Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 30, 1990 TAG: 9003300058
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg Cable TV is adding Video Hits One (VH-1), County Music Television (CMT), C-SPAN I and SCOLA to the basic package received by 11,000 subscribers in Blacksburg and the Shawsville area of Montgomery County.
"We've been taking requests for the past year or so," said Blackburg cable marketing manager C.K. Allen about the new channel selections.
The additions are part of a larger project in which the cable company is replacing its 300 miles of lines with new wiring with a 68-channel capacity. Existing lines can carry on 32 channels. About 100 miles of new wires have been laid, including the line that feeds signals to Shawsville and a new line to connect with the Virginia Tech's system.
Areas already rewired will receive the new stations June 1. Other areas will get the extra channels as new lines are installed.
Walter Wymer, the system's general manager, declined to comment on whether the additions would mean an increase in the cost of basic service. "We like to communicate with our customers before we make an announcement," he said.
The rate for basic cable is $15.50 per month. The last rate increase was made in June 1989.
SCOLA will show news and features from throughout the world on Channel 37. The network will move from the Virginia Tech Channel, where it now appears on weekdays. Tech will supply other programing for its Channel 30 after the move is made.
VH-1 will shows adult contemporary music videos be on Channel 34. CMT will give the system more country music on Channel 35. C-SPAN I will show the U.S. House of Representatives and other government programing on Channel 36.
Another out-of-town, over-the-air station, such as WGN of Chicago, was not added because FCC regulations make it too expensice for cable systems to have more than two imported signals. Blacksburg Cable already has WTBS (Atlanta) and WDCA (Washington).
The additions will give the system 36 channels - 2 through 37. This is the maximum that knob-style converter boxes can receive. Allen said there are no plans to replace older converters at this time and that such a decision would have to be made by Blacksburg Cable's parent, Booth Communications of Detroit.
Blacksburg Cable will add Home Shopping Network later this year. The channel was dropped in favor of the JCPenney Shopping Channel last year. The cable company plans to get around its channel limitation by moving a pay channel - requiring a special converter box - above channel 37.
A survey will also be conducted this summer to get input on further channel selections.
by CNB