| Comcast Network | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1996 |
| Owned by | NBCUniversal (owned by Comcast) |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 720p (HDTV) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | American English |
| Broadcast area | Mid-Atlantic and southern Pennsylvania |
| Formerly called | CN8 |
| Sister channel(s) | Comcast SportsNet Chicago WMAQ WSNS Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia WCAU Comcast SportsNet Washington WRC |
| Website | Comcast Network Philadelphia; Comcast Network Washington |
| Availability | |
| Cable | |
| Comcast | Check local listings for channels. |
| Verizon Fios | ch. 99 |
Comcast Network (formerly known as CN8) is a cable television station that is shown mostly in parts of Comcast Cable services in the Eastern part of the US. Viewed in four states and 20 television markets from New Jersey to Virginia on Comcast cable systems. The main focus of the network is Philadelphia although they attempt to make their shows look like national shows. Key markets include New Jersey, the Pennsylvania cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. Comcast Network, which employs more than 400 people in its footprint, was founded in 1996 and now airs more than 90 hours a week of original programming from two to three studios in Philadelphia and Washington. The network's programming and hosts have been recognized by the television industry with more than 370 regional Emmy Award nominations, with a network demographic for people over 40 years of age. It is owned by NBCUniversal, the successor to Comcast's media division.
The CN8 brand was discontinued in early 2009, as part of a larger restructuring of the network in order to respond to low ratings as well as closing down in the New England market, where its primary market was Boston.[1] The Philadelphia and Washington feeds have been split into separate networks solely branded as "The Comcast Network,"[2] which will henceforth report to sister network Comcast SportsNet.[1][2]
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The network's flagship show is It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle, which is played three times a day and has been on the air for over 10 years. The restructuring of the network has now reduced it to a half-hour pre-recorded program from a live one-hour show. Another key show in the station's lineup is Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, a show that focuses on issues pertaining to seniors. It features the wife of the founder of Comcast, Suzanne Roberts.
Shows broadcast on The Comcast Network) include:
Comcast Network has recently made the leap from linear television programming to Video on demand content. Original programs are available On Demand immediately following their live broadcast for viewing any time day or night for up to three days. In addition, special broadcast events are also made available On Demand for up to two weeks following their original air time. In an effort to ramp up its political coverage, Comcast Network offers local political coverage On Demand as well. Political viewers have access to Candidates On Demand, the Philadelphia Mayoral Race, Political Conventions, Presidential Debates, and President Gerald Ford’s memorial services, among others.
Comcast Network Sports produces and airs more than 200 local, regional and national sports events each year. These broadcasts include collegiate teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse; “Varsity GameNight” featuring regional high-school football and basketball match-ups and playoffs; professional and amateur sports events including boxing, figure skating, gymnastics, baseball, tennis, rodeo; and more.
CN Philadelphia carries NISL soccer games for the Philadelphia KiXX as well as select minor league baseball games, generally from the Eastern League. CN Philadelphia carries "overflow" games when at least two of the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia Union or Philadelphia 76ers play at the same time, with one of the games airing on either CSN Philadelphia or (as of 2009) WPHL-TV.
In Western Pennsylvania, the Comcast Network broadcasts live and tape delayed collegiate sports of the University of Pittsburgh, branded as Pitt Panthers Television, on channel 188 or 210.
In addition, CN Washington has carried Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards games when overflowing with Comcast SportsNet's Mid-Atlantic networks as well.
Within the last year, Comcast Network has made a big push to have more of a national presence, including the addition of a flagship studio in the Washington, DC market. Located on Capitol Hill, the studio hosts a variety of local and federal government leaders throughout the year. The network hired Robert Traynham as the Washington Bureau Chief for the network. Traynahm hosts “Roll Call TV with Robert Traynham”, CN’s show that focuses on legislative issues throughout the DC area. “Roll Call” is the first show to originate from the network's studio in the nation’s capital.
As the network is regionally-based and on cable-only in order to expand the value of a cable system, Comcast Network is unavailable via the major satellite services, though it has been made available to subscribers of Verizon FIOS. However, it is not available in High Definition for FIOS subscribers. This causes some consternation in regards to sports rights, as TCN's Philadelphia channel is not available on the pay television system for the University of Pennsylvania, which has a satellite-based system and has much of their sports content carried by TCN Philadelphia (the same issues exist for sister network CSN Philadelphia).
The network was criticized by local Boston media for forcing the public access broadcaster Brookline Access Television of Brookline, Massachusetts out of their shared space at Comcast's Brookline office and studios and forcing that provider to seek different facilities, to allow Comcast full use of the studio for CN8's New England operations until their discontinuation in 2009.
Comcast's Chicago cable systems carry a different Comcast Network, unrelated to those in Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic region called CN100. It is the home of the AHL Chicago Wolves.
Comcast Television - Available in Michigan, this channel is used mostly for infomercials and classified ads as well as occasional sports telecasts and public affairs shows.
A Comcast local channel similar to CN8 is available in the Denver area, Comcast Entertainment Television (CET).
Comcast Hometown Network is a regional cable network produced by Comcast and available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California on Digital Channel 104.
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