Charter to Bring 200 HD Channels, Improved All-Digital Network and Faster Internet Speeds to Southern California Customers

Charter Communications (NASDAQ: CHTR) customers in Southern California will enjoy access to more than 200 high definition (HD) channels, better picture quality and significantly faster Internet speeds as Charter completes its move to a 100 percent all-digital network throughout 2014.

“By removing outdated analog signals, we regain bandwidth in our network enabling us to provide more HD channels and open the door to faster Internet speeds and future innovation,” said Charter President and CEO Tom Rutledge. “This upgrade speaks to the fact that Charter is providing our customers with the very best products at the very best value, and we’ve invested more than $2 billion in our fiber-rich network to make that happen.”

Once the all-digital upgrade is complete for all customers, Charter will double residential Internet speeds from 30 Mbps to 60 Mbps at no additional cost.

The all-digital upgrade for customers in Southern California began in late March and runs through early September with groups of customers transitioning to an all-digital network on a rolling basis. The upgrade will impact multiple communities including Monterey Park, West Covina, Azusa, Norwalk, Pasadena, Cerritos, Ventura, Malibu, Whittier, Riverside, Victorville, Hesperia, Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, Atascadero, Paso Robles, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Turlock, Escalon, Gilroy, Watsonville, California City and Porterville.

Calabasas customers will move to the all-digital network on May 6.

As part of this upgrade process, customers must take action by acquiring Charter-issued digital set-top boxes for each of their televisions.

More than 90 percent of Charter customers in Southern California have adopted digital devices for at least one television in their home. With the use of set-top boxes, Charter customers will gain Video On Demand (VOD) access for every television in their home. With more than 10,000 VOD options, including more than 2,000 in HD, Charter is setting a new standard for digital video entertainment.

Charter is making it easy for customers to receive one or more digital boxes at no cost for one, two or five years, depending on the customer’s programming package and other qualifying factors. Customers can obtain these digital boxes at their local Charter store or call to arrange a professional installation.

Charter will be communicating with customers about their scheduled upgrade date via direct mail, bill messages, outbound calls and messages that will appear on their television prior to the cutover.

Charter has already completed all-digital upgrades in several markets, including parts of Michigan, Missouri, Texas, California, South Carolina and Massachusetts. The company plans to complete the upgrade across its 29-state footprint by the end of 2014.