On March 13, Southeast Missouri State University experienced a change in television services through Charter Communications with the upgrade from analog to digital, requiring students' TVs to be reprogrammed. The upgrade has presented some problems for several students because their TVs no longer accept the signal, forcing them to either buy a new TV, which can be expensive, or to rent one.

"Charter notified us last semester that there would be a change at some point in the year 2014, but they could not commit to when," Allan Mauk, assistant director for business operations at Southeast, said.

In late February, the university was notified that the changes were set to take place on April 15.

Charter was asked by the university if it would be possible to upgrade the listing before spring break so that students who had televisions that no longer worked would be able to purchase a new device during their break if they wanted to. This earlier date would give the university time to reprogram TVs in the lounges of residence halls and academic buildings.

In reply, Charter notified the university on March 11 that they would be able to make the changes on March 13.

With the different channels that have been added, the number of channels offered to students rose from 81 to 156.

According to the notice posted on the channel guide from residence life, the channel numbers come in tiers and "the actual channel number may be different on your TV depending on the brand and type of tuner that your TV has."

Television providers are switching their signals from analog to digital nationwide. According to Mauk, several schools in the region had received their channel changes earlier in the year and it was Cape Girardeau's turn to be upgraded.

Cape Girardeau residents will be upgraded to the new digital signal on April 15. The university was upgraded sooner as to allow students the time to find an alternative television if that was needed. Both Vandiver Hall and Henderson Hall had TVs located in their first floor lounges that would not accept the new signals and had to be replaced.

Students who have found issues with reprogramming their TVs can contact the Office of Residence Life for assistance. Rather than giving instructions over the phone, Mauk and student workers have been going door to door because every company that manufactures TVs has different ways to program the device.

"While I understand that there was no choice in changing from analog to digital, I'm still rather upset that my 2012 model TV no longer works," Vandiver Hall resident assistant Tyler Sayer said.

Students who have televisions that no longer work have a few options available to them.

Students may purchase a television that will accept the new channels, or they may rent one through the Office of Residence Life. For this semester, televisions will be offered to students who have televisions that no longer work for a pro-rated price of $20 for the rest of the semester.

"It's a brand new process. We've never offered it before," Mauk said.

The fall semester will bring rates on a per-semester basis for the TV rental program. TVs from residence life will come in 26, 32 and 42 inches. The cost on a per-semester basis will be $55, $70 and $85, respectively.

These TVs will be available to any student wishing to rent over purchasing one themselves. This rental service is similar to the micro-fridge service already offered through residence life, which allows residents to rent a micro-fridge and microwave on a per-semester basis.