Cox deploying digital cable TV boxes

For years, Las Vegas' cable television operators have been promising dozens of new cable channels when the digital age arrives.

That era begins this summer based on an announcement by Cox Communications Inc. and Scientific-Atlanta Inc., two Atlanta companies.

Cox, which operates the primary cable television system in Las Vegas, said it will deploy Scientific-Atlanta's Explorer 2000 set-tops in its Las Vegas system.

The set-top is a digital converter box. When Cox runs its digital signal through its upgraded fiber-optic system, the converter box will translate the signal for most televisions. Because the digital feed has the bandwidth to include several signals on one channel, Cox will be able to add 75 to 100 new channels.

The new digital televisions will be able to decipher the signals but for subscribers without a digital TV -- which currently cost more than $1,000 -- there's the converter box.

"Cox Communications made a commitment a long time ago to be the leaders in this technology," said Steve Schorr, vice president of Cox Communications Las Vegas. "We wanted the best service and the best technology and this helps us deliver that."

Schorr said Cox subscribers "would not see a drastic increase in price" with the launch of the set-tops but did not have prices determined.

In addition to providing more channel choices, the set-tops have a feature that allow viewers to surf for specific types of programming.

"You can set it to pull up family shows, movies, sports, whatever you like to watch, and it will find your choice," Schorr said.

Cox hasn't determined yet how it will distribute the set-tops, but a key element to the transition is the availability of the digital signal to a neighborhood. The company has completed about 70 percent of a systemwide fiber-optic upgrade.

Subscribers in neighborhoods with the upgrade will be able to acquire the set-tops. Schorr said Cox is targeting the upgrade to be completed by January 2000.

While adding channels through digital signals is what Cox will introduce first with the set-top deployment, the capabilities of the device are far greater.

Schorr said other digital platforms -- including high-definition television and CD-quality music -- will be available. In the future, some interactive features will be added, including World Wide Web access and video on demand.

The Explorer 2000 set-top is capable of supporting other services, including e-mail, Web browsing, e-commerce and home shopping. The video-on-demand feature will give subscribers access to a library of movies that can be fast-forwarded, rewound and paused.

Cox hasn't determined a schedule for launching the other interactive services.

Schorr said when Cox begins offering digital programming in the summer, it will be the first digital television offered in the state. Over-the-air digital broadcasts began in the nation's largest television markets last fall and is expected to be offered in Las Vegas by 2001.

Cox, which has about 310,000 subscribers in Las Vegas, has about 3.8 million customers nationwide. Las Vegas is one of the company's largest markets and the digital roll-out is right behind launches in Phoenix, San Diego and Oklahoma City.

Scientific-Atlanta is a supplier of broadband communications systems and satellite-based video, voice and data communications networks.

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