The University announced it had cut cable services to campus dorms at the end of the last semester. The Housing Office said the decision came because of declining cable usage and high costs.
Prior to the end of the spring semester, Murray State offered cable services through Spectrum TV, which provided students with 119 free television channels. However, as of May 31, cable services are no longer provided in campus dorms.
The Housing Office said the decision came after a significant decline in students using cable in recent years. Despite this decline, the Housing Office said it had been paying $110,000 each year to provide those services.
During the spring semester, housing leadership met with the Residential College Association to discuss the need and usage of cable TV services on campus. According to the Housing Office, no large-scale concerns about the decision to cut cable were shared, so the University went ahead with its plan to end services.
When asked how the money saved from cutting cable in dorms will affect housing rates on campus, the Housing Office said cost savings will be used to maintain housing prices at the current rate and keep rates competitive when compared to other institutions.
“The cable service subscription service totaled approximately $110,000 to the University,” The Housing Office said. “This cost savings is being used to maintain our housing rates as cost competitive for our residents when compared to many peer institutions.”.
The declining number of students using cable is in line with recent statistics regarding cable usage in the United States. According to a report by Statista, streaming now takes up 40% of TV usage in the country, with cable making up only 27%.
While the University’s decision to cut cable might not be surprising given its decline in popularity and cost to maintain, there is some concern over how well the announcement of cable cancellation was conveyed to students.
Ethan Fowler, sophomore and treasurer for the TV Club, said his problem with the cancellation was that the University informed students after the fall semester began instead of before the new semester.
“My only qualms with it is that they notified us after it had already been discontinued over the summer,” Fowler said. “I feel like if they were making the decision to cancel the cable services, they could have at least bothered to notify us at the end of the spring semester.”
The housing office said communication about cable cancellation was sent out to residents prior to the beginning of the semester. Despite the announcement, however, both the Housing Office website and housing’s frequently asked questions page list cable as a service still available on campus.
Despite this communication error, the Housing Office reported only six students inquired into cable services during the first week of the semester.
Fowler also said this decision may impact low-income students and those who cannot afford streaming services. The Housing Office, however, said it provided students who inquired about cable services with information regarding free streaming services.
