How you see it...
How does all this television programming reach the UMass community? When the university phone system was updated in 1989, coaxial cable was routed under the campus and into 6,800 dorm rooms and 300 family housing units, and Housing Services Cable Network was created to distribute programming. Back then, only about a dozen channels were available and those were analog signals received via antenna. Today students have access to forty-five channels that are downloaded from satellites using a C-band dish and a new Direct-TV dish near Pierpont in Southwest.
Besides the usual lineup of entertainment, sports, news, and movie channels, HSCN also gives students access to UMass programming through UVC-TV19 and UMA-TV15. To save money, HSCN has created its own first-run movie channels by purchasing film rights directly from distributors and, as a public service, airs cultural awareness videos provided by the Center for Diversity and Development between movies. During UMA-TV’s off-air hours a bulletin board updates viewers about campus news and events, safety information, and even the day’s menu at the local dining commons. As technology moves forward, students may some day be able to tune in live to a guest speaker on campus or review a lecture from their rooms.
According to Dennis Bromery, telecommunications manager for housing services, the university had some initial concerns about offering cable service to dorm rooms but he says feedback has been mostly positive. A student committee advises HSCN about new programming, which is funded by the Student Government Association and housing fees. Just this year fifteen new channels were added after a student referendum, and paid for by a $10-per-semester fee increase.
