Cox Communications Inc., which recently celebrated its 1,000th HDTV subscriber in the Las Vegas market, is deploying the technology in Phoenix.

The initial Cox HDTV lineup for Phoenix will include KNXV (ABC), KAET (PBS), two HBO channels, Showtime HD and Discovery HD Theater.

Customers will have to pay about $500 for a Scientific-Atlanta 3100 HD converter, plus a one-time installation charge of $49.95. Showcase and HBO subscribers will receive the HD versions at no additional monthly fee, and Discover HD Theater will set the HDTV crowd back $6 a month.

Phoenix is the first Cox location where customers will own all the equipment needed for HDTV.

"This HDTV launch reflects Cox's commitment to developing appropriate business models for the retail distribution of set-tops," the company said in a statement.

Cox is the nation's fifth-largest MSO, with 6.3 million subscribers.