Publication Type: Media Release
Date: 12/2/2003Rob Stoddard, 202/258-5821(cell) Brian Dietz 202/258-5881 (cell) Paul Rodriguiz, 202/775-3629
Cable HDTV Available in 96 of Top 100 U.S. Markets
and 143 Markets Overall
70 Million Homes Can Receive High-Definition TV Over Cable, Reflecting Jump of Nearly 90 Percent during First 11 months of 2003
Washington, D.C. – At least one cable operator in 96 of the top 100 Designated Market Areas (DMAs) – including all of the top 30 markets – is offering a package of HDTV programming to consumers, according to the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).
The new information released today by NCTA is based on a survey of NCTA-member companies. It shows that 70 million U.S. television households were passed by a cable system that offers HDTV as of December 1, growth of nearly 90 percent since the first of the year when HD was available to 37 million households. In addition, 47 markets beyond the top-100 are being served by a cable operator offering HDTV, bringing the total number of DMAs in which at least one cable operator is offering HDTV to 143 of the 210 DMAs nationwide.
High-definition television is the highest resolution digital television format, delivering theater-quality pictures and CD-quality sound. HDTV has been described as the most dramatic change for viewers since the introduction of color television.
“The nationwide deployment of HDTV by cable companies has ramped up steadily this year,” said Robert Sachs, President & CEO, NCTA. “The fact that a package of HDTV channels is now being offered by cable systems in 143 markets is helping spur the nation’s transition from analog to digital television. HDTV programming being offered by cable operators includes a variety of both broadcast and cable channels,” said Sachs.
NCTA reported that the number of digital broadcast stations being carried by cable operators has jumped to 304, up from 231 on September 1 and 190 on June 1. The selection of national and local HD programming available to consumers varies by cable operator and market.
“Clearly, the marketplace is working,” Sachs said. “Contrary to complaints from the National Association of Broadcasters, when local broadcasters offer HDTV or other compelling digital content, cable operators have demonstrated a willingness and desire to provide it to their customers. Unfortunately, hundreds of local broadcasters are not offering any HDTV programming but instead standard-definition digital duplicates of their analog channels,” he said.
As cable operators have continued their nationwide rollout of HDTV service to more communities, cable networks have continued to produce more high-definition programming. Cinemax, The Movie Channel and Starz HD! are the most recent cable networks to offer HDTV services. Other cable networks offering HD programming include HBO, Showtime, Discovery HD Theater, ESPN HD, iNDEMAND, Madison Square Garden Network, Comcast SportsNet and HDNet. In addition, A&E Network and The History Channel have announced plans to provide HD content in the near future.
Since 1996, the cable industry has invested more than $75 billion to upgrade its infrastructure and launch advanced broadband services such as HDTV, video-on-demand, high-speed Internet service, and local telephone service.
NCTA is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States. NCTA represents cable operators serving more than 90 percent of the nation's cable television households and more than 200 cable program networks, as well as equipment suppliers and providers of other services to the cable industry.