State-Journal.com - TV lineup changing

Frankfort Plant Board high-definition TV subscribers will see some changes in the line-up in the next few weeks and months.

At a meeting Thursday, the board of directors voted to drop two HD channels and add four others. The directors effectively removed HDNet and HDNet Movies, channels 622 and 623, when they voted against a renewal agreement.

The channels will be removed by April 30 and are part of the $10 HD TV tier.

Cable Superintendent John Higginbotham said only about 850 customers subscribe to those channels.

The board also voted to add QVC HD, channel 605; Animal Planet HD, channel 607; Science Channel HD, channel 608; and Planet Green HD, channel 609; to the HD basic channel lineup. Higginbotham said the channels can be added at no additional cost and will be available May 1.

The directors agreed to a 10-year contract to keep the Weatherscan channel. Higginbotham said it is one of the most popular channels on the basic cable lineup.

The Weatherscan agreement includes a 6 percent rate increase, but Higginbotham said that’s within his budget.

Pay movie channel customers will also be required to subscribe to both Showtime and The Movie Channel. The board approved an agreement that bundles both channels at a lower price.

About 900 customers already subscribe to Showtime and 400 subscribe to The Movie Channel, Higginbotham said.

The agreement will benefit most subscribers but some could end up paying more, he said.

Higginbotham said the changes will require a public hearing in May and the agreement will be finalized in June.

The plant board will also be billing Franklin County Fiscal Court more for fire hydrant system.

Water engineer David Billings said the plant board has only been billing the county for 99 hydrants, but a recent audit revealed there were more than 500.

The county pays annual bills of $14,400 for fire hydrants and that will increase to about $24,000, Billings said.

12.	Posted by davy do-right March 22, 2010
	Okay, I just got a detailed and thorough explanation of the situation from Mr. Higginbotham regarding the situation. While I do not agree 100% with what is happening, he explained the complexities in a manner that even I could understand it. John is hopeful that the two deleted channels will come back in a few months or even next year, depending on growth and interest in HD subscriptions. The S-J story only hits the high points and can easily be misinterpreted. I recommend that if you're serious about this, then call or write the FEWPB and hear them out. They actually do have a plan. If this is like anything else, the only time they hear from us is when it's bad news.

9.	Posted by Vivian March 20, 2010
	Just because its free doesn't mean its worth a damn. I pay that $10 for those ectra HD channels because those are good channels. I feel ripped off for paying that each month but do it anyway. To drop the HDnet and HDnet movies channels is ludicrus. I will be calling Monday to save myself $10 per month by canceling the extra HD channels. I've got some other free HD channels: The Toe Lint Channel The Dishwashing Channel The watching grass grow channel Don't these sound as interesting as the others being added. Who the F are the Board member Dumb A's making these decisions? Heres more: Watch my husband shave channel The banana turning brown channel The wind blowing channel The washer/dryer channel Are you getting my point, just because its free, doesn't mean you should drop the two most popular HD channels. I wouldn't waste my time announcing the QVC HD channel or the planet green channel.

8.	Posted by davy do-right March 19, 2010
	Here's my problem. My wife has been wanting to make the leap to satellite because of the lack of HD channels. Two of the few HD channels we enjoy are the two they are eliminating (of course). The channels they're adding are hardly of any interest. I'd love to keep my business with the cable company, but decisions like this make it really, REALLY hard, guys. Was there a customer survey? Did anyone ask the paying customers what they thought? I'm sure the board members have our best interests at heart (insert emoticon denoting skepticism here) but QVC in HD? Are you kidding me? Is the Franklin Mint really that interesting that it requires 1080i in 120hz? I totally realize that nothing I say here will make a difference. Such is the power of The Fourth Estate. That leaves me with one other option. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. Thanks for your time. I think.

6.	Posted by Frankfortborn March 19, 2010
	This is the final straw for me. I've sat by and watched rate increase after increase, with no added content. I've never said a word against the DTA conversion (even though the $1.00 a month fee per unit is a big scam) because getting rid of analog means more HD channels, which I am a big advocate for. Dropping two of the best HD channels available, especially HDNet Movies really upsets me. And what do you get in return...QVC HD.....What?? Who wants to watch QVC in HD? The State Journal article is a little confusing or unclear. HDNet and HDNet Movies are part of the HD tier pkg. that costs $10 a month extra which also includes Discovery HD Theater, Outdoor Channel 2 HD, and Universal HD. The article states that the new HD channels will be added at no additional cost. Does that mean that they are adding these channels to the basic HD lineup or the tier pkg.? If only 800 people subscribe to HDNet, that must mean that only 800 people have the optional $10 HD tier pkg. If the new HD channels are added to the basic HD lineup, that means we will have 2 less channels in the HD tier pkg. for the same $10 a month. If the new channels are added to the HD tier pkg. that means they are adding basic channels to the tier pkg. which we shouldn't be charged at all for. Any channel offered in basic/digital cable that is also offered in HD should not have an extra charge to get or be apart of the HD tier pkg. FPB, why not drop The Movie Channel which only 400 people subscribe to and keep HDNet and keep 800 subscribers happy? EDIT: After re-reading the article its clear the new HD channels will be apart of the basic HD lineup because the channels are all 60x. The HD Tier pkg. starts at channel 621 with Discovery HD Theater, which will now be 2 channels less for the same $10.00 a month = ripoff. FPB I've been with you for years but these poor decisions leave me with no choice but to end my cable subscription and go with Direct TV. That way I can get HDNet and 100s of other HD channels for about the same I am paying now for a dozen HD channels.

5.	Posted by Stevens1 March 19, 2010
	I have two questions here: 1. Instead of adding four HD channels which are among the least viewed channels already, why not ad 4 brand new channels like FX, NFL Network, MSNBC, FSC Plus, Fuse etc? 2. If they are going to add HD channels, why not more popular ones like Comedy Central, History, BBC America, USA, the other KETs, Kids channels, CMT/MTV/VH1 or something with a little entertainment value to a sizeable portion of the viewing audience? I mean, come on, QVC in HD? Really? Is that the best you can do? I guess at least now the old ladies will be able to see ugly overpriced jewelry in High Definition. It'll look every bit as crappy on TV as it does in real life!