Largest Cable Systems/Cities still without digital cable

[Tim from Springfield IL]

The "Old-timey" cable systems post on the Classic TV board got me thinking. Although it's still somewhat common in most of the smaller cable systems, while not counting private cable systems such as those in apartment complexes and colleges, what are some of the largest cable systems in the country where digital cable is still not offered?

Here in west central Illinois, the only cable systems I know of where digital is still not an option include two Cass Communications lineups serving the small communities of Milton (population 274, in Pike County) and Kampsville (population 412, in Calhoun County), which are the only two communities where this company does not offer digital cable (but I wonder if it would be feasible to relay Pittsfield's Cass Cable lineup to both communities, which includes digital).

http://www.casscomm.com/cable/milton.html

http://www.casscomm.com/cable/kampsville.html

 

[KML0224]

The Milton, IL system actually offers WABC from New York City? Is that for real?

 

[azumanga]

The Milton, IL system actually offers WABC from New York City? Is that for real?

Milton's probably in the Quincy market, where, until recently, had no local ABC station -- apparently, the Milton system opted for WABC instead of the nearest ABC station (KTVO, WQAD, WAND, WHOI, KDNL), and probably doesn't have the technical means to get KHQA's ABC subchannel.

One thing to point out on Cass' website is a section on cable theft -- been quite awhile since I seen any PSAs or material about it, especially since many cable systems are pushing digital.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

The Milton, IL system actually offers WABC from New York City? Is that for real?

Milton's probably in the Quincy market, where, until recently, had no local ABC station -- apparently, the Milton system opted for WABC instead of the nearest ABC station (KTVO, WQAD, WAND, WHOI, KDNL), and probably doesn't have the technical means to get KHQA's ABC subchannel.

Pike County, IL, where Milton is located, is part of the Quincy market. Also, a quick correction/update: the forementioned WAND (Decatur) is no longer an ABC affiliate--it swapped affiliations with WICS-20 Springfield on Labor Day 2005, with ABC going to WICS while WAND switched to NBC. After the switch, I wondered if some of the western Illinois cable systems that have to rely on WABC for a national ABC feed would try to replace this by attempting to bring in WICS (including in Milton and Pittsfield, which already offer Springfield's Fox station WRSP-55, which has a similar coverage area and wattage to WICS and both maintain their transmitters near Mechanicsburg, IL east of Springfield).