Embattled Bermuda CableVision moved yesterday to dispel myths surrounding the introduction of black converter boxes.

The black boxes are not a fire hazard nor are they ancient technology, CableVision general manager Jeremy Elmas said at a press conference.

And he said the boxes actually provide new features to cable subscribers such as parental control options and pay per view channels.

But the cable provider's plans to begin scrambling its service will not go ahead next week.

Mr. Elmas said the company has distributed some 23,000 converter boxes but must have 30,000 in place before the changeover takes place.

And Mr. Elmas claimed the change to converter boxes was made in order to meet customer demand for services.

He said that 1,300 respondents to a survey this past March told the company they were looking for more channels and new options and these are the options the converter box allows. Subscribers were also looking for better reception and the converter boxes contain a signal amplifier, Mr. Elmas said, therefore reception should also be improved.

While it was reported last week that channels 2 through 13 would be provided free of charge, Mr. Elmas said those channels will be offered in an economy package for $20 per month.

Those channels will, however, be unscrambled to allow people to continue to use the picture-in-picture functions on their televisions or to record one channel while watching another despite the converter system.

These functions will now be available in a limited capacity if the subscriber is watching or taping one channel in the unscrambled range and watching or taping one channel in the scrambled range.

It will not be possible to use the features with any two channels above 13 in conjunction however.

The boxes will also allow people to upgrade or downgrade their cable service more easily as such changes will not require a service visit to the area but will be handled out of the company's Laffan Street offices.

Cable rates will now be based on three tiers - Economy (12 channels), Deluxe (40 channels) or Super (55 channels) priced at $20, $35 and $43 per month respectively.

Five channels - TMC, HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Pay per-View - will be offered at $10 each per month. Those channels can not be added to the economy package however only the Deluxe or Super.

Beyond that, households with more than one television will have to pay $7.50 each month per converter box beyond the first one.

CableVision has also written to its subscribers explaining the changes and new fee structures and will be running a heavy ad campaign to try to regain public support. CableVision also said it hoped to have a new phone line in place which will make it easier to reach customer service people.