Cox overhauling HD channel lineup

Prepare to re-enable your cable Sunday, as Cox Communications rewrites its high-definition channel lineup.

Effective Sunday, the overhaul sends existing HD channels scurrying to other channel numbers, and also includes the addition of five new high-def channels: USA, Sci Fi Channel, Animal Planet, The Travel Channel and The Science Channel.

"The realignment of our HD channel lineup is going to simplify navigation," said Steve Schorr, Cox's vice president of public and government affairs, in a statement. "(It's) going to make navigation to the exact location of an HD channel very easy and intuitive for our customers."

Simplified, that means, for example, that KTNV, which is Channel 13 on basic cable, is now easier to remember on high-def as Channel 713, rather than its former assignment at Channel 732. KLAS, Channel 8, which formerly had been on high-def at Channel 730, now relocates to Channel 708.

For the remainder of local channels, KVVU Channel 5 is high-def at 705, KVBC, Channel 3 is at 703 and KLVX, Channel 10 is at 710.

Cox launched its HD lineup with eight channels in July 2002, and with the new additions, the new count is 30 channels (not counting Pay Per View, On Demand and DVR Playback).

For DVR subscribers, recordings must be canceled and reprogrammed to coincide with the new lineup. Instructions can be found online at www.cox.com/lasvegas/whatsnew. Those who incorporate HD channels into their "favorites" or "blocked channel" lists also will have to reset those features.

One non-HD channel is slated for a name change. Discovery Home and Leisure, Channel 103, will become Planet Green on Wednesday.

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.