News & Information

Berwick, PA (March 9, 2012) –MetroCast Communications, the video, internet and phone provider located in Berwick, Pennsylvania, has announced that “Video On Demand” will now be available to customers in the Berwick and Pocono systems and surrounding areas within the counties of Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne and Monroe.

With Video On Demand, customers now are able to view movies and programs from the comfort of home. Unlike Pay-Per-View, VOD programs can be ordered at any time. The selected program is available instantly, so there is no buffering or waiting for downloads. 

The On Demand programs are selected with a remote control and digital converter. Unlike Pay-Per-View, a customer can pause, fast-forward or rewind the program that has been chosen. The program can be stopped and viewed later since selections will save for up to 48 hours.

“With VOD now available, there’s no need to get in the car to rent a video,” said General Manager Tom Carey. “With On Demand, there are no returns, no late fees, no out-of-stock titles. And, MetroCast customers will be able to order new hit movies, many available the same day they are released on DVD, months before Netflix or Redbox. It’s a great value and a tremendous convenience for our customers.”

In addition to major theatrical hits, customers that subscribe to premium services such as HBO or Showtime will have access to hundreds of On Demand titles every month from those premium services at no additional cost.  In all, thousands of On Demand titles, including many free titles, and many in stunning High Definition, will be available to MetroCast customers every month.

The launch of Video On Demand follows a major system upgrade that was completed last fall.   At that time, MetroCast converted existing analog programming to digital.   Because digital programming consumes less channel space than the traditional analog format, it allows more information to be transmitted within each available channel, while also resulting in improved picture and sound quality.   

With the upgrade, MetroCast also launched new products, including new “Music Choice” digital music channels, Movie Plex, Reelz Channel, MTV Hits, and VH1 Soul.   An updated “Rovi Interactive Program Guide” with new features also was launched. In March, MetroCast will launch six new HD channels, including AMC-HD, Lifetime-HD, Lifetime Movie Network-HD, ABC Family-HD, Fox News-HD and FX-HD.

The new upgrade also has paved the way for new, faster Internet speeds. This year, customers will enjoy speeds up to 25 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream with MetroCast’s “HSD-Ultra”service.   MetroCast also is increasing the speed of its standard HSD offering, which will deliver downstream speeds up to 12 Mbps x 1 Mbps. 

“These enhancements will allow our customers to get the most out of their MetroCast services, with new options like Video On Demand, super-fast Internet speeds, and an increasing variety of programming choices, with more channels than ever in HD,” said Carey.

For more information about the MetroCast product enhancements, see www.MetroCast.com.

###

MetroCast serves more than 17,000 residential and business-class customers in 47 Pennsylvania franchise communities with video, high-speed internet and digital phone service. MetroCast can be reached 24/7/365 toll-free at (800) 633-8578.   

MetroCast Communications |911 Market Street | Berwick, PA 18603

The Communications Act requires that a television station give its consent to a cable system or other multichannel video programming distributor to carry its broadcast signal. This process, which typically occurs every three years, is called "Retransmission Consent."



Most agreements with local broadcasters are expiring at the end of 2011 and must be re-negotiated by year's end. This year, local broadcast stations are demanding much higher fees for the right to retransmit their signals. As a result, the cost increases for broadcast stations will be substantial and will impact significantly the prices customers will pay in 2012 for video services in every region of the country.

For more information, see www.MetroCast.com/retransmission.

MetroCast, the video, Internet and phone provider with operations in nine states will help make the holiday season brighter for area children through its annual campaign that collects toys for children in need.

Through December 20, MetroCast systems in New Hampshire/Maine, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Mississippi/Alabama will waive the standard installation fee for new video or Video-Internet-Phone customers who donate a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more.   The toys will be distributed through partnerships with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program (CT, MD, PA and VA), Palmer Home for Children (MS), Santa’s Little Elves (SC), the Interlakes Santa Fund (NH), and the Salvation Army (ME). 

The campaign is being undertaken at a time of increasing economic distress for American families. The Census Bureau estimates that more than 46 million Americans now live below the poverty line, the highest number since the Bureau began publishing results 52 years ago. Children have been especially hard hit, as the Bureau estimates that 22% of children, or one of every five, now are in poverty.

“The economic downturn has been hard on almost all Americans and it is keenly felt at this time of year,” said Moira Campbell, manager for MetroCast’s New Hampshire/Maine region. “Our hearts go out in a special way to children, because the eager anticipation they feel at this time of year is not tempered by the economic realities around them. Our hope is that this program will bring happiness to children who might otherwise do without.”

For more information about the Toys campaign, see www.MetroCast.com/promotions.

The EAS is a network of radio, television, cable and satellite providers across the country that ensures the system is at a constant state of readiness for the president of the United States to communicate to the public during a national emergency. The purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the system in alerting the public.

On November 9, MetroCast customers and the public will hear a message indicating that "This is a test." The audio message will repeat “This is a test.” The video message scroll may not indicate “This is a test.” The video text is likely to inform viewers that authorities have issued an “Emergency Action Notification.”

It is important to know that during the test, television programming will be temporarily interrupted. Regular programming will resume once the EAS test concludes. The audio message will be the same for both radio and television. The test may look like regular, local EAS tests that most people are already familiar with, but there will be some differences in what viewers will see and hear.

What MetroCast Customers Need to Know

Because of the EAS interruption, any DVR recordings scheduled during this time will be interrupted and may even be lost. As soon as the test ends, you will be returned to your regularly scheduled programming.

If you experience the Emergency Alert System message for more than five minutes, please do the following:

• Power cycle your cable box by unplugging the power cord from the outlet.


• Wait 30 seconds and then plug the power cord back in.

After taking these steps, the guide data and Video On Demand content will take a period of time to fully restore. Please wait 20 minutes before choosing Video On Demand as this might result in other errors with your box.

As always, we value you as a MetroCast customer. For more information about how the EAS test impacts you visit FEMA's website.

Through a partnership with MetroCast and the Garde Arts Center, Southeastern Connecticut’s non-profit performing arts center in New London’s historic district, MetroCast customers can enjoy $10 off each ticket price for Garde presented events.  Walk-up and phone orders only. Discount excludes loge seating. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer.  Other restrictions may apply. Limited inventory available. Expires: 7/31/12.  Visit gardearts.org for schedule of events or call 888.339.3605 for details.

Waterford, CT (September 1, 2011) –MetroCast Communications, the video, Internet and phone provider with offices in Waterford and Plainfield, Connecticut, has put its full focus on restoring services to customers in the region in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

Extensive storm-induced damage from the hurricane resulted in widespread commercial power outages, which affected the availability of MetroCast video, Internet and phone in certain locations. 

“Our entire team has been working diligently on needed repairs and has made major progress in the short time since the storm,” said Edward L. Merrill, regional manager for MetroCast.    “As of today, the majority of our customers have had service restored.”

Merrill said careful emergency response planning in advance of the storm allowed the MetroCast team to expedite the restoration effort once the storm passed, including supplying generator power in areas where commercial power was unavailable.

“Before the storm hit, we tested standby power supplies and readied our portable generators, which are essential in the event that commercial power is unavailable. We also prepared by augmenting our existing staff, bringing in additional crews, expanding our customer service hours, and calling on support and resources from MetroCast offices from Pennsylvania to Maine. Since then, our team has been working around the clock under very challenging conditions to restore service.” Merrill acknowledged that the extent of damage and obstacles to repair created by fallen trees and limbs have meant that some customers still lack electric power and/or MetroCast service. 

“We understand how important these services are to our customers,” said Merrill. “As debris is cleared, technicians will be able to gain safe access to damaged circuits and distribution networks. Once repairs are made and electric power reactivated, we will be able to quickly restore service to customers that still are without service.”

As part of the restoration effort underway, MetroCast has reached out to towns in its franchise areas to ensure that each designated emergency shelter location has MetroCast service. 

In addition, as a public benefit to communities that are still struggling in the aftermath of the storm, MetroCast connected Slater Library in Griswold with High Speed Internet service at no cost so that the site can function as a free community Wi-Fi center.  MetroCast also has increased the capacity of its Internet service at Putnam Library to accommodate residents who need Internet access at this time. 

“As a resident here, I know how difficult the aftermath of the storm has been for everyone,” said Merrill. “That’s why I am so grateful for the understanding of our customers, the dedication of the MetroCast team, and the great effort being made by all those who are engaged in the cleanup and recovery effort in our community.”  

MetroCast serves more than 37,000 residential and business-class customers in nine Connecticut franchise communities with video, high-speed internet and digital phone service. MetroCast Customer Service can be reached 24/7/365 at (888) 339-3605 (toll free).   

“It is the most advanced multi-room DVR product available today,” said Edward L. Merrill, MetroCast regional manager.  “Among its many exclusive features, it has enormous storage capacity, enabling customers to store more than 300 hours of standard-definition content and up to 95 hours of HD programming,” he said.

Digital video recording, the ability to time shift, record and save video programming, has enjoyed rapid adoption by consumers, growing from just one percent of U.S homes in 2006 to more than 40 percent today, according to industry estimates.   As the number of televisions in the typical U.S. household now numbers three and continues to grow, so has the interest in having DVR functionality on more than one set.

“Our customers have come to rely on DVRs to manage their viewing, to pause content, and to archive their favorite programs,” said Merrill.  “Our Multi-Room DVR solution enables our customers to do all of this and more in multiple rooms in the home, which will greatly enhance the value and enjoyment of the services we provide.”

The launch of the new Multi-Room DVR service comes in the wake of other enhancements announced by MetroCast in recent months.  This spring, the company launched 14 new channels in High Definition, expanded its digital basic channel lineup with Fox Business Network, History International, Biography and Chiller, and recently boosted its Video-On-Demand offering to more than 4,000 titles a month, including HD titles, and more free content.

The company also introduced a significant speed enhancement for its high speed data customers, with top downstream speeds up to 18 Mbps, as well as a new home networking option that allows customers to enjoy wireless Internet connectivity on up to five computers, in addition to tablets, gaming systems, smart phones and other wireless devices.

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS:

Did you know you could get Free Advertising on MetroCast's Realty Channels?

MetroCast will put your real estate listing on our Realty Channel and help you sell your house, AND your clients will get some great savings on their cable, internet and phone services. 

In Berwick, PA  - Metrocast's Realty channel is 10

In Hollywood, MD - Metrocast's Realty channel is 21

In King George, VA - Metrocast's Realty channel is 19

Contact Christy Kubick for more information: