Cox Switches on Digital TV for Aliso Viejo Residents

Adding more than 140 video and audio channels to its basic cable offerings, Cox Communications Inc. launched its Digital TV service to residents here on Wednesday.

Regular subscribers can add the digital service, which offers super-sharp television pictures, and includes an interactive program guide, 40 music channels and pay-per-view movies.

The service uses a fiber-optic network and digital compression technology to convert analog television signals to digital. By using this technique, Cox can squeeze 12 digital channels in the space taken up by one of its regular, analog channels.

Other firms have already jumped into the digital television market in this region. Comcast Cablevision Inc. started offering digital TV cable service in Buena Park a couple weeks ago. Pacific Bell also provides access to digital television in Orange County through its wireless cable service.

Cox said it wants to offer the service to all of its customers in the county by the middle of next year. Cox’s standard rate is $27.50 a month. Digital service costs an additional $5.95 or $10.95 a month, depending on which channel add-ons are chosen.