Comcast to continue digital cable upgrades Thursday

Cable giant Comcast is set to complete the digital upgrade of most of its channel lineup this week - a process that requires cable TV customers to acquire free equipment to ensure uninterrupted service.

Channels 36 through 72 will be upgraded from analog transmission to digital on Thursday. Comcast basic cable customers without a digital cable box or digital adapter may lose service when the upgrade occurs. Customers are being offered up to three devices for free.

“We want to make sure our customers have the equipment,” Comcast spokesman Patrick Paterno said. “Comcast is offering customers free digital equipment for up to three TV sets.”

The upgrades, which affect most Washtenaw County municipalities, enable Comcast to free up transmission space to offer additional high definition channels and faster Internet.

But the first round of upgrades in October inspired frustration in some users, including TiVo users whose digital video recorders may lose some functionality due to the upgrades.

“All our competitors are already digital,” Paterno said.

The upgrades come one month after Comcast upgraded 13 channels from analog to digital. Paterno said NBC, CBS, Fox and ABC will continue to be provided in analog format.

For more information, go to Comcast.com/digitalnow, call (877) 634-4434 or visit the Comcast office at 4659 Washtenaw Ave. The switch does not affect limited basic cable customers, whose service will continue to be provided in analog format.

Contact AnnArbor.com’s Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.