Some Haverhill seniors are upset that Comcast has taken some of their favorite channels out of ther basic cable service.

"They're charging us the same amount, but we're losing channels," said Eva Jarman of Haverhill during a recent visit to the Citizen Center. "We should have some say in what we're getting.

"There was no announcement," said Bobbie Wentworth of Haverhill. "You just woke up one morning and they were gone."

One of the most notable losses has been the Christian programming on Channel 56, which provides many homebound seniors a chance to see the Catholic Mass from home.

"I know a lot of people who depend on that channel to watch Mass," Jarman said, "and now they can't get it."

To continue to watch Channel 56 and about five other networks that were moved out of Comcast's extended basic service, customers will have to upgrade to a digital cable box. For some, the monthly fee for the digital box to view the channels is prohibitive.

"If you're on a fixed income, some people would have to think twice," Jarman said.

Jim Hughes, a spokesman for the city's cable provider, said that like other media companies, Comcast is in the position of having to balance the needs of customers who are clamoring for the latest trends with those of customers who like things the way they are.

Hughes said a majority of customers are asking for more digital and high definition programming, more on-demand services, and other new technologies.

"The customers are the most important thing, so we hope to continue to give them the services they want," Hughes said.

As more customer move over to digital, the need continues to grow, but the company is limited by analog services.

An analog channel takes up as much space on the airwaves as 10 digital channels or three high-definition channels, so Comcast hopes more customers will take advantage of digital offerings.

"A good analogy is that of a record," said Hughes. "Albums were much bigger, than CDs, but held less information."

The company decides what channels are moved through customer input and contractual obligations.

Channel 56 in Haverhill, for example, was shared by Christian networks EWTN, Inspiration and BCTV. By moving them up the dial to their digital programming, Comcast saves enough space to now offer EWTN and BCTV their own channels.

According to Hughes, the move of CN8, TruTV, MSNBC and the TV Guide channel out of extended basic service was purely a business decision. Competitors everywhere are offering more digital choices and Comcast wants to be at the forefront, a decision that most of their customers are happy with, Hughes said.

Before a channel is moved, Hughes explained that they send out notices with their bills and run a channel crawl, a note that scrolls across the bottom of the screen, to alert customers of any changes.

Comcast's extended basic cable package, an analog-based transmission, and the digital starter package actually cost the same amount, Hughes said. The only difference is that to have the digital starter package, a cable box is required that costs an additional $3.95 per month.

This amount of money might not affect some families, but for Haverhill residents on a fixed income, like many seniors, the $4 might not be possible.

For this reason, and to encourage customers to experience digital cable, Comcast will waive the cost of renting the cable box for on year for people who choose to upgrade from extended basic, Hughes said. The $4 fee would begin once the year ended, however.

The move to change channels is not connected to the digital transition coming in February 2009, Hughes said.

That is when all transmissions over federal airwaves will be converted to digital, meaning televisions that get their signal from an antenna will no longer work.

Hughes said that all customers will still get cable, even if they don't have a cable box. Comcast has decided to downgrade the signals when airwaves go digital so their customers without a digital cable box can still enjoy television.