HBO Offers a Look at the Future : Television: The company will provide multiplex channels in an experiment to start in the east San Fernando Valley.

Cable television watchers in the east San Fernando Valley will get a peek at the future when HBO splits itself into three channels next month.

The experimental multiplex channels will draw from the same pool of films and programs but offer varying schedules.

“On any given day at 8 p.m., we would present a movie on the first HBO channel, the second channel may be a comedy special and the third may be a documentary,” said Alan Levy, a network spokesman.

The only cable system in Los Angeles to receive these broadcasts will be United Artists Cable, which serves about 83,000 homes east of the San Diego Freeway. The broadcasts are scheduled to begin Oct. 8.

This test programming comes at a time when cable networks are preparing for a new breed of cable TV systems that can accommodate 150 or more channels.

“The longer you hold a subscriber, the better,” Levy said. “The way you get them to stay is to continually provide more value.”

The average local system offers 37 channels, but new technologies such as fiber optics are expected to boost capacity over the next few years. United Artists was chosen for the test because, as one of the city’s newest systems, it already has a capacity of 78 channels.

“Television viewers want more choices,” said Deborah Nicholson, the system’s general manager. “And what customers are interested in is obviously good for us.”

MTV has announced that by mid-1993, it will broadcast three separately programmed channels, likely adding a channel focusing on urban contemporary or rap music.

HBO began testing its multiplex channels in August, broadcasting to a handful of systems in Texas and Kansas. As of yet, there is no date for a nationwide broadcast, but the network already has plans to use the extra channels to feature its own movies and series.

“Major motion pictures are still critical to our subscribers,” Levy said. “ ‘Presumed Innocent’ is a big movie this month. But for those who have seen it in the theater or rented it, that won’t be all that’s on HBO tonight.”

United Artists will package its expanded version of HBO so that subscribers must purchase two other premium channels as well. These package deals will begin at $18, Nicholson said.