Comcast
Cable
HDTV
Survey: Americans High on High-Definition Television; With HDTVs
Topping Many Consumers' Gift Lists, Comcast Helps Identify the
Information Consumers Need to Make the Right Choice at
Holiday
Time
PR
Newswire
PHILADELPHIA
, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In a recent survey of consumers' views
and understanding of high-definition television (
HDTV
), 49% of Americans said that
HDTV
would be a critical component of their ultimate home
entertainment experience and 43% said they do not expect to ever
buy a standard television again. The results of the poll,
conducted on behalf of Comcast, the country's leading cable,
entertainment and communications company, also show that HDTVs
are shaping up to be the gift that shoppers will be treating
themselves to this month, with over half of respondents who say
they are planning on buying an
HDTV
set this holiday season will buy one for themselves.
However,
as consumers' interest in
HDTV
rises, so do questions about how to identify what equipment they
need and the best way to get high-definition channels in their
homes. When asked if it is true that someone gets the high-
definition experience just by plugging in an
HDTV
, 40 percent of survey respondents said that they didn't know.
To
help address these and other questions consumers may have as
they shop for
HDTV
sets, Comcast is sharing the following tips to help consumers
with their HD buying decisions this holiday season:
--
The difference is clear.
HDTV
offers six times the picture clarity of traditional analog.
HDTV
gives you the clearest picture available today. -- All
HDTV
is digital, but not all digital TV is
HDTV
. To get
HDTV
's crystal clarity, make sure the digital television carries the
HDTV
resolution of either 720p (progressive) or 1080i (interlaced).
-- Select the right resolution for your set size. 1080i
resolution provides a better picture on larger screens, while
720p resolution is better suited for smaller screens. -- All HD
providers are NOT equal. Make sure you understand what HD
programming your service provider can offer and what equipment
is needed. For example, can you get local network affiliate's HD
signal or only the national network feed; are premium movie
channels available in high definition at no additional charge;
and does your provider offer on demand programming in high
definition? Are you required to purchase special equipment to
receive HD channels and can you record HD programming?
"We
know customers are presented with a multitude of information
about HD - from the types of sets to the increasing amount of
programming choices, some of which are available only with
cable," said Dave Watson, executive vice president of
operations for Comcast. "We want to help cut through the
clutter and make it as easy as possible for customers to enjoy
the cable-powered home entertainment experience that's right for
them."
Comcast
is offering information and support for shoppers this holiday
season. Comcast has a presence in nearly 1,000 retail locations
and representatives will be available at many of those sites to
help answer consumers' questions about
HDTV
and connect them to Comcast HD service. Visitors to Comcast's
website (http://www.comcast.com/) also can log onto an HD
tutorial with Frequently Asked Questions and an HD demo as well
as sign up for service online.
Comcast's
HDTV
offering includes high-definition programming from most major
broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC,
FOX
and PBS, when available from the local network affiliates; as
well as Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, HBO, Cinemax, Showtime,
STARZ!, INHD, INHD2 and regional sports networks, including
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Mid-Atlantic, Chicago, and West,
where available. INHD and INHD2 are available only to cable
customers and offer an exceptional variety of sports, movies,
travel, and nature programming.
Comcast
makes it easy for customers to enjoy HD service. Customers with
an HD-capable television can rent an
HDTV
-enabled Digital Cable set-top box so they do not need to
purchase additional equipment to receive HD channels. Comcast
also is now offering HD digital video recorders so customers can
record their favorite HD programs. The company also offers
select HD movie titles as part of its video-on-demand service.
The
Comcast survey was conducted by ICR/International
Communications Research of Media, PA, between November 17
and
November 22, 2004
using a random nationwide sample of 750 households. The results
are based on the responses of households with televisions.
About
Comcast
Comcast
Corporation (http://www.comcast.com/) is principally involved in
the development, management and operation of broadband cable
networks, and in the provision of programming content. The
Company is the largest provider of cable and broadband services
in the
United States
, serving more than 21 million cable television customers and
more than 6 million high-speed Internet customers. The Company's
content businesses include majority ownership of Comcast
Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, E! Entertainment Television, Style
Network, G4techTV, The Golf Channel, International Channel and
Outdoor Life Network. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A
Special common stock trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbols CMCSA and
CMCSK
, respectively. Comcast Corporation
