Cable TV customers in Elburn, Sugar Grove and elsewhere in western Kane County can now access a larger collection of digital television choices.

But the improvement means that some customers of cable company Mediacom will need to acquire some new equipment to make sure they can enjoy the new programming choices.

Last week, Mediacom completed work on adding more than a dozen new digital channels and 10 new high definition television channels to its channel lineups.

For years, in response to demand from consumers, cable television companies have worked to improve their offerings of digital TV programming and, more recently, HDTV.

But cable TV providers have run into a capacity problem. Essentially, the analog versions of several television networks take up more of the delivery capacity than do tens of networks delivered digitally.

And thanks to the digital broadcast transition completed earlier this year, Mediacom opened up enough space to add the new digital and HD channels, said Mediacom spokeswoman Phyllis Peters.

"We're still supporting our analog customers," Peters said.

"But we are at the same time trying to move people into the digital world, to take advantage of the greater efficiency it offers."

She noted that Mediacom can offer about 12 digital channels or three HD channels for every one analog channel.

In the Tri-Cities and elsewhere in the Chicago market, cable provider Comcast began digitizing its cable lineup last month.

Last week, Comcast digitized 16 channels and added 18 new HD channels, said spokesman Rich Ruggiero.

Comcast will complete its digital transition later this month, converting another two dozen channels to a digital format, including such channels as ESPN, Fox News and Disney, on Oct. 27.

At that time, any customers who do not subscribe to digital programming from Comcast will need to acquire equipment from Comcast to continue watching their TV programs.

Mediacom customers who do not now subscribe to digital programming or who do not have a digital tuner built into their TVs, also will need to acquire similar digital tuners from Mediacom to take advantage of Mediacom's expanded digital TV offerings, Peters said.

Mediacom is offering a tuner free to each household. Comcast is offering three tuners free per household.

Ruggiero and Peters said the response from customers have been positive, for the most part, with some complaints mixed in.

"The overwhelming number of people who needed to take action to continue enjoying our programming have done so," Ruggiero said.

The digital transition and expansions will not result in higher cable TV bills, the representatives of Mediacom and Comcast said.

Going digital

Are you a Mediacom subscriber and need to get a digital tuner for your TV? Contact Mediacom at 800-222-5388 or stop by Mediacom’s Elburn office at 808 E. North St.