Charter 2000 Annual Report Download - page 14

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS 12
MOVING FAST, BEATING TARGETS
FOR DIGITAL DEPLOYMENT
In the year 2000, Charter far surpassed targets for
the deployment of digital services. We began the year
with 155,400 Charter Digital Cable customers on a
pro forma basis for acquisitions completed in 2000.
We set a goal to increase that number by 10,000 new
digital customers per week. We surpassed that goal,
adding an average of 17,500 digital customers per
week. By the end of the year 2000, we served more
than 1 million digital customers, and we hope to
double that number by the end of 2001.
We drive digital growth with targeted marketing
and attractive pricing. To ensure that our customers
don’t have to wait for installation of digital or data serv-
ice, even with high demand, we initiated innovative
solutions such as the “DigiSwap” program. This pro-
gram, which was rolled out in many of our markets,
provides employees overtime pay and
commissions to work after hours and
on weekends to install digital set tops.
This enables us to step up our instal-
lation rate as demand increases.
Why the hurry? Because the
digital product offers improved serv-
ices, greater value, and higher cus-
tomer satisfaction. Digital receivers
provide access to a robust program-
ming lineup and interactive services for
our customers. In short, the tech-
nological transition from analog
to digital cable is very much like
the transition from rotary to touch
tone telephone service – providing
enhanced services at our fingertips.
RAPID GROWTH IN HIGH-SPEED
INTERNET SERVICE TOO
In 2000, we also drove rapid growth in our high-speed
Internet service, Charter Pipeline. In fact, we nearly
tripled the number of 1999 pro forma data customers,
from 84,400 to 252,400 at the end of 2000. We sur-
passed our goal of averaging 2,500 new data customers
per week during 2000 by nearly 30 percent.
Charter Pipeline cable modem service allows cus-
tomers to surf the Net at speeds many times faster than
a 28.8 kilobit telephone modem, so they can access web
sites and download files faster. Charter Pipeline is an
always-on broadband Internet connection – there’s no
dial-up, no waiting.
At the beginning of 2001, approximately 57 per-
cent of our customers had access to the two-way inter-
active broadband capacity necessary for high-speed data
service. In 2001 we’re putting even greater focus on
promoting Charter Pipeline and
expect to double the number of
customers again by year-end. By that
time, as a result of our continuing
upgrade program, 71 percent of
our network will be provisioned
to deploy high-speed data service.
By bundling our high-speed
data service with digital cable, we
can offer discounts to our customers.
Providing more than one quality
service also increases customer
loyalty and serves as a catalyst for
new customer growth.
DELIVERING ON THE VISION
Serving more than a million
digital customers
We’re aggressively rolling out our digital video service, the launch
pad for a range of advanced interactive services.
1,200
900
600
300
In 2000, we exceeded our goal of
adding 10,000 new digital customers
per week, adding an average of 17,500
per week for the whole year. We’re
on track toward 2 million digital
customers by year-end 2001.
2000 Digital Customers
(In thousands)
1Q(00)4Q(99) 2Q(00) 3Q(00) 4Q(00)
1,070