Comcast continues to move analog-cable channels to digital tiers, with its Mobile, Ala., system the latest to kick popular basic-cable networks to tiers with less distribution.
The Mobile system recently moved C-SPAN2, Hallmark Channel and GSN to its digital cable tier, according to the Press-Register.
The analog drops in Mobile follow a recent move by Comcast’s Denver division to dump TV Guide Channel, MSNBC and C-SPAN2 from analog cable and into its digital-cable tier.
Comcast, Time Warner Cable and other operators are migrating analog subscribers to digital in hopes of freeing up bandwidth in order to offer more HDTV programming and other advanced services. They hope the moves will also boost distribution of digital-cable tiers and, in turn, drive increased revenues.
Comcast plans to eliminate 38 channels from its expanded-basic tier in Chicago July 1 in one of its largest attempts yet to move analog channels to digital.
And in March, Time Warner Cable’s Staten Island, N.Y., system kicked several channels from analog to digital.
