How to Use On Demand From Comcast

Comcast is one of the five biggest suppliers of cable TV, Internet and phone service in the country. Many of their customers have access to Comcast's extensive On Demand service. On Demand makes it easy to watch a large number of free shows, events and movies, all at your convenience. With just one click of your remote, you are the programmer of your own TV channel supplied by Comcast.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Turn on your TV and your Comcast digital cable box. Access On Demand by either going to Channel 1 on your cable TV or pressing the On Demand button on your remote. (Newer remotes feature a large, rectangular button near the top that's marked "On Demand.") This button will bring you directly to the On Demand channel, where you can start selecting and watching video. You can start, stop, pause and fast-forward through commercials on any program you choose.

2. Once you are on the On Demand channel, take a look at the main menu. This is your jumping-off point. From here, you can use the arrows on your remote to choose any content available to you. The categories include (but aren't limited to) TV entertainment, free movies, movies and events. Spend some time peeking into each section before settling on what you want. A wide variety of content is available.

3. Watch free entertainment. The "Free Movie" section provides a wide selection of Hollywood movies at no charge, and the "TV Entertainment" area offers non-subscription cable channels like TBS, TNT and FX. In the "Life and Home" section, many cable networks offer free tips and advice. Martha Stewart has her own section with tips and tricks for becoming a domestic diva. There is an election section where you can get advice on an upcoming political contest, and a news section where you can get caught up on a local channel's news broadcasts.

4. Rent a movie. New DVD releases are available every Tuesday. Movies cost about $5 each the rental lasts for 24 hours, so you can stop, start or pause the film at your convenience during that time frame. You can even watch the movie over and over again if you want. Comcast keeps its movie selection current, and even offers smaller, independent movies that are currently in theaters. On Demand saves you a trip to the video store, and eliminates the disappointment of a new release being out of stock. The rental charge is simply added to your bill at the end of the month.

5. Watch a program you started but couldn't finish. Any program you choose to watch--whether if it is a rental movie or free TV show--is available for 24 hours. So if you decide you can't finish a program you have started, you can go back within 24 hours to your "Saved Programs" section (usually the last section listed in On Demand) and restart that program where you left off. If you choose to watch a free program and you wait longer than the 24 hours to go back and resume the video, you will have to reselect it from the main menu and start the program over again, or fast-forward to the place where you left off.

Tips & Warnings

• Check back often; content is frequently updated.
• On Demand can become addicting, so watch out for excessive use.
• Not all channels or programs are offered through On Demand.

Resources

• Comcast