[01/03/01] Vicksburg Video patrons awoke to changes in their cable channel line-up Tuesday, including loss of the popular Weather Channel for basic service customers.

The reassignment of channel positions for various stations has come amid system-wide conversion to fiber optic lines. That means customers in different locations do not receive the same channels.

The conversion, however, is about 70 percent complete, said Bo Balch, general manager of Vicksburg Video, and the system will be uniform when it is.

Cable customers have two levels of service before premium channels. The basic level includes traditional network programs, including PBS. Basic plus tier customers receive more specialized channels.

Seven channels were changed on the non-fiber optic tier service, 18 were changed on the fiber optic tier service, and Weather Channel and TBS were deleted from basic cable service.

TBS was replaced on basic cable with UPN, which offers Mississippi sports, movies and family-style TV shows. Customers who have been switched to fiber optic service can find UPN on cable Channel 15. However, customers who do not have fiber optic service yet cannot get UPN.

TBS has been moved to tier cable service, where it can be found at fiber optic Channel 42. Customers who have not received fiber optic service can get TBS on Channel 19.

Weather Channel also was moved to tier cable service. It appears on Channel 38 for customers who have not yet received fiber optic service. Customers who are on fiber optic can find the Weather Channel at Channel 62.

Remaining on basic service now are the network channels, QVC, Sneak Preview, TV Guide, C-Span, PBS, EWTN and local access.

“These changes should have been done two years ago,” Balch said, explaining that channels such as Weather Channel and TBS are not typically offered on other basic cable services.