN (moved from 173)
92 Daystar (Moved from 174)
93 Game Show Network (Moved from 92)
94 ZAP2IT Program Guide
800 WFSB 3.2 ESCAPE (moved from 801)
801 WFSB 3.3 LAFF (NEW)
802 WTNH 8.2 Bounce (Moved from 813)
803 WCCT-TV 20.2 This-TV (Moved from 811)
804 CPTV4U (24.2) [Same]
805 CPTV Sports (Same)
806 WHPX 26.2 QUBO (NEW)
807 WHPX 26.3 ION LIFE (NEW)
808 WVIT 30.2 COZI (moved from 800)
809 WZME 43.2 The Works (NEW)
810 WTIC-TV 61.2 Antenna TV (Same)
811 WGBY 57.2 PBS World (NEW)
812 WGBY 57.3 PBS Kids (NEW)
813 WGBY 57.4 Create (NEW)
814 WCBS 2.2 Decades (NEW)
815 WWOR 9.3 BUZZR (NEW)

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I actually posted a similar thread on this subject in June 2012, which I've linked to below, but I'll quote the same stuff I mentioned concerning my local Comcast (ex-Insight) lineup here in Springfield, IL:

http://www.radiodiscussions.com/sho...-your-local-cable-lineup-if-you-had-the-clout

From my June 23, 2012 post:

"This assumes that a la carte will not be an option anytime in the near future.

A little background: Springfield has been a Comcast (Xfinity) market since Jan. 2008 (previously Insight from 2001-07 and before that, AT&T, TCI, Dimension Cable and perhaps others). Hopefully this link works, but this is Comcast's channel/package lineup for the Springfield area (which is for the most part a holdover from the Insight days, particularly the dual SD channels of CNN, ESPN, WGN America and the like):

https://www.comcast.com/Clu/ChannelLineUp

Now if I had the clout, here's how I would like to change this lineup:

Excluding Music Choice (which I would move to the 450-495 range as I'll explain more later), move all the Limited Basic SD channels on chs. 89 and above (subchannels, etc.) to between roughly channels 22-39 (and fill in the lower channel number gaps accordingly while also reserving space for future use, such as more subchannels). Then move the 17-ish additional Digital Economy SD channels (e.g., CNN, Fox News, TBN, H2) to the 40s/50s channel range--and so on and so forth for the additional channels in other tiers (Digital Starter, Preferred, Premier). Also move the "Comcast 101" info channel to Limited Basic and on channel 1--and if possible create a "Channel 0" for On-Demand.

The HD channels would, in most cases, be the corresponding SD channel's number plus 500. Examples: WICS-HD at 502, WCIA-HD 503, QVC-HD 513, etc.

And now that Springfield is in the ranks of all-digital cable, get rid of the dual SD channels (e.g., WGN on 9 and 115; CNN on 26 and 407; etc.)."

I'll update this further sometime down the road, with additional thoughts. Here's the Zap2It link to the current Springfield Comcast listings grid, and sometime I'll look up where I had downloaded a PDF of the most recent Comcast channel lineup as broken down by packages:

http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tvlisti...rence=false&lineupId=IL12439:X&aid=quadcty0zb

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I actually posted a similar thread on this subject in June 2012, which I've linked to below, but I'll quote the same stuff I mentioned concerning my local Comcast (ex-Insight) lineup here in Springfield, IL:

http://www.radiodiscussions.com/sho...-your-local-cable-lineup-if-you-had-the-clout

From my June 23, 2012 post:

"This assumes that a la carte will not be an option anytime in the near future.

A little background: Springfield has been a Comcast (Xfinity) market since Jan. 2008 (previously Insight from 2001-07 and before that, AT&T, TCI, Dimension Cable and perhaps others). Hopefully this link works, but this is Comcast's channel/package lineup for the Springfield area (which is for the most part a holdover from the Insight days, particularly the dual SD channels of CNN, ESPN, WGN America and the like):

https://www.comcast.com/Clu/ChannelLineUp

Now if I had the clout, here's how I would like to change this lineup:

Excluding Music Choice (which I would move to the 450-495 range as I'll explain more later), move all the Limited Basic SD channels on chs. 89 and above (subchannels, etc.) to between roughly channels 22-39 (and fill in the lower channel number gaps accordingly while also reserving space for future use, such as more subchannels). Then move the 17-ish additional Digital Economy SD channels (e.g., CNN, Fox News, TBN, H2) to the 40s/50s channel range--and so on and so forth for the additional channels in other tiers (Digital Starter, Preferred, Premier). Also move the "Comcast 101" info channel to Limited Basic and on channel 1--and if possible create a "Channel 0" for On-Demand.

The HD channels would, in most cases, be the corresponding SD channel's number plus 500. Examples: WICS-HD at 502, WCIA-HD 503, QVC-HD 513, etc.

And now that Springfield is in the ranks of all-digital cable, get rid of the dual SD channels (e.g., WGN on 9 and 115; CNN on 26 and 407; etc.)."

I'll update this further sometime down the road, with additional thoughts. Here's the Zap2It link to the current Springfield Comcast listings grid, and sometime I'll look up where I had downloaded a PDF of the most recent Comcast channel lineup as broken down by packages:

http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tvlisti...rence=false&lineupId=IL12439:X&aid=quadcty0zb

Here's a copy of the official Comcast lineup card for Springfield. I'll try to get more ideas on how I would change my lineup "if I had the clout" later, one suggestion I recommend is move our local My affiliate (WCIX-49) from cable 19 to either cable 9 (taking the spot vacated by WGN America when Comcast started carrying it only on cable 115), or move QVC to 9 then WCIX to 13 (matching its actual RF number--but no worry about ingress anymore as our lineup is all-digital and encrypted).