Cable TV: Frequently Asked Questions

About Cable TV

• What cable TV services does GEUS offer?
• What kind of programming is included in Economy Service?
• What features are available with Economy Plus Service?
• What's available for Digital Service?
• What are the optional HDTV and DVR features?
• Will I need a set top box on my TV?
• Will my cable TV and High Speed Internet service come in on the same line?
• Can I hook up more than one TV?
• How much does GEUS cable TV cost?

About Cable HDTV

• What is HDTV?
• Do I need a new television set to watch HDTV?
• What's different about HDTV versus the existing signals?
• I have heard that there are two HDTV formats — 720p and 1080p. Is there a difference between these formats and can my television receive both these formats?
• Will HDTV replace standard television?

Get Cable TV

• How do I sign up for GEUS cable TV service?
• Click here for Cable TV Online Users Manual

What cable TV services does GEUS offer?

• Economy Theater
• Economy Plus Theater
• Digital Theater
• Digital Plus Theater
• HDTV & DVR Package
• Premium Channels
  • HBO
  • Showtime/The Movie Channel
  • Cinemax
  • Encore/Starz
• Pay-Per View TV

What kind of programming is included in Economy Theater?

• Dallas broadcast channels (2-22)
  
• Weather channel
  
• Local swap & shop channel
  
• Public Education Government
  
• Available to every TV in your home (no additional equipment needed)

What features are available with Economy Plus Theater?

• 77 cable channels
  
• "GEUS 34" local programming
  
• Available to every TV in your home (no additional equipment needed)

What's available for Digital Theater?

• 121 digital cable channels
  
• On-screen programming guide
  
• 38 Digital music channels
  
• Pricing includes one digital receiver box. Additional receivers can be obtained for $4.95/month.
  
• Other TVs in the household without a receiver will receive Economy Plus Service.
  
• Optional digital features

What are the optional HDTV and DVR features?

• 26 High Definaition TV stations (Listing)
• Advanced dual-tuner digital video recorder (DVR), recording of one channel while watching another
• Wide screen picture format
• Picture in picture
  

Will I need a set top box on my TV?

If your TV set is cable-ready, no box is needed for Economy Theater or Economy Plus Theater service. A box is required for digital programming.

Will my cable TV and High Speed Internet service come in on the same line?

Yes. Only one line will come into to your house. A splitter will be mounted on the outside of your home. Multiple cables can be routed from this splitter.

Can I hook up more than one TV?

GEUS Cable Services allow you to hook up more than one TV. Any TV you wish to receive digital service will require a converter box. Additional digital receivers are available for a small monthly charge.

How much does GEUS cable TV cost?

Economy Theater Service is the least expensive service. GEUS offers low-cost lifeline rates for Economy Theater Service. Economy Theater Plus Service offers more channels and features at a slightly higher cost. For a complete list of services and pricing visit the Cable TV Line up web page.

What is HDTV?

High-definition television is a new format for broadcasting TV programming. The signals in HDTV are digital, like the images created by a digital camera.

Do I need a new television set to watch HDTV?

Yes. You must have a high-definition tuner and monitor to properly decode and display HDTV signals. Currently, HDTV programs are also broadcast in standard format. Your regular television set ignores the HDTV signals and shows the standard image you are used to seeing. To view the digital signals for HDTV, you will need a TV set designed to receive and display them.

What's different about HDTV versus the existing signals?

HDTV is a digital signal that produces crystal clear, noise-free pictures and CD quality digital sound. (For the techies: there are about 20 megabits per second of information per broadcast channel.)

HDTV has many viewer benefits:

• Wide screen format
  Traditional TVs use a 4 by 3 aspect ratio. The screen is 4 units wide by 3 units high. Movies use a much wider picture, which leads to cropping (losing the sides of the picture) when you view a movie on TV. HDTV uses a 16 by 9 aspect ratio, making a wider picture. There is less cropping so you see more of the movie !
• Picture Resolution
  Resolution is a measure of picture sharpness. HDTV offers resolution that is at least twice that of analog television for razor sharp images.
• Digital Sound
  Just as your CDs sound better than your old audiocassette tapes, HDTV's digital audio signal sounds better than standard television's analog sound. Also, some HDTV programs include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

I have heard that there are two HDTV formats — 720p and 1080p. Is there a difference between these formats and can my television receive both these formats?

Regardless of the HDTV format being broadcast, all new HDTV receivers can receive both formats. New HDTV televisions convert the received signal to a format that is compatible with your new display.

Will HDTV replace standard television?

Not immediately. TV stations will continue to broadcast programs in the standard format for at least the next several years. However, the federal government is urging broadcasters and consumers to adopt the new format. Over the next few years television networks will add more digital broadcasting to their offerings until the final switch is made.

How do I sign up for GEUS cable TV service?

It's easy! Just call (903) 457-2800 to subscribe to GEUS Cable TV.

GEUS Cable Television brings you the best in TV programming at a price you can afford. GEUS now offers High Definition TV with Digital Video Recording (DVR).

Watch a Flash demonstration of how the digital video recording system works.

Check the listings below for your favorite channel line-up now available in HDTV.

Cable TV Online Users Manual