Midcontinent Advances Digital TV
Midcontinent Communications is currently upgrading its basic cable channel lineup to a digital signal in Yankton and Spearfish, SD, and in Bowman and West Fargo, ND, and surrounding communities.
Before the upgrade is complete, customers will need to connect older TVs (those not equipped with internal digital QAM tuners) to digital equipment from Midcontinent in order to view basic cable. Limited cable customers will not be affected; channels 2-22 will still be available in analog after the upgrade.
"These changes will help us bring new services to our customers and prepare us for future technology," said SVP of Public Policy Tom Simmons, in a statement. "By converting these channels to digital delivery, we will have more bandwidth available to add HD, a greater selection of on demand programming, and faster broadband speeds for all customers. The initiative will eventually touch most all of our service areas throughout the Dakotas and Minnesota in 2011."
All customers in the upgrade area will receive a letter announcing the upgrade. Eligible customers have the option to receive up to two digital adapters at no cost from Midcontinent.
Over the next few months, Midcontinent will hold local events to help customers understand what will happen with the upgrade. Trained representatives will be on hand to demonstrate how to order, install, and activate the adapters.