Frequent Questions

1. Why is HDTV better than what I have now?

2. What HDTV programs can I get?

3. What equipment do I need?

4. How can I get an HDTV terminal?

5. Is it hard to hook up HDTV?

6. Why do I see black bars on my screen?

7. Why am I getting only audio when I tune to an HDTV channel?

1. Why is HDTV better than what I have now?
For cable customers, HDTV superiority is a matter of the sharpness of the picture, vividness of the colors and brilliance of the sound. Since you started subscribing to cable, you haven't had to worry about whether you got a picture or if the picture had ghosting or snow.

HDTV will take you to the next level.

HDTV pictures are produced with many more of the dots, or "pixels" that make up the overall picture. So an HDTV picture has more than double the resolution, or sharpness, that you currently enjoy. And with HDTV, even big-screen televisions produce a crisp, clean picture!

HDTV pictures also take in more territory. Your television set now produces pictures in a 4:3 aspect format. That means, that if the height of the picture were three feet, the width would be four feet. HDTV, by comparison, produces an aspect ratio of 16:9. So you see a much wider picture that's very close to the picture you see when you view a movie in the theater.

HDTV programming also broadcasts in Digital Dolby sound—much closer to what you're used to in the theater or if you go to a concert in a concert hall.

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2. What HDTV programs can I get?
Television programmers are racing to fill the demand for HDTV but it will be several years before all programming is available in HDTV. Right now you will be able to receive HDTV programming from local stations and three national programmers with more channels coming soon. Choose your community to see available HD channels and pricing:

• Coeur d'Alene
• Moscow
• Mountain Home

You will still be able to watch all of your favorite cable shows, whether they are HDTV or not.

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3. What equipment do I need?
To take advantage of HDTV programming, you will need a television capable of showing HDTV pictures and an HDTV digital terminal.

The television monitor can be either HDTV-Capable or HDTV-Ready. HDTV-Capable is less expensive and more widely available. Make sure your HDTV-Capable set is compatible with the digital terminal.

The digital terminal can be acquired from Time Warner Cable when you sign up for HDTV.

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4. How can I get an HDTV terminal?
Just call us at Time Warner Cable and schedule an appointment. Our service technician will deliver a digital terminal.

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5. Is it hard to hook up HDTV?
We have handy diagrams available to help you in conjunction with your HDTV-Capable Monitor owner's manual, or you can schedule a service appointment and our technician will set it up for you.

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6. Why do I see black bars on my screen?
There are two kinds of black bars, the letter box and sidebars.

A letter box where there are black bars top and bottom—appears when you are viewing a picture made to show HD content on a conventional television. It's what you sometimes see when you’re playing a DVD movie. HDTV programming is meant to be viewed on a wide screen at an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Sidebars happen when you view non-HDTV programming on your HDTV. Conventional analog television has an aspect ratio of 4:3—much more square. Some HDTVs will provide a “stretch” function so that the picture will be artificially stretched to accommodate HDTV's wide-screen format but the picture is then distorted.

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7. Why am I getting only audio when I tune to an HDTV channel?
If you don't have HDTV, a converter and haven’t signed up for HDTV service from Time Warner Cable, you'll only hear the audio portion of the programming when you tune to an HDTV channel.

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Schedule installation of your HDTV terminal now!

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*HDTV is not available in all areas at this time.

*To receive all services, Digital Cable, remote and lease of a Digital set-top box are required. Some services are not available to Cable Card customers. HD DVR is an optional service available for an incremental charge. Lease of an HD DVR set-top box is required. HDTV set required for HD service. Incremental charge applies for HD Premium tier service. All services may not be available in all areas. Subject to change without notice. Some restrictions apply. ©2007 Time Warner Cable Inc.