TCI WILL OFFER MORE; CABLE TO ADD 36 CHANNELS, MUSIC

A new cable franchise agreement reached last November between Cape Girardeau and TCI Cablevision of Missouri will mean more cable television stations being available by April in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area.

Plans announced by TCI this week include the addition of 36 channels to its programming when it launches its new digital entertainment system April 1. That will bring the total number of available channels to 77, plus 10 music stations through Digital Music Express.

Presently, TCI offers subscribers 17 channels through its basic cable service and 17 more through its extended basic service. Premium movie channels -- HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, STARZ and Encore -- and one pay-per-view channel also are offered.

When the new system is in place, 19 new channels, eight new premium channels and nine additional pay-per-view channels will be available.

New channels subscribers will be able to view will include the Sci-Fi channel, the History Channel, Home & Garden TV, BBC America and the Game Show Network. New premium channels will include Encore Mystery, Encore Western and the Movie Channel. Spice TV will offer adult programming on a pay-per-view basis.

WGN, a popular channel that has been missing from the basic package, will return to the cable system March 1. In order to make room for the station, Lifetime will move from the basic package to the extended basic package.

WGN, the Chicago superstation that broadcasts Chicago Bulls basketball and Chicago Cubs baseball games, has not been a part of the cable system since late 1996.

Negative public reaction to the removal of WGN and other stations prompted the Cape Girardeau City Council to pass a resolution last January censuring TCI for failing to consult the public. In the resolution, the council asked the company to reconsider its programming changes and seek customer input before making future changes.

Roger Harms, general manager of the Cape Girardeau-Jackson TCI system, said Thursday that the company consulted with the city throughout the process that led to this week's announcements and listened as city leaders voiced their opinions on what should be on.

In addition, he said TCI listens to the public about programming. That input led to addition of the History Channel, the Sci-Fi Network and Home & Garden TV to the new digital system, Harms said.

All of the additional channels, however, will be available only to customers who subscribe to the digital service and rent a digital set-top box from TCI at a cost of an additional $13.30 per month for the 19 channels. The premium channels and pay-per-view services will be additional charges.

Present charge for the basic cable service is $11.79 per month. The extended cable service is an additional $13.92 per month. A variety of packages are available for the premium channels ranging from $7.99 a month to $31.99 a month. Premium channels may also be ordered a la carte, with charges ranging from $1.75 a month for Encore to $13.90 a month for HBO.

Once the new system is in place, subscribers will be able to have access to all channels at a cost of $71 per month. Pay-per-view would cost more, usually at an average of $3.99 per movie. Special events available on a pay-per-view basis vary in price.

Harms said there won't be an increase in rates for basic or extended basic service, but the company will consider raising rates in June. He would not speculate about whether the rates would go up, saying only, "They may go up or may go down. We'll know in the next few weeks."

CHANGES IN TCI CABLE LISTINGS

TCI cable guide for Cape Girardeau and Jackson effective April 1. 2 HBO Premium 3 WSIL Basic 4 Prevue Guide Basic 5 Local access Basic 6 WPSD Basic 7 KFVS Basic 8 WSIU Basic 9 KBSI Basic 10 WTBS Basic 11 Discovery Basic 12 BET Basic 13 Family Basic 14 Encore Premium 15 Weather Channel Basic 16 Cinemax Premium 17 WGN (March 1) Basic 19 WTCT Basic 20 WDKA Basic 21 QVC Basic 22 STARZ! Premium 23 Cartoon Network Extended 24 Nickelodeon Extended 25 CNN Extended 27 TNN Extended 28 A&E Extended 29 MTV Extended 30 F/X Extended 31 ESPN Extended 33 FOX Sports Extended 34 Disney Extended 35 USA Extended 36 TNT Extended 37 Lifetime Extended 38 AMC Extended 39 VH-1 Extended 40 Headline News Extended 41 CNBC Extended 42 FOX News Extended 50 Showtime Premium 51 PPV Pay-Per-View 98 C-Span I Basic121 Discovery Kids Digital160 Sci-Fi Digital161 Game Show Network Digital180 Bravo Digital201 Discovery Travel Digital202 Home & Garden TV Digital270 History Channel Digital272 Discovery Science Digital273 Eye on People Digital290 BBC America Digital401 Fox Sports World Digital402 ESPN News Digital403 Classic Sports Digital404 Outdoor Life Digital476 Much Music Digital501 Turner Classics Digital502 Romance Classics Digital503 Independent Film Digital519 Encore Love East Premium521 Encore Mystery East Premium523 Encore Western East Premium535 STARZ! 2 East Premium552 HBO 2 East Premium554 HBO 3 East Premium577 Showtime 2 East Premium590 Movie Channel East Premium800 Barker Digital801 PPV 1 Pay-Per-View802 PPV 2 Pay-Per-View803 PPV 3 Pay-Per-View804 PPV 4 Pay-Per-View805 PPV 5 Pay-Per-View806 PPV 6 Pay-Per-View807 PPV 7 Pay-Per-View808 PPV 8 Pay-Per-View851 Spice Pay-Per-View901 Light Classical Digital902 Jazz Vocal Blends Digital903 Hottest Hits Digital904 Modern Country Digital905 Alternative Rock Digital906 Adult Contemporary Digital907 Contemporary Christian Digital908 60s Oldies Digital909 Classic Rock Digital910 R & B/Rap Digital