diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/README.md b/components/ht16k33_7segment/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..877155f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_7segment/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# HT16K33 4 character 7-segment display
+
+This component supports the 4 character (plus colon) 7 segment character display.
+
+> :warning: If using this component as an external component, you need to include both `ht16k33_7segment` **and** `ht16k33_base` components.
+```yaml
+external_components:
+  source: github://ssieb/custom_components/
+  components: [ ht16k33_base, ht16k33_7segment ]
+```
+
+There are no print functions for addressing rows and columns.  With such a small display I didn't see any point.
+All the print functions without the row and column parameters are available.
+A "." will get added to the previous character as the decimal point.
+All the same parameters for the i2c display can be used other than the dimensions.
+There are also lambda functions `get_brightness` and `set_brightness` for adjusting the brightness of the display.
+You can extend the display across multiple units.
+
+The colon in the middle of the display will be lit if the print string contains a ":" at the 3rd position (e.g. 12:34).
+
+Example:
+```yaml
+i2c:
+  sda: D0
+  scl: D1
+
+display:
+  - platform: ht16k33_7segment
+    address: 0x70
+    scroll: true
+    scroll_speed: 250ms
+    scroll_dwell: 2s
+    scroll_delay: 3
+    lambda: |-
+      auto time = id(time_sensor).now();
+      it.strftime("%H:%M", time);
+```
+
+# Optional parameters
+
+`scroll:` defaults to false
+
+`scroll_speed:` is the time between each movement, default 250ms
+
+`scroll_dwell:` is the time to wait at the end before going back to the start, default 2s
+
+`scroll_delay:` is the number (float, minimum 1) of `scroll_speed` cycles to wait at the beginning before starting to scroll, default 3
+
+`secondary_display:` is a list of i2c devices where `address:` is required and `i2c_id:` is optional unless there is more than one i2c bus.
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/__init__.py b/components/ht16k33_7segment/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/display.py b/components/ht16k33_7segment/display.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..636cdba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_7segment/display.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import esphome.codegen as cg
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID
+from ..ht16k33_base.display import (
+    base_to_code,
+    CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS,
+    CONFIG_SCHEMA,
+    ht16k33_ns,
+    HT16K33BaseDisplay,
+)
+
+AUTO_LOAD = ['ht16k33_base']
+
+HT16K337SegmentDisplay =  ht16k33_ns.class_("HT16K337SegmentDisplay", HT16K33BaseDisplay)
+
+async def to_code(config):
+    instance_var = HT16K337SegmentDisplay.new()
+    var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], instance_var)
+    await base_to_code(var, config)
+
+    if CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS in config:
+        for conf in config[CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS]:
+            instance_disp = HT16K337SegmentDisplay.new()
+            disp = cg.Pvariable(conf[CONF_ID], instance_disp)
+            await i2c.register_i2c_device(disp, conf)
+            cg.add(var.add_secondary_display(disp))
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/font.h b/components/ht16k33_7segment/font.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..35738ae1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_7segment/font.h
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#pragma once
+// based on Adafruit backpack library
+
+static const uint8_t sevensegfonttable[] PROGMEM = {
+
+    0b00000000, // (space)
+    0b10000110, // !
+    0b00100010, // "
+    0b01111110, // #
+    0b01101101, // $
+    0b11010010, // %
+    0b01000110, // &
+    0b00100000, // '
+    0b00101001, // (
+    0b00001011, // )
+    0b00100001, // *
+    0b01110000, // +
+    0b00010000, // ,
+    0b01000000, // -
+    0b10000000, // .
+    0b01010010, // /
+    0b00111111, // 0
+    0b00000110, // 1
+    0b01011011, // 2
+    0b01001111, // 3
+    0b01100110, // 4
+    0b01101101, // 5
+    0b01111101, // 6
+    0b00000111, // 7
+    0b01111111, // 8
+    0b01101111, // 9
+    0b00001001, // :
+    0b00001101, // ;
+    0b01100001, // <
+    0b01001000, // =
+    0b01000011, // >
+    0b11010011, // ?
+    0b01011111, // @
+    0b01110111, // A
+    0b01111100, // B
+    0b00111001, // C
+    0b01011110, // D
+    0b01111001, // E
+    0b01110001, // F
+    0b00111101, // G
+    0b01110110, // H
+    0b00110000, // I
+    0b00011110, // J
+    0b01110101, // K
+    0b00111000, // L
+    0b00010101, // M
+    0b00110111, // N
+    0b00111111, // O
+    0b01110011, // P
+    0b01101011, // Q
+    0b00110011, // R
+    0b01101101, // S
+    0b01111000, // T
+    0b00111110, // U
+    0b00111110, // V
+    0b00101010, // W
+    0b01110110, // X
+    0b01101110, // Y
+    0b01011011, // Z
+    0b00111001, // [
+    0b01100100, //
+    0b00001111, // ]
+    0b00100011, // ^
+    0b00001000, // _
+    0b00000010, // `
+    0b01011111, // a
+    0b01111100, // b
+    0b01011000, // c
+    0b01011110, // d
+    0b01111011, // e
+    0b01110001, // f
+    0b01101111, // g
+    0b01110100, // h
+    0b00010000, // i
+    0b00001100, // j
+    0b01110101, // k
+    0b00110000, // l
+    0b00010100, // m
+    0b01010100, // n
+    0b01011100, // o
+    0b01110011, // p
+    0b01100111, // q
+    0b01010000, // r
+    0b01101101, // s
+    0b01111000, // t
+    0b00011100, // u
+    0b00011100, // v
+    0b00010100, // w
+    0b01110110, // x
+    0b01101110, // y
+    0b01011011, // z
+    0b01000110, // {
+    0b00110000, // |
+    0b01110000, // }
+    0b00000001, // ~
+    0b00000000, // del
+};
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.cpp b/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6617baf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "ht16k33_7segment.h"
+#include "font.h"
+
+#ifndef USE_ESP8266
+  #define pgm_read_word(s) (*s)
+#endif
+
+namespace esphome {
+namespace ht16k33 {
+
+static const char *TAG = "ht16k33";
+
+void HT16K337SegmentDisplay::display_() {
+  constexpr uint8_t size = 10;
+  uint8_t buffer[size];
+  uint8_t src_idx = this->offset_;
+  for (auto *display : this->displays_) {
+    for (uint8_t dst_idx = 0; dst_idx < size; dst_idx++) {
+      if (dst_idx == 4) {
+         buffer[dst_idx++] = this->show_colon_ ? 0x02 : 0;
+         buffer[dst_idx] = 0;
+      } else {
+         buffer[dst_idx] = this->buffer_[src_idx++];
+      }
+    }
+    display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR, buffer, size);
+  }
+}
+
+//void HT16K337SegmentDisplay::display_() {
+//  int offset = this->offset_;
+//  static const uint8_t size = this->display_size_();
+//  uint8_t buffer[size];
+//  memcpy(buffer, this->buffer_ + offset, 4);
+//  offset += 4;
+//  if (this->show_colon_) {
+//    buffer[4] = 0x02;
+//  } else {
+//    buffer[4] = 0;
+//  }
+//  buffer[5] = 0;
+//  memcpy(buffer + 6, this->buffer_ + offset, 4);
+//  offset += 4;
+//
+//  for (auto *display : this->displays_) {
+//    display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR, buffer, size);
+//    offset += 8;
+//  }
+//}
+
+uint16_t HT16K337SegmentDisplay::read_character_(uint8_t c) const {
+  return pgm_read_word(&sevensegfonttable[c - 32]);
+}
+
+}  // namespace ht16k33
+}  // namespace esphome
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.h b/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eccd7dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_7segment/ht16k33_7segment.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+namespace ht16k33 {
+
+class HT16K337SegmentDisplay : public HT16K33BaseDisplay {
+ protected:
+  void display_() override;
+  uint16_t read_character_(uint8_t c) const override;
+  uint16_t decimal_point_mask_() const override { return 0x80; };
+  bool supports_colon_() const override { return true; }
+};
+
+}  // namespace ht16k33
+}  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/README.md b/components/ht16k33_alpha/README.md
index 7b5ce32b..6541253d 100644
--- a/components/ht16k33_alpha/README.md
+++ b/components/ht16k33_alpha/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 # HT16K33 4 character alphanumeric display
 
+This component supports the 4 character 14 segment alphanumeric display.
+
+> :warning: If using this component as an external component, you need to include both `ht16k33_alpha` **and** `ht16k33_base` components.
+```yaml
+external_components:
+  source: github://ssieb/custom_components/
+  components: [ ht16k33_base, ht16k33_alpha ]
+```
+
 There are no print functions for addressing rows and columns.  With such a small display I didn't see any point.
 All the print functions without the row and column parameters are available.
 A "." will get added to the previous character as the decimal point.
@@ -9,7 +18,7 @@ You can extend the display across multiple units.
 
 Example:
 ```yaml
-i2c:    
+i2c:
   sda: D0
   scl: D1
 
@@ -25,7 +34,6 @@ display:
     secondary_displays:
       - address: 0x71
 ```
-
 # Optional parameters
 
 `scroll:` defaults to false
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/display.py b/components/ht16k33_alpha/display.py
index 34aefd8e..5a7d847f 100644
--- a/components/ht16k33_alpha/display.py
+++ b/components/ht16k33_alpha/display.py
@@ -1,51 +1,26 @@
 import esphome.codegen as cg
-import esphome.config_validation as cv
-from esphome.components import display, i2c
-from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_LAMBDA
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID
+from ..ht16k33_base.display import (
+    base_to_code,
+    CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS,
+    CONFIG_SCHEMA,
+    ht16k33_ns,
+    HT16K33BaseDisplay,
+)
 
-DEPENDENCIES = ['i2c']
+AUTO_LOAD = ['ht16k33_base']
 
-ht16k33_alpha_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace('ht16k33_alpha')
-HT16K33AlphaDisplay = ht16k33_alpha_ns.class_('HT16K33AlphaDisplay', cg.PollingComponent, i2c.I2CDevice)
-
-CONF_SCROLL = "scroll"
-CONF_SCROLL_SPEED = "scroll_speed"
-CONF_SCROLL_DWELL = "scroll_dwell"
-CONF_SCROLL_DELAY = "scroll_delay"
-CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS = "secondary_displays"
-
-CONFIG_SECONDARY = cv.Schema({
-    cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(i2c.I2CDevice)
-}).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(None))
-
-CONFIG_SCHEMA = display.BASIC_DISPLAY_SCHEMA.extend({
-    cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(HT16K33AlphaDisplay),
-    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL, default=False): cv.boolean,
-    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_SPEED, default='250ms'): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
-    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_DWELL, default='2s'): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
-    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_DELAY, default='3'): cv.float_range(min=1),
-    cv.Optional(CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS): cv.ensure_list(CONFIG_SECONDARY),
-}).extend(cv.polling_component_schema('1s')).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(0x70))
+HT16K33AlphaDisplay = ht16k33_ns.class_("HT16K33AlphaDisplay", HT16K33BaseDisplay)
 
 async def to_code(config):
-    var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
-    await cg.register_component(var, config)
-    await display.register_display(var, config)
-    await i2c.register_i2c_device(var, config)
+    instance_var = HT16K33AlphaDisplay.new()
+    var = cg.Pvariable(config[CONF_ID], instance_var)
+    await base_to_code(var, config)
 
-    if CONF_LAMBDA in config:
-        lambda_ = await cg.process_lambda(config[CONF_LAMBDA],
-                                          [(HT16K33AlphaDisplay.operator('ref'), 'it')],
-                                          return_type=cg.void)
-        cg.add(var.set_writer(lambda_))
-    if config[CONF_SCROLL]:
-        cg.add(var.set_scroll(True))
-        cg.add(var.set_scroll_speed(config[CONF_SCROLL_SPEED]))
-        cg.add(var.set_scroll_dwell(config[CONF_SCROLL_DWELL]))
-        cg.add(var.set_scroll_delay(int(config[CONF_SCROLL_DELAY] * config[CONF_SCROLL_SPEED].total_milliseconds)))
     if CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS in config:
         for conf in config[CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS]:
-            disp = cg.new_Pvariable(conf[CONF_ID])
+            instance_disp = HT16K33AlphaDisplay.new()
+            disp = cg.Pvariable(conf[CONF_ID], instance_disp)
             await i2c.register_i2c_device(disp, conf)
             cg.add(var.add_secondary_display(disp))
 
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/font.h b/components/ht16k33_alpha/font.h
index 4b783f4f..6caba428 100644
--- a/components/ht16k33_alpha/font.h
+++ b/components/ht16k33_alpha/font.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+#pragma once
 // based on Adafruit backpack library
 
-static const uint16_t alphafonttable[] PROGMEM =  {
+static const uint16_t alphafonttable[] PROGMEM = {
 0b0000000000000000, // 0 = space
 0b0000000000000001, // 1 = seg A
 0b0000000000000010, // 2 = seg B
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.cpp b/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..617aa41f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#include "esphome/core/log.h"
+#include "esphome/core/hal.h"
+#include "ht16k33_alpha.h"
+#include "font.h"
+
+#ifndef USE_ESP8266
+  #define pgm_read_word(s) (*s)
+#endif
+
+namespace esphome {
+namespace ht16k33 {
+
+static const char *TAG = "ht16k33";
+
+void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::display_() {
+  int offset = this->offset_;
+  for (auto *display : this->displays_) {
+    display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR, this->buffer_ + offset, 8);
+    offset += 8;
+  }
+}
+
+uint16_t HT16K33AlphaDisplay::read_character_(uint8_t c) const {
+  return pgm_read_word(&alphafonttable[c]);
+}
+
+}  // namespace ht16k33
+}  // namespace esphome
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.h b/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d302746f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_alpha.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "../ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.h"
+
+namespace esphome {
+namespace ht16k33 {
+
+class HT16K33AlphaDisplay : public HT16K33BaseDisplay {
+ protected:
+  void display_() override;
+  uint16_t read_character_(uint8_t c) const override;
+  uint16_t decimal_point_mask_() const override { return 0x4000; }
+  bool supports_colon_() const override { return false; }
+};
+
+}  // namespace ht16k33
+}  // namespace esphome
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_base/README.md b/components/ht16k33_base/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2d7b8657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_base/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# HT16K33 4 character display base component
+
+This component provides the common functionality for both the 4 character 14 segment alphanumeric display and the 4 character (plus colon) 7 segment character display. It cannot be used as standalone. Use the ``ht16k33_alpha`` or ``ht16k33_7segment`` components instead.
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_base/__init__.py b/components/ht16k33_base/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_base/display.py b/components/ht16k33_base/display.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6af2242f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ht16k33_base/display.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import esphome.codegen as cg
+import esphome.config_validation as cv
+from esphome.components import display, i2c
+from esphome.const import CONF_ID, CONF_LAMBDA
+from esphome.const import __version__ as ESPHOME_VERSION
+
+DEPENDENCIES = ['i2c']
+
+ht16k33_ns = cg.esphome_ns.namespace('ht16k33')
+HT16K33BaseDisplay = ht16k33_ns.class_('HT16K33BaseDisplay', cg.PollingComponent, i2c.I2CDevice)
+
+CONF_SCROLL = "scroll"
+CONF_SCROLL_SPEED = "scroll_speed"
+CONF_SCROLL_DWELL = "scroll_dwell"
+CONF_SCROLL_DELAY = "scroll_delay"
+CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS = "secondary_displays"
+
+
+CONFIG_SECONDARY = cv.Schema({
+    cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(i2c.I2CDevice)
+}).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(None))
+
+CONFIG_SCHEMA = display.BASIC_DISPLAY_SCHEMA.extend({
+    cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(HT16K33BaseDisplay),
+    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL, default=False): cv.boolean,
+    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_SPEED, default='250ms'): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_DWELL, default='2s'): cv.positive_time_period_milliseconds,
+    cv.Optional(CONF_SCROLL_DELAY, default='3'): cv.float_range(min=1),
+    cv.Optional(CONF_SECONDARY_DISPLAYS): cv.ensure_list(CONFIG_SECONDARY),
+}).extend(cv.polling_component_schema('1s')).extend(i2c.i2c_device_schema(0x70))
+
+async def base_to_code(var, config):
+    if cv.Version.parse(ESPHOME_VERSION) < cv.Version.parse("2023.12.0"):
+        await cg.register_component(var, config)
+    await display.register_display(var, config)
+    await i2c.register_i2c_device(var, config)
+
+    if CONF_LAMBDA in config:
+        lambda_ = await cg.process_lambda(config[CONF_LAMBDA],
+                                          [(HT16K33BaseDisplay.operator('ref'), 'it')],
+                                          return_type=cg.void)
+        cg.add(var.set_writer(lambda_))
+    if config[CONF_SCROLL]:
+        cg.add(var.set_scroll(True))
+        cg.add(var.set_scroll_speed(config[CONF_SCROLL_SPEED]))
+        cg.add(var.set_scroll_dwell(config[CONF_SCROLL_DWELL]))
+        cg.add(var.set_scroll_delay(int(config[CONF_SCROLL_DELAY] * config[CONF_SCROLL_SPEED].total_milliseconds)))
+
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.cpp b/components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.cpp
similarity index 66%
rename from components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.cpp
rename to components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.cpp
index 1ce26c19..381279fc 100644
--- a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.cpp
+++ b/components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.cpp
@@ -2,25 +2,18 @@
 #include "esphome/core/hal.h"
 #include "esphome/core/helpers.h"
 #include "ht16k33_display.h"
-#include "font.h"
-
-#ifndef USE_ESP8266
-  #define pgm_read_word(s) (*s)
-#endif
 
 namespace esphome {
-namespace ht16k33_alpha {
+namespace ht16k33 {
 
-static const char *TAG = "ht16k33_alpha";
+static const char *TAG = "ht16k33";
 
-// First set bit determines command, bits after that are the data.
-static const uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR = 0x00;
-static const uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_SYSTEM_SETUP = 0x21;
-static const uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DISPLAY_OFF = 0x80;
-static const uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DISPLAY_ON = 0x81;
-static const uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DIMMING = 0xE0;
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::dump_config() {
+  ESP_LOGCONFIG(TAG, "HT16K33 Display:");
+  LOG_I2C_DEVICE(this);
+}
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::setup() {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::setup() {
   for (auto *display : this->displays_) {
     display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_SYSTEM_SETUP, nullptr, 0);
     display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_DISPLAY_ON, nullptr, 0);
@@ -29,7 +22,7 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::setup() {
   memset(this->buffer_, 0, 64);
 }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::loop() {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::loop() {
   unsigned long now = millis();
   int numc = this->displays_.size() * 8;
   // check if the buffer has shrunk past the current position since last update
@@ -55,17 +48,9 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::loop() {
   }
 }
 
-float HT16K33AlphaDisplay::get_setup_priority() const { return setup_priority::PROCESSOR; }
+float HT16K33BaseDisplay::get_setup_priority() const { return setup_priority::PROCESSOR; }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::display_() {
-  int offset = this->offset_;
-  for (auto *display : this->displays_) {
-    display->write_bytes(DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR, this->buffer_ + offset, 8);
-    offset += 8;
-  }
-}
-
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::update() {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::update() {
   memset(this->buffer_, 0, 64);
   int prev_fill = this->buffer_fill_;
   this->buffer_fill_ = 0;
@@ -77,7 +62,7 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::update() {
   this->display_();
 }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::set_brightness(float level) {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::set_brightness(float level) {
   int val = (int) round(level * 16);
   if (val < 0)
     val = 0;
@@ -94,13 +79,15 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::set_brightness(float level) {
   }
 }
 
-float HT16K33AlphaDisplay::get_brightness() {
+float HT16K33BaseDisplay::get_brightness() {
   return this->brightness_ / 16.0;
 }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::print(const char *str) {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::print(const char *str) {
   uint8_t pos = this->buffer_fill_;
+  uint8_t idx = 1;
   uint16_t fontc = 0;
+  this->show_colon_ = false;
   while (*str != '\0') {
     if (pos >= 64) {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "output buffer full!");
@@ -111,21 +98,28 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::print(const char *str) {
     if (c > 127)
       fontc = 0;
     else
-      fontc = pgm_read_word(&alphafonttable[c]);
+      fontc = read_character_(c);
     c = *reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t *>(str);
     if (c == '.') {
-      fontc |= 0x4000;
+      fontc |= decimal_point_mask_();
+      str++;
+      idx++;
+    }
+    if (c == ':' && idx == 2 && this->supports_colon_()) {
+      this->show_colon_ = true;
       str++;
+      idx++;
     }
     this->buffer_[pos++] = fontc & 0xff;
     this->buffer_[pos++] = fontc >> 8;
+    idx++;
   }
   this->buffer_fill_ = pos;
 }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::print(const std::string &str) { this->print(str.c_str()); }
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::print(const std::string &str) { this->print(str.c_str()); }
 
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::printf(const char *format, ...) {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::printf(const char *format, ...) {
   va_list arg;
   va_start(arg, format);
   char buffer[64];
@@ -136,7 +130,7 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::printf(const char *format, ...) {
 }
 
 #ifdef USE_TIME
-void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::strftime(const char *format, ESPTime time) {
+void HT16K33BaseDisplay::strftime(const char *format, ESPTime time) {
   char buffer[64];
   size_t ret = time.strftime(buffer, sizeof(buffer), format);
   if (ret > 0)
@@ -144,6 +138,6 @@ void HT16K33AlphaDisplay::strftime(const char *format, ESPTime time) {
 }
 #endif
 
-}  // namespace ht16k33_alpha
+}  // namespace ht16k33
 }  // namespace esphome
 
diff --git a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.h b/components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.h
similarity index 67%
rename from components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.h
rename to components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.h
index cf983f39..af034a72 100644
--- a/components/ht16k33_alpha/ht16k33_display.h
+++ b/components/ht16k33_base/ht16k33_display.h
@@ -10,11 +10,19 @@
 #endif
 
 namespace esphome {
-namespace ht16k33_alpha {
+namespace ht16k33 {
 
-class HT16K33AlphaDisplay : public PollingComponent, public i2c::I2CDevice {
+// First set bit determines command, bits after that are the data.
+constexpr uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_SET_DDRAM_ADDR = 0x00;
+constexpr uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_SYSTEM_SETUP = 0x21;
+constexpr uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DISPLAY_OFF = 0x80;
+constexpr uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DISPLAY_ON = 0x81;
+constexpr uint8_t DISPLAY_COMMAND_DIMMING = 0xE0;
+
+class HT16K33BaseDisplay : public PollingComponent, public i2c::I2CDevice {
  public:
-  void set_writer(std::function<void(HT16K33AlphaDisplay &)> &&writer) { this->writer_ = std::move(writer); }
+  void set_writer(std::function<void(HT16K33BaseDisplay &)> &&writer) { this->writer_ = std::move(writer); }
+  void dump_config() override;
   void setup() override;
   void loop() override;
   float get_setup_priority() const override;
@@ -43,10 +51,14 @@ class HT16K33AlphaDisplay : public PollingComponent, public i2c::I2CDevice {
  protected:
   void command_(uint8_t value);
   void call_writer() { this->writer_(*this); }
-  void display_();
+
+  virtual void display_() = 0;
+  virtual uint16_t read_character_(uint8_t c) const = 0;
+  virtual uint16_t decimal_point_mask_() const = 0;
+  virtual bool supports_colon_() const =0;
 
   std::vector<i2c::I2CDevice *> displays_ {this};
-  std::function<void(HT16K33AlphaDisplay &)> writer_;
+  std::function<void(HT16K33BaseDisplay &)> writer_;
   bool scroll_ {false};
   unsigned long scroll_speed_ {250};
   unsigned long scroll_dwell_ {2000};
@@ -56,7 +68,8 @@ class HT16K33AlphaDisplay : public PollingComponent, public i2c::I2CDevice {
   int buffer_fill_ {0};
   int offset_ {0};
   uint8_t brightness_ = 16;
+  bool show_colon_ {false};
 };
 
-}  // namespace ht16k33_alpha
+}  // namespace ht16k33
 }  // namespace esphome