Orange County Register

This is the third in a 3-part series of posts. Read the first at “Time Warner still cleaning up cable merger mess in O.C.“ and second at “”Time Warner Cable’s new features finally coming to O.C.“

While most of Time Warner Cable’s Orange County subscribers will have nearly 50 high-definition TV channels by the end of the year, certain customers in Costa Mesa and Tustin will have at least 63 and up to 85 (list of what to come is after the jump).

While it may not be enough to appease some residents, there is an explanation, said Fred Stefany, president of Time Warner’s O.C. operation.

When Time Warner acquired Comcast customers in Orange County last year, Comcast offered fewer analog channels than Time Warner did. In fact, Comcast offered 33 analog channels to its customers in Costa Mesa. In other areas, Time Warner offered 78.

Analog channels take up a lot of space in the cable pipe. One analog channel is equivelent to 15 digitals or 3 HD channels, Stefany said. Time Warner can only transmit a set amount of channels and services before the pipe gets clogged. So get 30 analog channels or 450 digital channels? Hmm… That is definitely one incentive to switch to digital — or move to Costa Mesa or Tustin. 

“Costa Mesa and Tustin, the ex-Comcast areas, they were getting 22 to 33 analog channels to begin with. So, we reclaimed those channels and have room for more HD,” Stefany said. “We’ll have 85 channels of HD (in those areas) by the end of the year.”

Of course, if you’re not a Time Warner customer, you may already have 85 HD channels. DirecTV offers 130 HD channels. Verizon’s FiOS TV offers at least 104 HD channels. Not quite there: Most of Cox Cable’s O.C. customers have 51 HD channels, DishNetwork offers around 60 HD channels, and AT&T’s U-verse just announced 30 new HD channels, bringing its total to 75.

Time Warner shared with me its list of future HD channels. This chart shows the two types of customers in Costa Mesa: Former Comcast customers and existing Time Warner customers. Several unannouced channels :

Earlier:

Part One: Time Warner still cleaning up cable merger mess in O.C.

Part Two: Time Warner Cable’s new features finally coming to O.C.

Related stories:

• How to get cheaper cable TV from Time Warner Cable
• How to get cheaper cable TV in O.C., part 2
• Time Warner Cable plans more channels in O.C. despite fines
• Verizon FiOS TV heavily targeting apartments, condos in O.C. and more
• AT&T TV coming to Circuit City and Wal-Mart
• What TV service has most satisfied customers? (Hint: Not cable)
• Guide to paid-TV services in OC

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