HomeMy WebLinkAboutComcast Update - On-screen Cable Guide
Ccomcasto 1Comcast Cable
5815 25th Ave West
Lynnwood, WA 98087
February 5, 2010
Lorrie Rempher
Information Services Director
City of Auburn
25 West Main St
Auburn, WA 98001
Dear Ms. Rempher:
We are pleased to inform you that this spring Comcast will update our on-screen Cable Guide for our
Digital Cable customers in Auburn. This update will improve customers' experience when using
Comcast's on-screen Guide and will also include many new features like links to high definition (HD)
programming, improved Digital Video Recorder (DVR) management and more.
More than 80% of our DVR customers also have our high-speed Internet service - and with this update,
they will be able to manage and schedule their DVRs online, from any computer with Internet access. In
addition, we're taking a feature that used to be only for DVR customers and, so it can be available to more
Digital Cable customers, extending it to On Demand. When watching an On Demand program all
customers will be able to skip ahead or back in five-minute increments.
Perhaps the most anticipated new feature coming to customers is "Watch in HD." This feature tested the
highest in customer interest. It will enable customers with an HD set-top or DVR to quickly jump from the
standard definition channel to the simulcast HD channel. No more scrolling through the channel listings.
In order to make these improvements for our customers in Auburn, on or shortly after February 23 we will
update how our customer's set-top boxes identify certain channels. This change will not impact customer's
pre-recorded and saved programs. However, customers will have to reset their preferences on 1) Parental
Controls by channel, 2) DVR recording settings, 3) Reminders and 4) Favorites listings for each affected
channel.
To ensure customers in Auburn are aware of this update, we will send all affected customers a message to
their set-top converters that they can read on their TV screens, and will place a telephone call to them over
the next few weeks. Below are examples of the converter and telephone messages customers will receive.
Converter Message:
"On February 23, 2010 or shortly thereafter, a Guide update will require you to reset your settings for
Parental Control by channel, DVR recordings and Favorites on up to XX channels. See channels impacted
at www.comcast.com/~C i . "
Telephone Message:
"This is Comcast calling with an important message about an update that may impact your parental
control settings. Tonight at [insert time] we will be updating your Digital Cable Guide to improve
performance. After this upgrade, several of your guide settings will need to be reset. Please reset your
guide settings to ensure parental controls are on the channels you want locked. You should also check your
reminders, DVR recording settings, and your favorites lists. We apologize for any inconvenience this
causes and thank you in advance for your understanding. If you need immediate assistance, press zero now
to speak with an agent, or call us at anytime at 1-800-266-2278. To hear this message again, press one
now or visit www.comcast.com/wide."
We understand how important features like parental controls and DVR settings are to our customers in
Auburn. To help you answer any questions you may receive about this update, I have included instructions
on what customers will have to do to reset their parental control and DVR settings after February 23, 2010.
If you have any questions or simply need more information about this update, please feel free to call me
directly at (253) 288-7496 or visit www.comcast.com/guide for more information and a list of channels that
may be affected in your area.
Sincerely,
r
y4L
Terry Davis
Director, Franchising and Government Affairs
Enc.
cc: Janet L. Turpen, Comcast
Ken Rhoades, Comcast
Dennis Seley, City of Auburn
Bradley & Guzzetta, LLC
Steps to take after A28 Upgrade
Parental Controls:
• Channel Locks for the affected channels will default to unlocked. You must set up new Channel Locks for
channels affected.
• You may also want to take this opportunity to look for other channels that you may want to lock.
• Though not impacted by this update, you also may wish to confirm that Content Locks (locks for violence,
language, etc.) are set up the way you want them.
• Do this for every digital set-top box in your home - don't forget, each box has independent Parental
Control settings.
Reminders and Recordings:
• Reminders and DVR recordings set from the channels affected will have to be reset. You'll need to delete
and recreate your Series and Individual recordings on those channels, and re-set any Reminders.
• Before the Upgrade, we suggest writing down your DVR Series Recordings titles, in priority order. This step
is will help jog your memory when making updates later.
• After the Upgrade, use your list to set up your Series Recordings again that take place on any of the
affected channels, and put them back in Priority order where you want them.
Favorites Lists:
• If you have Favorites Lists that include any of the affected channels listed, you will want to to add those
channels back to your Favorites list.
Informative how-to videos on Parental Controls, DVR features and more are available at no additional cost On
Demand in the Help & Services section; in addition, online help is available at Comcast.com/support.