Spectrum cable-TV making digital switch, what you need to know

Spectrum TV, El Paso's cable-TV provider, will go all digital by the end of February.

Broadcast TV stations switched from analog to digital signals in June 2009, as mandated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, but Spectrum has continued to have a mix of analog- and digital-TV channels because some customers still did not have digital TVs, said Brian Anderson, regional spokesman in Fort Worth for Charter Communications, the Connecticut-based operator of the Spectrum TV-cable brand.

Now, over 90 pecent of Spectrum's customers have at least one digital TV, or other digital video device, he said.

Getting rid of its remaining analog channels means that Spectrum's El Paso service will expand from 165 high-definition channels to 250 HD channels, Anderson said.

The digital switch also will free up more broadband space so the company can increase Internet speeds for its Internet services in the future, he said.

The change also means Spectrum customers need a Spectrum digital receiver on all of their televisions, Anderson said.

More: Time Warner Cable now Spectrum in El Paso

"The vast majority of our customers already have digital boxes and won't need to take any action," he said. But customers who have one or more TVs not connected to a digital box will need to get them, he said.

Most customers can get a free box for one. two, or five years, depending on the customer's TV package, Anderson said.

If a customer has more TVs than their allotment of free digital boxes, then that customer will have to pay a monthly box lease fee of $6.99 per box, he said.

The boxes can be mailed to customers, or customers can pick them up at one of three Spectrum stores in El Paso.

The switch to digital isn't changing package prices, Anderson said.

The digital switch will begin Feb. 6, and will be phased in through various areas of El Paso through the month. Customers should have already been notified when their service will be upgraded, he said.

The company won't divulge how many cable-TV subscribers it has in the El Paso area, Anderson said.

Information: 844-278-3408, ir.charter.com; spectrum.com

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter..