TV GUIDE NETWORK moves from Analog Cable to Digital Cable.

[Madmansam]

Today (November 4), COMCAST moved TV GUIDE NETWORK from Analog Cable Channel 2 to Digital Channel 111. This doesn't make sense as who would want to see scrolling tv listings when you have interactive tv listings? My eldery mother has Standard Analog Cable TV, and her problem is that she has no access to local tv listings since the demise of the regional digest sized TV GUIDE, as well as the local paper discontinuing its weekly TV magazine. She also doesn't have a computer. Now she can't find out what is playing on tv. My guess is that the change in due to the upcoming change of TV GUIDE NETWORK itself. What's everyone's thoughts on the effect of this on people 65 years old and older? Thanks!

[DToTheJ]

Just to clarify: TVGN is moving to the digital tier in your area only. Though, I would be interested in finding out if this is happening on other Comcast systems. Such a move might be a precursor to Comcast launching its own in-house cable listings channel. Cablevision has two cable listing channels; in New York City, channel 100 for digital, and the analog listing channel just recently moved from its longtime position of channel 14 to channel 80.

Whatever... Just bring back "Prevue Guide" and I'll be a happy camper. 

[imhomerjay]

Why would anyone start up a channel for listings when between the satellite companies, the telephone companies and the cable companies, the pool of people without access to the interactive guide is shrinking rapidly?  Whether there's a space there to continue running an existing option is one thing, but starting up something with zero future doesn't seem like a smart business move.   Purely from a return on investment standpoint, it's a waste of resources.

[MarcB]

I became a COMCAST subscriber when I moved into my apartment in April of this year. TV Guide Network is on both Channel 72 and 100. A lot of the channel listings are wrong and have been wrong since before I moved in.

2 is listed as WFSB - CBS. WFSB moved to Channel 3 several months ago. There's nothing on Channel 2.
*19 is listed as Educational Access. 19 is The Weather Channel.
20 is listed as CT-N, the CT Government Channel. There is nothing on channel 20.
*21 is listed as Government Access. There is nothing on channel 21.
98 is listed as The Weather Channel. 98 is CT-N, The CT Government Channel.

*Educational Access is channel 95. Government Access is 96.

Not Listed:

24 New England Cable News (before everything above 24 went digital-only in September, this was digital only. It is also on 177).
37 TRU-TV (before everything above 24 went digital-only in September, this was digital only. It is also on 182)
38 Hallmark Channel (before everything above 24 went digital-only in September, this was digital only. It is also on 137)
72/100 TV Guide Network.
90 Leased Access (Jewlery Televison)
97 CPTV (Before everything above 24 went digital-only in September, this was digital only. Also on Analog 7)

Also The Commercials on The Weather Channel says "The Weather Channel is brought to you by this cable or satellite provider. And on the screen it says COMCAST Channel 26." Channel 26 has been SNY - SportsNet New York for a number of years.

[SanDiegoInExile]

Today (November 4), COMCAST moved TV GUIDE NETWORK from Analog Cable Channel 2 to Digital Channel 111. This doesn't make sense as who would want to see scrolling tv listings when you have interactive tv listings? ..... My guess is that the change in due to the upcoming change of TV GUIDE NETWORK itself.

You answered your own question. A few months ago, the new owners of the TVG channel announced they are removing the scroll and becoming a "regular" channel, just like all the hundreds of others. Folks of any age who depend on the scroll will have to look elsewhere.

[mrschimpf]

Charter bumped TV Guide Network to digital two years before on all of the systems they had an out to dump it off analog basic. Subsequently TVGN has fed a non-listings version of the network on full-screen to those systems which don't have the listings (though oddly many of the graphics are still meant to fill the listings versions of the network, thus the usual bottom-third graphic becomes a two-third).

Likely the non-listings version is what that Comcast system switched to when they booted it to digital, so the only option for her might to be stomaching the $5 to get the digital box or try to get the cable company to discount the $5 off as a hardship charge.

[kenrayc]

Today (November 4), COMCAST moved TV GUIDE NETWORK from Analog Cable Channel 2 to Digital Channel 111. This doesn't make sense as who would want to see scrolling tv listings when you have interactive tv listings? My eldery mother has Standard Analog Cable TV, and her problem is that she has no access to local tv listings since the demise of the regional digest sized TV GUIDE, as well as the local paper discontinuing its weekly TV magazine. She also doesn't have a computer. Now she can't find out what is playing on tv. My guess is that the change in due to the upcoming change of TV GUIDE NETWORK itself. What's everyone's thoughts on the effect of this on people 65 years old and older? Thanks!

The last poster is right she should get a box for $5 extra, also for the reason it won't be long before Comcast is going to eliminate the analog band except for local stations and WGN and a couple of other channels that are now in the lifeline $12.99 a month package.

I find it strange that the Sacramento Bee removed their TV listings, The Fresno Bee ( Sacramento's sister paper) just expanded their Sunday TV guide ,but you must request it to be added to the Sunday Paper for 29 cents extra a week.

[mescutia]

I find it strange that the Sacramento Bee removed their TV listings, The Fresno Bee ( Sacramento's sister paper) just expanded their Sunday TV guide ,but you must request it to be added to the Sunday Paper for 29 cents extra a week.

With the trend towards online and on-screen listings, the listing booklets are no longer cost-effective for newspapers.  Personally, I've never cared for them; back in the day, the old-school TV Guide was more in-depth and easier to navigate.

[Madmansam]

Today (November 4), COMCAST moved TV GUIDE NETWORK from Analog Cable Channel 2 to Digital Channel 111. This doesn't make sense as who would want to see scrolling tv listings when you have interactive tv listings? ..... My guess is that the change in due to the upcoming change of TV GUIDE NETWORK itself.

You answered your own question. A few months ago, the new owners of the TVG channel announced they are removing the scroll and becoming a "regular" channel, just like all the hundreds of others. Folks of any age who depend on the scroll will have to look elsewhere.

But where to look elsewhere? No TV Guide and no newspaper listings and she doesn't have a computer.

[Madmansam]

Actually I need to clarify. What I thought was Standard Analog Cable TV is actually called "Limited Basic". All it is are local tv stations, public access and shopping channels. Where she lives at (Senior Apartment Complex) doesn't allow External Antennas of any kind (this includes satellite dishes). And the rabbit ears were alright until the tv stations switched to digital, then she couldn't get anything. That is why she signed up for Limited Basic for $10 for 12 months deal. And it is the Stockton Record that dropped the TV listings. Not sure about Sacramento Bee but that gives me an idea. Maybe I can get the TV listings book from the Sacto Bee! Thanks kenrayc!