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Comcast: Give the gift of HD

Touts gift-card program for video, data and voice services

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 12/16/2008 4:02:00 AM

Citing recent studies from Leichtman Research and Frank N. Magid which indicate that over one-third of HDTV set-owners aren’t currently receiving HDTV programming, cable giant Comcast is promoting a new program that allows consumers to buy a friend or loved one a gift card toward high-definition TV service.

The “Comcast Gift Card” program, which launched on Dec. 2 and which Comcast is the calling the cable industry’s first, allows consumers to buy gift cards in increments from $5 to $500 and add Comcast’s high-definition programming service to the new HDTV screen in the living room. The Comcast Gift Card, which is being promoted on a new Comcast microsite, can also be used towards any Comcast video, voice or Internet service.

“Holiday HDTV shoppers remember … HDTVs aren’t HD unless you get HD service,” said Derek Harrar, SVP and GM of Video Services for Comcast, in a statement. “Comcast is your best choice for HD programming, and we’ve made getting it installed even easier and faster than before. Once you’ve experienced HD, you’ll want more.”

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  THAT'S A LIE. And cable's been pushing it in its ads. "HDTVs aren't HD unless you get HD service"? Tell that to the millions of HDTV owners who bought a $30 Radio Shack UHF roof antenna (or even a $20 set of rabbit ears in strong signal areas) and are enjoying FREE broadcast HDTV. A simple A/B switch and an antenna could give cable subs expanded basic cable analog service and FREE broadcast HD -- but cable's advertising has many technically unsophisticated subs believing they have to buy cable HD service to get any HD at all. This is a purposeful deception that's been perpetrated on the public, and the FCC or the Federal Trade Commission should cite MSOs for false advertising when they mislead the public.

  
  

  
  Adam Smith - 12/16/2008 10:16:00 PM EST
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