Cable movie-channel subscribers, surprised by a notice to call their cable company this month, have little to fear. Charter Communications, the cable company that serves Cortez, is switching from analogue to digital satellite service by December because managers say analogue service is "becoming obsolete."

HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and The Movie Channel will all now be carried by satellite. Cable subscribers do not have to buy a satellite dish to receive the service. Instead they pay a $14.95 fee to have the dish installed and Charter Communications maintains it.

"We own it, we maintain it, and if lightning strikes it, we come and fix it," said Suzi Akin, office manager for Charter Communications in Cortez.

If subscribers choose the satellite option, Charter is offering a rebate on the installation fee after four months of service.

With the new service, subscribers will receive 55 channels of cable plus 115 channels of satellite programming, which includes eight HBO channels, eight Showtime channels, four Cinemax, and four Movie channels. Previously, subscribers only received one of each of the movie channels. The satellite will also include six Discovery channels, CNNsi, international and children’s programming.

"It provides a whole lot more programming than just upgrading their premium channels — it also upgrades what channels they actually receive," said Akin.

Previously on analogue, subscribers with cable service and all four premium channels paid $56.25 per month. For 55 channels of cable, the satellite, and four movie channels, subscribers who sign a year agreement will pay $49.95 with tax, per month.