It's been a long, long while since we've heard any good news on the HD expansion front from Lexington-based Insight Communications, but at long last, the carrier has emerged from the woodwork to assure us all that it's still alive and well. The firm has just announced its intentions to carry 56 high-definition channels by "early December," with a few of the newcomers to include FOX News HD, CNN HD, The History Channel HD and SciFi HD. A spokeswoman for the company admitted that most of the additions would be available at no cost, though we assume a few of 'em may fall into pay tiers. Hang tight, Insight users -- help is on the way.

Unfortunately for those in areas that used to be covered by Insight, it seems that not all of you will be blessed with the full 22 HD channels that were announced for Bloomington, IL. A new report originating from Martinsville, Indiana asserts that programming changes are looming for Comcast subscribers in and around that city. Aside from many SD networks being shuffled around and even dropped entirely, a full dozen high-def channels are slated to land on May 1st. Of course, we can't know just how far these additions will spread from Martinsville, but feel free to jump on past the break for the full list (and cross your fingers come May).

Call us looney, but asking actual subscribers which HD channels they'd like to see most seems like an... astonishingly fantastic idea. Lo and behold, Insight has gone and done exactly that by hosting a survey for its customers to submit. Essentially, it asks respondents to select the top eight channels they'd love to see added to the high-def lineup, input what zip code they're in and toss in bonus comments if the mood strikes 'em. Of course, there's nothing there saying that the carrier will be using this data to bolster its high-definition offerings, but really, why else would it bother?

[Thanks, Matthew]

Considering that every single New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays matchup will be seen in HD in their respective markets, it's understandable for Reds fans to long for more than Time Warner Cable delivered last season. During 2007, TWC failed to carry the initial 33 Cincinnati Reds games on FSN Ohio in HD, but according to Karen Baxter, public affairs director for the carrier's southwest Ohio division, it's hoping to "be able to offer the Reds in HDTV this year." Notably, Insight brought these very games to its Northern Kentucky subscribers last year in HD, making Ohio residents that much more upset to be left in the pixelated dark. Still, considering that DirecTV and DISH Network has access to all 71 FSN Ohio HDTV games, we're hoping Time Warner steps up to the proverbial plate here and gives the local Reds fans a clearer picture this go 'round -- particularly since we know the channel itself is already on the way. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

[Image courtesy of Megan Construction]

Insight Communication's right back with a followup to December's 3.0 upgrade, this time going straight to 3.2. High definition subscribers have access to Sundance, FEARnet and Starz content on demand, and digital music channels from Urge, replacing the existing Music Choice channels starting today. So now that there's some HD VOD to go with your new channels, Insight Subscribers, are you entertained?

[via Light Reading; Warning: PDF link]

Just as expected, Comcast and Insight Communications have wrapped up the so-called "Insight Midwest Transaction." With the completion, Comcast now owns 100-percent of the cable systems serving Illinois customers in Rockford / Dixon, Quincy / Macomb, Springfield, Peoria and Champaign / Urbana as well as Indiana customers in Bloomington, Anderson, and Lafayette / Kokomo. It was also noted that Insight has full ownership of cable systems in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green and Covington, Kentucky along with those in Evansville, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio. Considering just how much area this deal covers, we've all ideas a reader or two has been affected one way or another -- if that's you, drop us a comment and let us know how things are faring, would you?

For 69,000 cable subscribers in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area, December 31st will be the last day you tune into cable provided by Insight Communications. As of January 1, 2008, Comcast will be taking over hordes of customers in the Lafayette-Attica-Kokomo markets and surrounding areas, but according to Comcast spokesman Mark Apple, there won't be any "immediate changes." It was noted that no price hikes would be throw in initially, but due to promises of extra HD programming and HD VOD, we can't imagine those bills staying flat for too long. Additionally, Comcast still hasn't worked out a deal to carry the Big Ten Network, which will certainly present a problem considering the proximity of Purdue / Indiana. From the outside looking in, this takeover looks like a mixed bag, but if Comcast finally figures out a way to carry the Big Ten Network and offer up more HD options at a reasonable price, we suppose things would look quite a bit better.

Over a year after Insight Communications launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service and threw in a trio of HD channels to boot, the cable company is now giving its loyal customers five more high-definition options along with the Digital 3.0 upgrade. Reportedly, users can now tune into Discovery, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel (TLC), TBS, National Geographic and yes, even the NFL Network in glorious HD. The Digital 3.0 package will automatically be available to digital subscribers at no extra cost, but it should be noted that Insight will raise prices in January. Additionally, the operator has nearly doubled its on-demand library and includes VOD channels for HOB, Starz, Showtime, Cinemax and The Movie Channel, but we're still left with no word on any HD VOD plans.

Cable customers in Louisville and Covington, Ky.; Columbus, Ohio; and Rockford and Macomb, Ill woke up to an upgraded digital cable package today, as Insight launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service. The upgrade brings new features as well as 5 new SD channels and 3 new ones for HDTV owners: ESPN2-HD, TNT-HD and MHD. Other Insight customers should expect to have the upgrades by early November. A look at Insight's website indicates a new InsightDigital 2.0 package with HDTV and DVR, including the three new channels plus the five existing national channels (Discovery HD Theater, ESPN-HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD) for $15.95 over the basic cable rate. Our fourth grade education indicates eight is better than five, so we can't help but applaud this move. How about some HD VOD Insight?


Read - Insight adding channels, shifting channel lineup
Read - Insight to Launch Next-Generation Digital Cable Service in All Markets

Sinclair Business Group, a Baltimore-area company that owns several mid-western broadcast stations, has recently reached agreements with Insight Communications and WideOpenWest to allow them to provide their stations in high definition on their cable service. In Columbus however, Time Warner has most of the market and as yet has not reached a deal for their high definition services.

The channels now broadcasting:

• WICS/WICD (ABC 15/ABC 20) in Champaign/Springfield, IL
  
• WDKY (FOX 56) in Lexington, KY
  
• WYZZ (FOX 43) in Peoria, IL
  
• WSYX (ABC 6) and WTTE (FOX 28) in Columbus, OH (WideOpenWest also)
  
• WSTR (WB 64) in Cincinnati, OH
  
• WKEF (ABC 22) and
  
• WRGT (FOX 45) in Dayton, OH
  
• WZTV (FOX 17) and
  
• WUXP (UPN 30) in Nashville, TN and WMSN (FOX 47) in Madison, WI will also be available on a limited number of Insight cable systems in certain markets.

Sinclair indicates they will not reach deals without receiving "adequate consideration", so Time Warner subscribers, you may have those rabbit ears out for a while.