Abbott Brant

Poughkeepsie Journal

Time Warner Cable will be going “all-digital” beginning March 15, as the company will soon require its customers to have specific digital equipment to view all their favorite channels.

But along with the equipment’s “better picture and sound quality,” the change will eventually come with additional charges for customers, according to a flyer sent out to Time Warner Cable customers.

“As a consumer, it’s frustrating, because you don’t really have a choice,” said Lisa E. Rubenstein, who recently moved from Pleasant Valley to Rhinebeck and is in the process of switching her Time Warner Cable service to her new home. “

According to the announcement, customers who own a digital set-top box, a retail CableCARD or a digital adapter from the company will automatically receive the “improved” all-digital experience. But for customers who have their cable line directly plugged into their TV, VCR or DVD recorder, a digital adapter or digital set-top box must be used starting March 15. After that, customers without the digital equipment will not be able to view any channels.

VIDEO: Saving big money by cutting cable cord

And while ordering and using a digital adapter is free of charge now for Time Warner Cable customers, a monthly charge of $3.25 per adapter will be added beginning June 30, 2017, according to the flyer. To qualify, customers must order their digital adapters by Oct. 23, 2016. After this free period, each adapter will be billed at the prevailing price.

The digital transition is part of TWC Maxx, Time Warner Cable’s multi-year plan to “transform” the experience of Hudson Valley customers beginning this spring, according to Nathalie Burgos, public relations manager for Time Warner Cable.

“Going all-digital delivers better picture and sound and frees up capacity in our network to deliver faster Internet, more channels, On Demand content and other advanced services," Burgos said. TWC Maxx has already been implemented in New York City, Los Angeles and various other major cities across the U.S.

TWC Maxx goes “all-digital” by transitioning all remaining analog TV channels to a digital format. Each analog channel takes the space of three to four HD channels and up to 12 digital networks, according to Burgos, and the use of these digital adapters will help "free up" the necessary capacity to offer faster Internet speeds in the Hudson Valley area.

Time Warner Cable customers also will have access to an expanded On Demand library with more than 30,000 movie and shows in early 2016, according to a press release from the company. An advanced DVR will be able to record six shows at once and store 1 terabyte of content, or approximately 150 hours of HD programming.

But these types of improvements in speed and quality aren't always convincing to cable subscribers when the improvements mean an increasing cable bill.

Pawling resident Bill Reilly turned to DIRECTV when the bill from his Comcast subscription became too much. Deciding between cable's advancing capabilities and dropping it all together, he said, is a difficult thing to do.

"I am so torn on this issue. Digital does provide a better viewing experience," he said. "It is also a way to charge based on the number of televisions in the home. The cable monopolies charge an arm and a leg to get packages including hundreds of channels of garbage and just a few worth actually watching. Give us a la carte pricing."

The increasing costs of keeping cable is causing many people to drop traditional TV services and to become cord cutters — those who reduce or cancel a cable subscription to shrink pricey and ever-increasing bills.

A 2015 report by research firm SNL Kagan showed that pay-TV providers had their biggest collective quarterly decline ever last summer, losing approximately 625,000 subscribers across the country. Many who were once cable and satellite TV subscribers are now relying only on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and various other streaming services for digital entertainment, which cost a fraction of the price of cable packages.

Cord cutters can stream using the various services on phones, tablets, computers or any device that provides Internet. In this way, streamers can also use a "Smart TV," which allow you to access the Internet directly and download apps to streaming services right onto the TV.

Equipment created for the purpose of streaming content to a TV, like Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire TV, can also be used. The devices attach to your TV and allow Netflix, Hulu and other services to be streamed right on your TV screen. Unlike the Time Warner Cable digital adapters, these devices are bought at a one-time cost with no monthly usage fee.

Staff writer John Barry contributed to this report. Abbott Brant: abrant@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @AbbottBrantPoJo

Will you be going "all-digital" with Time Warner Cable?

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“Money Wise” expo in March

A special expo with free attendance will be held at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel on Saturday, March 5. This program will offer readers immediate access to experts in a variety of money-management areas. Numerous local businesses will be on hand to offer information regarding advice, services and more. Sponsors include Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Morgan Stanley, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union and Salisbury Bank. The event is designed to arm residents with strategies that help them make the most of their money.