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Cable tv converter switch-over 64% complete- Luanne Hodge

-Customers urged to avoid last minute rush
BVI Cable TV began the process of swapping customers’ analog boxes (left) to digital converters (right) on December 10, 2012. From that time to March 1, 2013, customers are free to visit the Business Office at #27 Fishlock Road and the office in Virgin Gorda to upgrade their service to digital. The 90-day swap period was deemed essential for customers to be processed in an orderly fashion. Photo: VINO
“Eventually the analog [cable box] will be turned off, hopefully in mid-March. It means there will be a crowd, and that is what we are trying to avoid, so it’s just that the over-crowding will be the problem once the process stops on March 1,” Vice President and General Manager of BVI Cable TV, Ms Luanne Hodge told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview. Photo: VINO
“Eventually the analog [cable box] will be turned off, hopefully in mid-March. It means there will be a crowd, and that is what we are trying to avoid, so it’s just that the over-crowding will be the problem once the process stops on March 1,” Vice President and General Manager of BVI Cable TV, Ms Luanne Hodge told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview. Photo: VINO
Left: Analog Converter; Right: Digital converter. Photo: VINO, engadget.com
Left: Analog Converter; Right: Digital converter. Photo: VINO, engadget.com
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With the hope of avoiding a last minute rush or a large crowd build-up once the analog converters are switched off in March 2013, BVI Cable TV has been facilitating extending opening hours on weekdays and even opening on Saturdays to allow persons to complete the switch over process in a timely manner. It seems, however, “the last minute culture” is having its usual impact.

“Eventually the analog [cable box] will be turned off, hopefully in mid-March. It means there will be a crowd, and that is what we are trying to avoid, so it’s just that the over-crowding will be the problem once the process stops on March 1,” Vice President and General Manager of BVI Cable TV, Ms Luanne Hodge told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview.

Overall, Ms Hodge said, the process of converting to digital has been fluctuating. “There are times when a lot of customers are coming in and then there are days when it is very low. It hasn’t been consistent where we have a high number of persons every day.”

In the present month of February it was calculated, in terms of how many analog converters are active and how many of those are yet to be brought in, that the switchover process is just about 64% complete.  That was just over a week ago and slightly encouraging was that the process picked up a bit for the past week, according to BVI Cable TV.

BVI Cable TV began the process of swapping customers’ analog boxes to digital converters on December 10, 2012. From that time to March 1, 2013, customers are free to visit the Business Office at #27 Fishlock Road and the office in Virgin Gorda to upgrade their service to digital. The 90-day swap period was deemed essential for customers to be processed in an orderly fashion.

During this transition period, the signal for most channels is being simulcast in both analog and digital to ensure that customers can continue to enjoy Cable TV.

Apart from offering more than 75 new channels, the digital converter has several advantages compared to the analog, including better picture quality, better sound, interactive digital program guide and parental access. Pay- Per- View channels will also be added to the channel line-up.

Meanwhile, the switchover process for customers seems to be a very simple one and BVI Cable TV has been going the extra-mile of extending its opening hours. All customers have to do is take in their old cable box in for the digital box without any need to produce documentation of ownership. “Once your account is active when you bring your analog box we just verify the box number and we replace it with a new digital box,” Ms Hodge explained.

For persons who may not be willing or have the time to wait in the event there is a crowd they can also leave their old cable box and return at the end of the day to uplift.

“For customers convenience we have extended hours on both Tortola and Virgin Gorda. We are open weekdays from 8:15 A.M.-5:30 P.M. and on Saturdays 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.,” Ms Hodge reminded customers.

Meanwhile, to ensure that the digital channel line-up was in place by the December 10, 2012 deadline, eleven channels were removed from the analog line-up on November 9, 2012.

The channels taken off are Channel 15- Discovery ID, Channel 27- Fox Soccer, Channel 28- EWTN, Channel 31- VH1 Mega, Channel 38- Tru, Channel 49- Discovery Kids, Channel 50- Boomerang, Channel 54- CSPAN, Channel 58-TCM, Channel 59- CNN International, and Channel 67- Fox Deportes.

25 Responses to “Cable tv converter switch-over 64% complete- Luanne Hodge”

  • one eye (18/02/2013, 08:30) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    I do not like the new box it does not show the time…yaaaawn
  • O-Rap (18/02/2013, 09:33) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thanks, but no thanks just got that dish set up. That statement Cable tv made just stuck in my head " Digial = hardware upgrade not service or increase in programming. I just found that a little lackluster for a company that should be doing more to gain customers. Now with satellite tv I have too many channels to count, channels that I actually want to view in a language that I can understand.
    • Mick Mars (19/02/2013, 01:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I gah do like you.
      I aint much of a Tv watcher since this is the age of the Internet and you can get or buy almost anything Tv shows these days, but the convenience is nice to have whenever you want to go to it. The channels offered suck in my opinion and the reception is horrible in every room of the house.

      With them making this change and charging MORE, I might as well seriously look into getting a dish myself. The cheapest package will offer me everything and MORE than what I can get with cable Tv along with clean reception. It's almost a no brainer.
  • juice (18/02/2013, 10:42) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    The box doesnt make any sense at all and the tv is not showing properly.
  • RedMan (18/02/2013, 10:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    am one of them who have cable tv system, and its so disturbing watching most if not all the channels them. every thing is spanish. just imagining your watch a good movie and it spanish, and to make look so bad i notice all the movie channel them too, spanish . well i tell you soon and very soon dish network for me. just sickning now
  • wondering (18/02/2013, 11:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How much does BVI Cable TV charge per month for all the channels? and How much does it cost monthly to have a satellite dish? I just want to know because I'm at the point where I neet to make a decision.
    • eastender (18/02/2013, 15:27) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      bvi cable $53 75 channels......dish network over 200 channels, music and HD tv. Play back feature and fast forwarding $priceless
  • yippee (18/02/2013, 11:29) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Once they turn off the analogue boxes I wont have to worry about when nonsense is showing on the TV, I will find far more constructive ways of spending my time.

    I will throw the old analogue box in the garbage just like I did with Cable and Wireless's telephone!
  • Just saying (18/02/2013, 13:46) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't like how if you loose that remote, you can't turn the channel or turn it on or off. And I am with One Eye, who ever heard of a cable box with no time on it? Also where are there 75 new channels?
    • island girl (21/02/2013, 11:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you on the Remote...When I heard that they were going Ditigal I was thinking on the Box I saw in St. Croix where you can change the channel, record, see the time ect.... I was told that the this converter box is what they wanted. Therefore I am sticking to my Statelite Box where I can have more channels, I can see the time, and change my channels and even cheaper that Cable.... I am also waiting on the 75 channels and the removal of the Spanish Stations
  • wild out (18/02/2013, 16:03) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I do not like these new boxes...you have to turn of the box by remote then the TV by hand....too much work people
  • come better (18/02/2013, 17:11) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms Hodge why did I have to pay Cable in full for January and February when some of the channels are not even showing nothing but reminding customers in certain areas to come in and switch boxex? This is down right unfair to persons who have not changed over to digital as yet because of the area in which they live!!
  • Crap (19/02/2013, 15:37) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    this is foolishness cable tv aint got nothing to watch im goin to disconnect my service it wont be missed
  • foxy (20/02/2013, 16:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think Ms. Hodge is doing a great job!
  • teacher john (20/02/2013, 16:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    nice pic Lue such a pretty lady
  • island girl (21/02/2013, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have tried connecting my TV with the remote and nothing... I followed the instruction on the paper, looked for the TV code and nothing....


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