DTV
Federal law requires TV stations to broadcast in a digital format starting in February 2009. This digital format will not work with older TV sets, but Suddenlink cable TV customers don’t need to worry. Any TV set (old or new) hooked up to Suddenlink cable TV service should not be affected by this transition. The following answers are offered to the most common questions we receive on this subject. Additionally, for your reference, we provide here the text of the government-mandated notice that we will start printing on monthly customer bills as of April 1, 2008.
If all of your TV sets are hooked up to Suddenlink cable TV service, they should continue to work just fine. You don’t need to do anything. We’ll take care of it for you.
Q: But what about TV sets that aren’t hooked up to cable? Why will they no longer work? What can I do about it?
The digital format in which TV stations will be required to broadcast in February 2009 won’t work with older TV sets because those sets were not designed to “translate” digital signals. (For more information, you can check here and here, or call: 1-888-388-2009.) If you have older TV sets that are not hooked up to Suddenlink cable service, we can schedule an appointment to get them hooked up for you, so they continue to work.
Q: Do I need to get Suddenlink’s digital cable service to continue watching my TV in 2009?
No. The digital transition in February 2009 applies only to TV signals that are broadcast and received over the air. In contrast, TV signals that are transmitted over cable lines — namely, the channels on Suddenlink’s basic and expanded basic line ups — will continue to be delivered, from us to you, in a format that works with your current TV sets.
Of course, if you want to upgrade to Suddenlink’s digital service, we would be delighted to make that happen. Our digital service provides access to more channels than those available on our basic and expanded basic line ups. Additionaly, our digital service gives you access to pay-per-view movies and events and other benefits. But again, our basic and expanded basic (non-digital) cable services should continue to work just fine with older TV sets, even after February 2009.
Q: I want to get one of those coupons for the TV boxes that have been mentioned in the news. Can Suddenlink provide them?
Suddenlink does not have access to those coupons. They are distributed directly by the federal government to people who need them — namely, people who want to continue to receive TV signals transmitted over the air rather than over cable lines. To get one of those coupons, you can call 1-888-388-2009 or check here. However, if you are a Suddenlink customer, all of your TV’s that are already hooked up to cable should continue to work just fine and you don’t need a government coupon.
Q: I ordered one of those coupons for TV boxes that have been mentioned in the news. Can I purchase those boxes from Suddenlink?
Suddenlink does not sell or lease those particular boxes. The boxes we have are designed to work with our digital cable service. If you want one of the boxes for which the government coupons were intended, please check with a local TV or electronics store, or call 1-888-388-2009, or check here for information on stores that may sell those boxes.
Alternatively, while we cannot redeem these coupons, many of our operating regions will provide free standard installation of cable TV service to new customers, if they show their coupons to an authorized company representative. If you are an existing customer, all of your TV sets that are already hooked up to cable should continue to work just fine.
