Company’s Digital TV service now available in 16 southern Minn. communities
MANKATO, Minn. – May 7, 2010 – HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) today announced it will offer Digital TV and higher-speed Internet services in Vernon Center, Minn. and Garden City, Minn. Recently, HickoryTech upgraded its broadband infrastructure within these communities to offer Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service to residents and faster high-speed DSL Internet.
"We’re excited to launch Digital TV service in Vernon Center and Garden City and offer residents a superior entertainment service and faster DSL speeds,” said Damon Dutz, president of HickoryTech's Consumer and Network Solutions Division. “Over the past few years, we’ve continued to upgrade our broadband infrastructure and expanded our Digital TV service area which is now available to more than 75 percent of the Blue Earth County population.”
“It’s clear from talking to residents they are excited for HickoryTech to offer Digital TV service,” said Bob Peterson, mayor of Vernon Center. “Previously, we didn’t have a local television service provider, so we really appreciate HickoryTech’s investment and commitment to providing broadband services in our community.”
HickoryTech will demonstrate its Digital TV service on Thursday, May 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Vernon Center Fire Hall. The event will include free food and demonstrations of HickoryTech Digital TV service.
Residents may subscribe to HickoryTech’s Digital TV as a stand-alone service or as part of a money-saving Select bundle. The signal offers a crystal-clear image and premium channel options including: sports and Hispanic tiers, pay-per-view and commercial-free music programming.
HickoryTech’s Digital TV service includes:
- Customized TV packages, allowing customers to choose their channels to create a package or subscribe to a premium package with more than 200 digital channels, including commercial-free music
- Digital Video Recorder (DVR) service
- More than 45 high-definition channels
- State-of-the-art set-top boxes – a single set-top box will support multiple video streams or televisions
- Caller ID displayed directly on the television screen
- Universal remote controls with onscreen program guide for all TVs
- Easy-to-use parental controls to block programs by specific channel or rating
Vernon Center has approximately 135 households and is located 20 miles south of Mankato, Minn., the company headquarters location. Garden City, located 15 miles south of Mankato, Minn., has approximately 115 households. HickoryTech provides Digital TV service to 16 Minnesota communities including: Amboy, Eagle Lake, Ellendale, Faribault, Garden City, Janesville, Lake Crystal, Mapleton, Mankato, New Richland, Nicollet, North Mankato, St. Peter, St. Clair, Vernon Center and Waseca.
About HickoryTech
HickoryTech Corporation (dba HickoryTech and Enventis) is a leading integrated communications provider in the markets it serves. With headquarters in Mankato, Minn., the corporation has approximately 450 employees and a regional fiber network with facilities-based operations in Minnesota and Iowa. Enventis serves businesses of all sizes across a five-state region with IP-based voice, data and network solutions. HickoryTech provides bundled residential and business services including high-speed Internet, Digital TV and voice services in its legacy telecom markets. The Company trades on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, symbol: HTCO, and is included in the Russell 2000 index. For more information, visit
www.hickorytech.com.