Comcast Offers New and Diverse Channels in San Francisco Bay Area Following Completion of 'World of More' Programming Rollout

LIVERMORE, Calif., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK, CMCSA) http://comcastcalifornia.mediaroom.com/, one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications services, today announced that it is launching three new diverse channels in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of its "World of More" programming rollout, and that it has completed its recent Bay Area digital upgrade of customers from analog to digital.

The new networks are The Africa Channel (Channel 297), art and culture network Ovation TV (Channel 270) and English-language Latino network Si TV (Channel 477).  All three channels, representing Comcast's ongoing commitment to offer more choice and diverse programming to its customers, will be available on the Digital Classic service level across the San Francisco Bay Area to both residential homes and businesses.

"Comcast is excited to offer three unique networks, in The Africa Channel, Ovation TV and Si TV, that will serve the diverse and sophisticated tastes of Bay Area residents," said Elaine Barden, Vice President of Marketing for Comcast in California.  "These are just the latest of the more than 80 new channels we've delivered to Comcast customers with the completion of our digital migration in the Bay Area and our 'World of More' programming initiative."  

"The Africa Channel is delighted to broaden our relationship with Comcast to bring this unique network to San Francisco's Bay Area," said Bob Reid EVP and General Manager of The Africa Channel.  "Our continued expansion across the country marks an important milestone for the network and we're excited to bring the culture, beauty and lifestyle of Africa to a growing audience of U.S. viewers.  We think our broad and entertaining mix of programming will be especially popular among residents of the Bay area."

"The Bay Area is one of the most culturally rich regions of this country and Comcast subscribers will find Ovation TV programming is very well-suited to their lifestyles," said Ron Garfield, EVP, Ovation TV.  "We are thrilled that Comcast chose to support the arts by adding television's only arts and culture network to their lineup."

"We're pleased to partner with Comcast in the Bay Area to provide Latinos in the region with Si TV's unique lifestyle and entertainment programming that positively reflects the contemporary American Latino experience," said Judi Lopez, SiTV's Senior Vice President of Affiliate Relations.

"Bay Area residents will appreciate The Africa Channel's rich and diverse slate of programming never before seen in the United States," said Assembly Member Sandre Swanson (D-Alameda County). "Comcast is to be commended for extending the reach of this network which provides an entertaining and enlightening window into modern-day Africa."

"Kudos to Comcast for adding Si TV to their extensive lineup of international and multicultural programming in the Bay Area," said Assembly Member Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar), Chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee.  "Si TV, with its wide range of original programming, offers young Latino viewers authentic, relevant and compelling content."

The channel additions are made possible by a digital migration called "The World of More" that Comcast began in 2009 and has just completed in the Bay Area.  Under the initiative, Comcast offered digital upgrades to Standard Cable customers to migrate from analog to digital, and converted channels 31 and above to a digitally delivered format.  Comcast's digital upgrade reclaimed analog bandwidth to allow the company to provide more products and services to customers, such as faster Internet speeds, more channels and more ON DEMAND content.  Comcast now offers more than 100 HD networks in the Bay Area, as well as dozens of international and multicultural language channels.

For more information about Comcast's programming, customers can call 1-800-COMCAST or visit http://www.comcast.com.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.8 million cable customers, 15.7 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.4 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Comcast's California Region, based in Livermore, California, serves more than 2.4 million customers in Northern and Central California.  Comcast employs more than 7,000 local residents across the region.

About The Africa Channel

The Network's premiere on September 1, 2005, marked a milestone in U.S. television history. For the first time, American audiences were able to experience the daily successes, celebrations and challenges of people living throughout Africa, all via a general entertainment network. The Network is broadcasted in the United States through national distribution deals with the four largest cable MSOs in the country, Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Charter, as well as other cable systems.  It's distributed in the United Kingdom by BSKYB.  The Channel is also available in the Bahamas, Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados, West Indies, Bermuda. The network was founded by longtime television industry executives James Makawa, Jacob Arback and Richard Hammer. Partners include former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young and his company, Goodworks International; Weller/Grossman Productions; NBA stars Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff; Williams Group Holdings; and former U.S. Senator Donald Stewart.  For more information, visit www.theafricachannel.com.  

About Ovation TV

Ovation TV is the only multi-platform network devoted to art and contemporary culture. The network creates and curates one-of-a-kind programming about all the art people enjoy most, from the popular to the avant-garde and everything in between. The channel reaches a national audience of 35 million households through carriage on DirecTV (channel 274), Dish Network (channel 157) and on cable and telco systems in major markets across the country. Ovation TV's programming is also available on video on demand (in both standard and high definition) in the US. Ovation TV's popular website (http://www.OvationTV.com) is a dynamic experience, featuring information about local and national happenings in the art world, as well as a vibrant community of artists who have uploaded over 100,000 pieces of original art.

About Si TV

Si TV is America's first media company to reach the millions of 18-34-year-old Latinos who prefer their content in English and seek it across all platforms-including linear television, the internet, video-on-demand and wireless devices. Si TV offers authentic, relevant content and a 70% original programming slate that ranges from outrageous comedy to music, independent movies, lifestyle and talk. The network is available nationwide on Dish Network, and in more than 200 cities and communities across America, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Denver, San Antonio and Las Vegas. Si TV's cable and telco affiliates include AT&T, Comcast, Cox, Insight, Qwest, Time Warner Cable and Verizon, among others. For more information about Si TV, please visit www.SITV.com.

SOURCE Comcast