I admit that I’m a selective TV viewer–part of this selectivity is that I seldom watch a program that isn’t in Hi-Def anymore.  Just can’t hardly bring myself to do it.  I relax that standard, obviously, as I enjoy some older content that didn’t have the benefit of HD technology when it was filmed, but even here, there are some pretty amazing HD transfers of older, film-based content.  The stuff that can’t be helped much is that which was shot  with analog standard-def video production techniques in the 70’s and 80’s.

Interestingly, video took a significant uptick in quality in the 90’s, driven by improvements in professional video gear that supported upwards of 540 scan lines.  Most of the video produced in the 20 years previous to that was between 240 and 300 scan lines–read: “not that great”.  These aforementioned production upgrades may have been as a result of anticipated demand for analog “Laserdisc” recordings that were offered to consumers in the 90’s.

Considered obsolete in this digital age, Laserdiscs looked pretty amazing on “enhanced definition” sets of the time.  Based on optical disc technology, the Laserdisc was, nonetheless, an analog format that had been refined to a “fare-thee-well”, and it still looks pretty good on present day HD sets, for that matter.  It was the pinnacle of analog-based consumer media.  I still have, though do not use, a Sony player and about 20 discs–big 12 inch diameter numbers that could be used as lethal weapons if thrown like a frisbee at an unsuspecting target.  DVD’s and Blu-ray are much more convenient–and safer

So as WOW! officially retires its analog lineup with the completion of the digital transition, I may put my LaserDisc collection up on ebay to celebrate.  I hope that you find a way to celebrate the new HD content and viewing options this transition enables.

Until next time….

In light of customer feedback on this issue, our executive team revisited various issues surrounding the encryption of digital content. Since I’m a technical guy, I’m not sure precisely what went on “behind the scenes”, but the determination was made that WOW! digital signals in the basic tier will no longer be encrypted in any market post digital transition.

This means that if you have a digital television with a digital QAM tuner, a DTA will not be required to receive the basic cable tier of channels that was historically transmitted on the analog spectrum.  This change has already been effected in the Columbus market, and will be implemented in the Cleveland market within the next two weeks.  Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois customers have not yet gone through any phase of the digital transition, so digital channels there will be unencrypted from the “get go”.

I have included a channel grid for the Columbus market below.  Most of the new QAM tuner televisions will display the actual WOW channel number, but some older digital sets will display the actual RF channel followed by an MPEG ID shown in the grid below.  A fewer number of older sets will display the RF number followed by a number internally generated by the set itself, indicated by a “?” in the grid below. Customers may need to perform channel “rescans” after channels become available, also indicated in the grid below.

We appreciate your patience with this process.  As I’ve indicated before, this is necessary to provide the channel line ups that our customers request, including new HD channels.

Until next time….

Question:  Is this technology going to translate into a rate increase?

Answer:  Absolutely not!  The move to all digital is prompted by numerous requests from customers to increase our content options and HD line up.  It is all about getting additional bandwidth on the cable system to allow increased content options for our customers.  Here’s the thing:  The same bandwidth required to carry a single analog channel can carry between 3-6 standard definition digital streams, up to three HD streams. or a combination of the two types (one HD channel and 3 standard Def channels, for example).  So moving to an all digital line up is absolutely the thing to do to allow future customer options.  Rate increases will occur from time to time as content providers increase their rates to WOW!, but not as a direct result of this transition activity.

Question:  How about the Digital Terminal Adapters?  Are we going to be charged a monthly lease?

Answer:  Up to two DTA’s will be furnished by WOW! at no charge to the customer until 2013, at which point a $1.99/month per DTA will be charged.  Additional (more than 2) DTA’s requested will be charged at $1.99 per month from day one.  But here’s the thing.  If the DTA is placed on an old analog set, it will be as if nothing changed–all basic cable channels would be available.  Further, if for some reason you do not want a DTA on a particular analog set, the set will still be able to receive a limited basic line up  which will include your local broadcast channels and public access channels. as well as other content (approximately 20 channels).  This effectively extends the useful life of these older technologies either way you go.  While we can’t furnish customer equipment for free, we’ve endeavored to build a value equation that multiple TV households will embrace.

Question:  If we have digital televisions for our 2nd and 3rd sets, will we need the DTA or other customer equipment?

Answer:  If you have a cable card equipped QAM digital tuner, you would be able to receive not only the basic tier but other services to which you’ve subscribed.  If the set is not cable card equipped, but has a QAM digital tuner (not just an ATSC tuner), all unencrypted content would be available (including local HD content) without any additional equipment.  Most cable channels these days are encrypted, so you would require a digital set top box to view these channels, even on the digitally equipped sets.

I hope this has been helpful in further explaining this transition.

Until next time…

More content, easier navigation, new design.  We think you’re going to love it.  Check it out.  Take the Tour.  http://content.wowway.com/WowPortalTour/index.html

Channel lineups – It’s prime-time and you can’t remember what channel Food Network is on and you can’t find your WOW! channel lineup that was given to you at installation.  No problem!  We have our channel lineups for each of our areas online – just click here to be taken to our channel lineup page on our website.  From there, choose your region and you’re all set. You can even print out a copy to keep next to your remote control.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting – You keep wondering “What happens if the power goes out – are the shows on my DVR gone?!”  To save you time and not have to place a call to us to find out, we have tons of FAQs on our website to help you with WOW! Internet, WOW! Cable and WOW! Phone.  We also have the top troubleshooting tips for your WOW! Internet, WOW! Cable and WOW! Phone service.  (And not to worry, if the power goes out, you will only miss the recordings that were scheduled to be recorded while the power was out. Your previously recorded shows will still be there!  But keep in mind that the Interactive Guide information will need some time to repopulate.)

WOW! Reference Guide -   When you are first installed with WOW!, our technician leaves behind a WOW! Reference Guide for you containing  information on how to use and troubleshoot WOW! services, information on Parental Controls,  use your DVR, how to use your WOW! email, how to use your WOW! Phone features and more.   If you can’t find your copy of your reference guide – no problem.  We have it all online for you. Just click here to be taken to our online reference guides.

WOW! Customer Home Page – It’s late at night and you finally have the kids to bed, the dishwasher has been loaded and started, the laundry’s in the dryer and the dog’s been taken for his walk.  Now you have some time to go through your home office chores.  But darn, you’re out of stamps and your WOW! bill is due soon and won’t make it in time.  What do to?  Easy solution.  Your WOW! Customer Home Page is your gateway to access the WOW! Online Account Manager. This is your one stop shop to help you manage your WOW! account including your WOW! A Friend referrals.    Online Account Manager lets you pay your bill online (no more stamps!), review billing statements, and if you are a WOW! Phone customer, you can also view your call detail records. And if your child has been constantly asking to set up an email address for them, this is the place to add additional email accounts as well as lets you change your user name and password.  From the WOW! Customer Home Page, just log in and then click on “Account Manager” link at the top of the page.  Not registered yet on the WOW! Customer Home Page?  No problem – registration takes just a few minutes.  To register, you will  need your 16 digit WOW! account number (located at the top of your WOW! statement) and the phone number associated with your account.

Call us! Of course, if you’d rather get information over the phone, we’re always here for you. Anytime day or night.  Weekends.  Holidays.   We offer 24/7 Customer Care Support at 1-866-496-9669 (that’s 1-866-4-WOW-NOW) .  Through our customer care line, we also offer some automated services so you can even pay your WOW! bill over the phone, check on an appointment, and order a pay-per-view event.

I hope these tools will help make your life easier and provided some additional knowledge for you on the tools we have to help you.

Thanks for reading and for being a WOW! customer.

You can easily customize your page by selecting the add content button in the top right corner of the page. There are numerous categories to choose from like Business, Entertainment, News, and Sports. You can also choose what column to add the content too and the content can be dragged up or down within column so you can put your favorite information where you want it.

Checking email couldn’t be easier either. While logged in to your customer homepage you can see the 3 newest messages that are in your inbox and you can use the quick compose tab to send an email without opening the full email window. Do you need a break from email? Why not try the Games channel and try your hand at some mini golf or maybe a game of Bejeweled 2.

Still not convinced?  Take a tour now to see for yourself here. So with all these nice features, why not try the WOW! Customer Hompage today?