Officials hope digital conversion will bring more customers
Launch planned for April 3
CityLink’s all-digital conversion is planned for April 3. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – A number of cable providers across the country are seeing a decrease in cable subscribers and Wadsworth CityLink is no different, but city officials are hoping CityLink’s all digital conversion could either slow down or reverse the decrease.
Service Director Robert Patrick said at a recent public service committee meeting that internet-only customers had increased by 20 in the last month, but added that the number of cable customers decreased by 31.
“I do expect to see a change in that over the next couple of months as some of the snowbirds return and reactivate cable service,” Patrick said. “Also with the all-digital conversion we are able to provide some increased services. Hopefully that will make things level off or even reverse the trend.”
Councilor Ralph Copley asked if CityLink had any information to show potential customers a comparison between CityLink rates for service and other providers.
“I didn’t know if we could show them an apples to apples comparison,” he said. “Maybe a brochure with that information.”
Patrick said CityLink didn’t have any type of brochure like that, but added anyone can stop by the customer service desk at City Hall with their bill from their current cable provider and customer service representatives could show them CityLink’s rates.
Officials from CityLink are continuing to prepare for the all-digital conversion. Customers with older televisions who will need a special device called a DTA can order the devices by logging on to www.wadsworthcitylink.com or by visiting the CityLink customer service desk at City Hall. The devices can be rented for $1.99 per month.
The actual digital launch won’t take place until April 3 and the DTAs won’t work if they are hooked up before that time. For 30 days after the April 3 launch CityLink will broadcast both the digital and analog channels, giving customers time to order and install their DTAs.
Many newer television sets have a built-in digital tuner and won’t require a DTA. Anyone who is unsure if a digital tuner is already in their television set should do a channel scan on their HDTV set and then turn to channels 83.2, 83.3 and 83.4. If the subscriber receives these channels they do not need a DTA.
WCTV Programming Director John Madding said customer service representatives at City Hall are able to answer any questions customers may have about the DTAs or the digital conversion. He also said customers can watch an instructional video and also read a list of frequently asked questions with answers on CityLink’s website.
Service Director Robert Patrick said at a recent public service committee meeting that internet-only customers had increased by 20 in the last month, but added that the number of cable customers decreased by 31.
“I do expect to see a change in that over the next couple of months as some of the snowbirds return and reactivate cable service,” Patrick said. “Also with the all-digital conversion we are able to provide some increased services. Hopefully that will make things level off or even reverse the trend.”
Councilor Ralph Copley asked if CityLink had any information to show potential customers a comparison between CityLink rates for service and other providers.
“I didn’t know if we could show them an apples to apples comparison,” he said. “Maybe a brochure with that information.”
Patrick said CityLink didn’t have any type of brochure like that, but added anyone can stop by the customer service desk at City Hall with their bill from their current cable provider and customer service representatives could show them CityLink’s rates.
Officials from CityLink are continuing to prepare for the all-digital conversion. Customers with older televisions who will need a special device called a DTA can order the devices by logging on to www.wadsworthcitylink.com or by visiting the CityLink customer service desk at City Hall. The devices can be rented for $1.99 per month.
The actual digital launch won’t take place until April 3 and the DTAs won’t work if they are hooked up before that time. For 30 days after the April 3 launch CityLink will broadcast both the digital and analog channels, giving customers time to order and install their DTAs.
Many newer television sets have a built-in digital tuner and won’t require a DTA. Anyone who is unsure if a digital tuner is already in their television set should do a channel scan on their HDTV set and then turn to channels 83.2, 83.3 and 83.4. If the subscriber receives these channels they do not need a DTA.
WCTV Programming Director John Madding said customer service representatives at City Hall are able to answer any questions customers may have about the DTAs or the digital conversion. He also said customers can watch an instructional video and also read a list of frequently asked questions with answers on CityLink’s website.