As of Tuesday, Charter Communications officially switched its customers from analog to all-digital service via a set-top box that is required for customers to continue receiving the cable operator's services.

Those who did not upgrade to the box by Tuesday turned on their TVs to a black screen that morning. The line of Charter customers needing assistance Monday crept out the door of the Cape Girardeau location off Silver Springs Road.

"This transition is going as anticipated," said Wes Shirley, senior manager of communications for Charter, in an email to the Southeast Missourian on Tuesday. "It's our 14th All Digital Cutover in Missouri and Illinois, and it's very similar to all the previous transitions."

Shirley said he could not provide specifics regarding what was anticipated of the transition.

Charter customers now will receive about 175 HD channels after the switch, and 200 after this summer, according to previous reports. Charter Internet customers will see their speeds double as a result of the upgrade.

Charter does not report customer counts for any type of situation, including outages, conversions or number of subscribers, Shirley said.

Pertinent address:

623 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO