Four more channels have left Comcast analog cable television for the greener - and more expensive - pastures of Comcast digital cable.

The History Channel, Cartoon Network, ION and G4 are now available only to digital subscribers. The History Channel is on channel 177, the Cartoon Network on 126, the family-friendly ION on 286 and the video gaming channel G4 on 162.

Ten other channels have also gone digital-only in the last year.

The changes "are made in an effort to continue giving our customers the best programming available," said Comcast spokesperson Aimee Metrick.

"Analog has size limitations. It's not consumer friendly. It's quickly becoming as obsolete as rotary telephones," she said.

In February of next year, the nation will switch to an all-digital signal.

Moving channels from analog to digital makes more bandwidth available, Metrick said. The changes allowed Comcast also to offer high-definition versions of AMC, Animal Planet, CNN and the History Channel, she said.

Metrick added that 80 percent of Richmond area subscribers have a digital connection.

One of the 20 percent that does not is Roger Rippy, a Chesterfield County resident who has standard cable.

"They're gradually stripping away our channels," Rippy said. "They took away TV Guide [in December]. I love that dearly." He also said he now misses being able to watch the Cartoon Network, particularly "Family Guy."

"And we're still paying the same rate," he said. "They aren't charging us any less."

The digital packages cost more than analog choices, but Comcast's Mettrick argues that the benefits are compensatory.

Digital allows for interactive program guides, more channels, better picture and sound quality, advanced parental controls and the On Demand feature, she said.