Cable One will devise a standalone level of premium HD content that the MSO said it plans to beginning offering to subscribers by early spring for a fee, a move made necessary by what the cable firm said is a lack of HD content made available to it (and by inference, to customers) free of charge. The Phoenix-based cable operator has about 700,000 subs in 19 states.
Cable One said it is nearing the end of talks that will result in placing several HD cable channels on its own special tier--including A&E HD, HGTV HD, National Geographic HD and Discovery HD Theater. Cable One subscribers can sign up for the HD package for an extra $5 monthly.
The firm has been offering other HD channels but not bundled as a separate premium option because it indicated it was not being charged financially to carry some of its HD content. Those HD channels being placed on the new tier will consist of content that Cable One has to pay for, according to the Associated Press.
Necessary hardware/software for subs includes the cable firm's dual-tuner HD DVR.
