Eyecom Cable and TelAlaska have announced a plan to replace the current analog cable system with a digital system in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor starting March 1, 2018.
KUCB's Vic Fisher spoke with TelAlaska Marketing Manager Celine Kaplan about what this change will entail for current TelAlaska customers and you can listen to the full interview below.
Starting this week, Unalaskans will see 23 new channels in the rotation, but starting March 1st, all customers will need a converter box to receive any of the channels TelAlaska offers.
According to Kaplan, the switch from analog to digital has been a “large project for [TelAlaska] and something we’ve been working on it for many, many months. We’ve made a huge investment to bring new programming to our customers in Unalaska and improve their overall viewer experience.“
Kaplan said that the switch to digital will offer viewers a clearer picture. Furthermore, features on the new remote will act as a channel guide in place of channel 7.
TelAlaska chose the new channels based on feedback from customer surveys sent out last spring. Customers reportedly requested more news, sports, childrens programming, and a larger selection of movies. The 23 new channels are listed below.
With this upgrade, TelAlaska prices will be increasing starting with the February 1, 2018 billing cycle. The current offering for basic cable is $79.95 a month, and the new monthly price will be $93.30. The basic converter box will rent at a cost of $5.95 a month or $15.95 a month for a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
Kaplan said TelAlaska been in the process of distributing the new converter boxes since mid-January, but each customer must call TelAlaska at 1-800-478-3127 or stop by the Unalaska location at 599 E. Broadway to obtain a converter box. They will have until March 1st to do so.
Kaplan encouraged residents with questions or feedback to email eyecom@arctic.net
Currently, there are no changes regarding the Internet services TelAlaska offers.
New additions to the Eyecom/TelAlaska line-up beginning February 1, 2018:
BBC America
Boomerang
CNBC
CNBC World
CNN en Espanol
CNN International
Disney Junior
Disney XD
Fox Deportes
Fox News Channel
Fox Sports 1
IFC
MSNBC
My Destination TV
NBC Sports
NFL Network
One America News
Recipe TV
Sundance TV
Tru-TV
Turner Classic Movies
A Wealth of Entertainment (AWE)
WeTV