Nov 04, 2009 (The Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX News Network) --

Comcast Corp. is making dozens of new programs available to subscribers in San Joaquin County, shifting some networks to a lower-service tier at no additional charge and changing channels for a few programs on its limited-service tiers beginning today.

The changes will vary by community.

Stockton, Manteca, Lathrop

Subscribers to the Hispanic service package will receive 12 new networks: AYM Sports, Multimedios, SUR Mexico, La Tele Novela, TeleHit, RitmoSon Latino, Teleritmo, Bandamax, TBN Enlace, EWTN En Espanol, De Pelicula and De Pelicula Classico.

Digital Starter subscribers will able to watch nine networks previously available on the higher Digital Classic tier: PBS Kids Sprout, Bloomberg, G4, Shop NBC, Trinity Broadcast Network, Eternal Word Television Network, Biography Channel, History International and Lifetime Movie Network.

Comcast also is enhancing its Digital Starter HD service with four networks previously available on Digital Classic HD: Hallmark Movie Channel HD, HD Music Link, Animal Planet HD and AMC HD.

Also, the Hallmark Movie Channel will be added to channel 500 on Comcast's Digital Starter package.

Limited Basic subscribers will see shopping network HSN appears on Channel 2, moving from Channel 70, and similar QVC takes the Channel 70 slot, moving from Channel 99. TV Guide network, previously on Channel 2, appears on Channel 111, viewable only to Digital Limited Basic subscribers.

Tracy

Digital Starter HD service will get a major enhancement, with nine new HD channels: Spike HD, Comedy Central HD, Nickelodeon HD, Weather Channel HD, BET HD, CMT HD, VH1 HD, MTV HD and Lifetime HD. Viewers also will get pay-per-view access to NBA League Pass HD and NHL Center Ice/MBL Extra Innings HD.

Digital Starter subscribers will see the same additions from the higher Digital Classic tier as in Stockton, except Tracy will gain C-Span3 instead of the Eternal Word Television Network.

Hallmark Movie will be be added to Channel 500 for Digital Starter viewers.

Limited Basic subscribers will see the same changes as in Stockton.

Lodi

Viewers will see fewer changes. Digital Starter viewers will get the same enhancements as in Tracy, including Hallmark Movie. Also, Limited Basic subscribers will lose TV Guide and see QVC and HSN shift channels.

"These channel migrations are another step in Comcast's ongoing effort to offer more value to our digital customers," Steve White, senior vice president of the cable giant's California region, said in a news release.

The television service changes follow last week's announcement that Comcast was boosting its high-speed Internet service to as much as 50 megabytes per second downloading throughout its San Joaquin County service area and much of Central California.

For most existing subscribers to the Performance tier of service, access speeds have doubled, rising to 12 Mbps downloading and 2 Mbps uploading.

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