Television changes may affect UIndy students
By Stephanie Snay & Kim Puckett | Staff Writer & News Editor
On Oct. 2, all Bright House Networks cable subscribers may be losing their access to WISH-TV, WNDY and WIIH, according to the Indianapolis News Station’s Web site (www.wishtv.com).
Because of a long-term contract dispute between the cable company and the CBS affiliate station, all on-campus housing and some surrounding housing, such as College Crossing at National apartment complex, could lose access to programming such as Indianapolis Colts games, CSI and Survivor.
In a statement by Bright House Networks on its automated customer service phone line, the company assures its customers that it is working with the LIN TV Corporation, which owns WISH-TV, to negotiate a contract.
“Bright House Networks is very confident that an agreement with LIN TV Corporation will be reached soon to keep local WISH-TV Channel 8 programming on our central Indiana system” the recording said. “We are hopeful that before the LIN self-imposed Oct. 2, 2008 deadline a contractual agreement will be reached.”
The Colts play the Washington Redskins on Oct. 3, the day after the deadline. If the contract is not negotiated by then, students could be missing the game.
Another change that could affect television viewers is the nationwide change to digital broadcasting. On Feb. 17, 2009, all television stations in the United States will begin broadcasting only in digital.
According to the Federal Communications Commissions’ “know how” Web site to the world of digital television (www.dtv.com), the switch to digital will be beneficial to viewers.
“DTV is an advanced broadcasting technology that will transform your experience,” the Web site says.
DTV provides better picture and sound quality than the current analog system, according to the Web site. Students who live on campus at UIndy will not have to stress over the change to digital television.
According to Nick Lopez, the operations manager of UIndy TV, televisions in the dormitories will not notice the change.
“When TV switches to digital in February 2009, UIndy will not be affected at all,” Lopez said.
On-campus TVs will not need to make any changes because all of the televisions on campus receive digital cable already through Bright House Networks.
“Bright House takes care of everything,” Lopez explained.
Even though UIndy TV won’t be affected by the change to digital, it is still doing much to prepare. The student-run station is buying HD compatible equipment and making changes to the class curriculum, according to Lopez.
“We are teaching students to shoot in high def,” said Lopez.
The switch may have an effect on students living off campus. Those who use antennas to watch television will need to buy a converter box. These boxes work by receiving digital signals and converting them to analog format to work on an analog television.
All households can get up to two coupons, before March 31, 2008. It costs $40 each to buy the converter boxes.
