Analog Cable Retires In Favor of Digital Upgrades

At the end of July, Ohio State upgraded all university cable service to digital broadcasting and will no longer provide access to analog cable channels. Customers will not experience any interruption to cable television services. This should offer customers several benefits:

• Better quality picture with no increase in cost;
• Nearly three times the number of channels – moving from 50 analog channels to 160 digital/high-definition channels); and
• Reduced cost for some customers, as many clients will no longer need to rent a set-top box and/or a DVR unit.

The analog channels you currently access will be available on our digital line-ups. You can visit our website to view channel line-ups for your location. Your television may needs to re-scan for channels before it can broadcast programming on the digital channels; check your owners’ manual for details.

This update does not affect cable television service at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Background

As some may well, while others may be too young to remember, in 2008 the United States began its digital television transition, also called the digital switchover, the analog switch-off (ASO) or the analog shutdown. The shut-off was an international effort to convert older, analog television broadcasting to digital television. It began with “terrestrial television,” which are broadcasts you can pick up with a TV antenna. Discontinuing analog channels on campus aligns with the next step of this transition, as the industry moves to shut down analog cable and satellite television and converting to digital broadcasts.

Getting Help

If you have further questions about this transition, please contact the IT Service Desk at 614-688-4357 (HELP) or by signing in online at go.osu.edu/it.