Citywest begins local preparations for the digital universe

They launch their digital service in Terrace this week, an opportunity to trade in the 60 channel old wave for a brand new era of television viewing, featuring the 300 plus digital world of expanded cablevision.

For those that held out from the satellite dish revolution, the change will be a rather amazing experience, channels before considered but mere rumours will magically appear on their television screens on an expanded tier of available channels. And of course it comes with an expanded tier of pricing to go with it.

Now that CityWest has finally taken care of Terrace and Thornhill, they can turn their attention to Prince Rupert which is expected to enjoy the digital wave later this summer.

The Daily News featured the details in Wednesday’s paper, about the newest addition to the available options for your free time.

Rupert to tune in to digital cable
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Page one

CityWest is making inroads into new markets by launching its digital cable service in Terrace, with the Prince Rupert launch scheduled for later this summer.

The launch of CityWest Digital Cable TV means that cable customers in Terrace and Thornhill will now have two options, they can continue to subscribe to regular cable service like they do now, or choose to upgrade to the new digital system.

"Over the past year, CityWest has made a large investment in building infrastructure in Terrace - first with the fibre-link that interconnected Terrace with Prince Rupert, and second with the upgrade of the local fibre and cable network in Terrace and Thornhill. These upgrades mean better quality services, but also mean new cutting edge services," said Rob Brown general manager with CityWest.

Earlier this month, CityWest announced it was getting ready to make use of its new fibre optic cable connection along Highway 16 to bring 300 new channels to its customers and began an upgrade of its local cable television plant.

The upgrade project in Prince Rupert will run at least two months from start to finish. Once the cable plant upgrade is finished, CityWest will offer the same service locally that it just launched in Terrace.

Ledcor Technical Services (LTS) spent last summer installing the casing and cable underground along the length of Highway 16 in order to be able to provide residents with state-of-the-art technology.

The project was completed last November.

The 150-kilometre fibre link spans some very rough terrain, but now stands as the only fibre link along the Terrace-Prince Rupert corridor.

Fortunately, it was installed underground so it was not impacted by the recent mudslide.
And should the Highway be open for the weekend, anyone heading to Terrace can preview the new service at an open house at the technical office located at 2709 Kalum St. The open house runs on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.

In order to subscribe to Digital Cable Tv, customers will need to rent or purchase one of the CityWest Digital Cable Terminals. The Digital Terminals are manufactured by Motorola and come in three varieties - a standard digital terminal, a digital terminal with built in digital recorder, and a high-definition terminal with built in recorder. Customers who have a terminal on one TV in their home would also have the regular 60 channel cable line-up on all of their additional TV's at no extra charge.