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Miami University is no exception for the digital television (DTV) transition and federal law requiring all cable to be broadcast digitally by June 12, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Some Miami students were upset when they couldn't access channels 2 through 7 on the Miami on-campus television channel guide last week.
First-year Torrey Schusterman had problems watching the television show Gossip Girl on the CW network Sept. 14.
"Apparently we don't get that channel anymore, and I'm really not happy about it," Schusterman said. "It's all I watch."
Schusterman said people were suddenly getting it in their rooms after "configuring their TVs."
"If you don't know how to be technological - it doesn't work," Schusterman said.
Schusterman said it took her an hour of going through the input menu on her TV before she finally started getting the channel.
"I get it now," Schusterman said. "I don't even know what I did."
Sophomore Sarah Schultz said she was able to receive these channels on her digital television.
"Not many people have (access to the top 7 channels)" Shultz said. "I was able to get (the CW), so I'm not complaining."
Schultz said she had six girls in her room Sept. 14 to watch Gossip Girl (on the CW network).
"They were all (upset) that they didn't get it," Schultz said. "I don't know why we can't get it this year but we were able to get it last year. That makes no sense to me."
According to Dave Beitz, manager of network services at Miami, channels 2 through 7 are "off-air" channels that Miami used to receive through analog cable. These six channels include NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX and CW, according to the Miami TV Channel Guide.
According to Beitz, now that all cable is digital, Miami is not receiving the first six HD channels. Channels 9 and up, however, Miami receives from dish and broadcast cable system channels.
"Those are the only ones that are the 'off air' channels that we receive through an antenna if they have a digital TV," Beitz said. "Analog TVs don't work anymore."
Beitz said students can switch their digital televisions to similar nomenclatures of off-air or antenna, as the terminology varies with different manufacturers, and Miami's system will provide those channels.
Because Miami has agreements with different stations, if the station is offering an HD signal, Miami must look into the legalities in order to rebroadcast that station as a standard definition signal, according to Beitz.
"Nothing we have here that we distribute is high definition," Beitz said. "We bring it to you in standard definition. The top six channels are HD channels, so if you have a HDTV, you can receive those in HD."
Steven Thole, director of business systems and technology, said that because of the FCC switch, these channels are no longer broadcast via analog cable. Thole noted that the CW channel in particular was available on digital channels 12.2 (CinCW), 26.1 (WBDT-HD) and 26.2 (WBDT-SD) on the Miami cable system.
Beitz said network services and the office of housing, dining, and guest services (HDGS) would be working together to "give the students what they want."
According to Beitz, HDGS will meet with Associated Student Government and the residence hall advisory council.
"(They will) get feedback on what (the students) want," Beitz said. "I'll meet with (HDGS) and come up with a plan."
HDGS and network services will focus on where the students want to go with the channels, according to Beitz. There are a limited number of channels Miami can offer, so to add one, another will need to be taken away.
"If I had something, I have to take something else away," Beitz said. "(I'm looking to) what are the students asking for, and what are they willing to lose to get that type of arrangement."
Beitz said he did not know how long the process may take, possibly weeks, a month or longer.
"We're doing what we can do here," Beitz said. "These things are dynamic. It changes here and there as the students want to see changes. We're just going to see what we can do to make this a little more straightforward for them."
