Comcast Adds to High-Definition Lineup in San Francisco Bay Area With Launch of Hallmark Channel HD and HSN HD

LIVERMORE, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK, CMCSA) http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications services, announced that it is launching two new high-definition (HD) networks in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Beginning today, Hallmark Channel HD (http://hallmarkchannel.com) will be available on the Digital Starter HD service level at Channel 793 and HSN HD (http://www.hsn.com) will be available on the Limited Basic HD service level at Channel 718 to both residential homes and businesses.  The addition of the two new channels follows the completion of Comcast's recent digital upgrade of customers from analog to digital and the launch of XFINITY in the Bay Area.   XFINITY is about offering customers more HD, more speed, more choice and more control over their services.

"These new high-definition networks add to our over 100 linear HD channels in the Bay Area and allow Comcast to continue to offer the most robust HD lineup available," said Bryan Byrd, Director of Communications for Comcast.  "Comcast continues to deliver the most HD viewing choices, with more than 3,000 HD choices available to watch at any time via Comcast's video-on-demand library."  

Comcast has added more than 80 new channels in the San Francisco Bay Area in the last few months after completing a digital migration which offered digital upgrades to Standard Cable customers to migrate from analog to digital, and converted channels 35 and above to a digitally delivered format.  Comcast's digital upgrade reclaimed analog bandwidth to allow the company to provide more products and services to customers, such as faster Internet speeds, more networks, dozens of international and multicultural language channels, and more ON DEMAND content. 

Hallmark Channel (http://hallmarkchannel.com) is the quintessential 24-hour television destination for family-friendly programming and a leader in the production of original movies.  Hallmark Channel has been one of the fastest-growing major ad-supported cable networks since its launch, and is often ranked in the top 10 in Prime Time.  Hallmark Channel serves as the exclusive cable home to the prestigious Hallmark Hall of Fame library, the longest-running and most-awarded movie series in television's history.

HSN (http://www.hsn.com) is a leading interactive multichannel network and retail destination, offering a curated assortment of exclusive products and top brand names to its customers. HSN incorporates experts, entertainment, inspiration, solutions, tips and ideas to provide an entirely unique shopping experience.  HSN, founded 32 years ago as the first shopping network, is an operating segment of HSN, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSNI).

The two new networks will be available throughout Comcast's Bay Area systems with the exception of Half Moon Bay, Isleton, Mendocino and Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley.  For more information about Comcast's programming, customers can call 1-800-COMCAST or visit http://www.comcast.com.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.6 million cable customers, 15.9 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.6 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Comcast's California Region, based in Livermore, California, serves more than 2.4 million customers in Northern and Central California.  Comcast employs more than 7,000 local residents across the region.

SOURCE Comcast