WATERLOO - Mediacom has expanded its high-definition roster, but at the cost of at least one channel.

The cable television company has added five more channels to the company's HDTV Family Cable lineup, giving viewers high-definition reception for CNN, TBS, The History Channel, A&E and The Sci-Fi Channel.

"These cable networks consistently attract large audiences and offer a broad selection of programming," said Doug Frank, regional vice president for Mediacom.

As a result, Encore MoviePlex, channel 40, has been pulled.

"It's expensive," said Phyllis Peters, Mediacom communications director.

The changes reflect consumer demand, she said, adding that despite economic belt-tightening, customers continue to buy high-definition televisions. More sports programming in early fall preceded the latest high-definition expansion.

"(Customers) want all the very best whistles and bells that a beautiful high-definition television provides with picture and sound," Peters said. "It'd be silly not to have the programming as well."

Most people subscribe to HDTV Family Cable, which carries the new HD programming at no additional cost, Peters said.

To receive HD reception, a customer must have an HDTV set and lease an HD converter box or cable card from Mediacom. TVs with built-in tuners can directly receive HD signals from local broadcast stations. To receive signals from cable networks, viewers need the HD cable box, which Mediacom leases.

The new HD channels include TBS HD, channel 836; CNN HD, channel 837; A&E HD, channel 847; History HD, channel 848; and Sci-Fi HD, channel 839. Other HD channels, including all local broadcast stations and major sports channels, are located between channels 803 and 850.

Mediacom's launch of the new channels affects a dozen communities in a 12-county radius around Waterloo.

Expect additional HD channels within the next few weeks.

For more information on Mediacom's services, call (800) 222-5388 or visit www.mediacomcable.com.

Contact Tina Hinz at (319) 291-1484

or tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com.