In eight days, over half a million Oregon and Southwest Washington residents will be subscribers to something they've never heard of before: Xfinity. Comcast's residential television, internet and voice products will bear that new name in eleven markets, including Portland and the entire stretch of service from Longview, Washington to Eugene. The rest of the country will make the switch over the coming year.

Portland was the first market where Comcast converted to digital service, and the Xfinity name is intended to communicate that difference and more, said Comcast CEO Brian Roberts on yesterday's earnings call. "I think we are giving a better and better service experience," he said.

The renaming also introduces a new brand between consumers and Comcast, with Comcast remaining the name at the top of customers' bills. Comcast's beleaguered brand placed second in Consumerist's Worst Company in America surveys in 2008 and 2009, surpassed only by economic disasters AIG and Countrywide Financial, which have also rebranded. Comcast didn't mention any negative associations with its brand in its earnings call.

The Xfinity name will also be added to Fancast, the company's online video service. Comcast customers will retain their existing comcast.net email addresses.

OMC receives a press release from KOHD Bend:

KOHD-TV, Central Oregon’s ABC station, has agreed to carriage terms with The Dish Network, and will be available for DISH subscribers sometime during the month of July. Subscribers will need to call The Dish Network to get KOHD and any other available local stations as early as July 8th.

“This has been a long time coming”, says Jerry Upham, KOHD General Manager. “The local stations have been seeking carriage for years, and now finally some of the satellite subscribers in Central Oregon will be able to get their local news, sports and weather via their subscription if they so desire”.

KOHD will be available on The DISH Network Channel 9 in standard definition. At this time, there is no official word from DirecTv on if or when they will carry KOHD, or any of the other local channels.

“We are hopeful that DirecTv will follow DISH and make KOHD available sometime soon”, adds Upham.

KOHD can also be seen over-the-air on digital channel 51-1, and analog Channel 53. On cable, KOHD is carried by Bend Broadband on channel 9 (and 609 for HD subscribers), Chambers Cable (Sunriver) Channel 9, and Crestview Cable (Madras, Prinevelle and LaPine) Channel 9.

For more information, please contact Bryan Johnson, Director of Creative Services for KOHD, at bjohnsonkohd [dot] com.

It appears other Bend stations may be going on Dish as well.