Monday, June 2, 2008
Lawrence residents with Sunflower Broadband began seeing changes to their favorite TV channels early Monday. Sunflower Broadband made its digital transition complete, now providing 247 channels of digital, premium and high-definition quality to customers. However, not all transitions have been smooth.
Apartment complexes around Lawrence that provide tenants with cable specials have been working with Sunflower Broadband to continue to provide cable service to residents in light of the transition.
Residents must have either a digital TV or digital cable transition box in order to view the new digital cable channels and may need to upgrade cable services from limited basic cable to expanded basic cable.
“We have been absolutely trying everything to work with our apartments over the past few months to accommodate the transition,” said Patrick Knorr, Sunflower Broadband general manager. “We are a bit stuck right now. Not everyone is happy with the options.”
Cable subscribers who do not have digital capabilities will still be able to view 37 channels that Sunflower provides in analog format. However, some channels residents previously had may no longer be available.
While Knorr estimates only about 10 percent of their customers are unsatisfied with the new options, local apartment complexes like The Reserve, 2511 W. 31st St., whose cable service is included in tenants’ rent, are still in negotiations with the cable company.
“Part of the process we are going through is in an effort to make sure that we provide residents with quality cable service that meets and hopefully exceeds their needs,” said Kelli Scheuerman, community manager at The Reserve.
Sunflower Broadband installed optional digital cable boxes to The Reserve residents last August. For those apartment complexes who did not receive digital boxes, Sunflower will provide one digital converter box for free for 12 months. Additional boxes must be rented from Sunflower. Negotiations will continue for about another month.
“We are viewing this as an opportunity to explore what is the best option for our residents whether that service continues to be through Sunflower or not,” Scheuerman said.
Meadowbrook Apartments and Townhomes, 2601 Dover Sq., offers special cable packages for residents who pay Meadowbrook directly for expanded cable. New special rates will apply for residents but they may still need to pick up a digital transition box or rent more for additional TVs.
Brianne Koester, Hoisington senior and Meadowbrook resident, went to pick up her digital cable transition box from Sunflower before the June 2 deadline, but was disappointed that residents receive only one box for free.
“My roommate would have to pay more for another box to get the same channels we get in our living room,” Koester said. “I think it would be more customer-friendly if they would give us more than one.”
Knorr said that Sunflower’s digital cable boxes were more expensive than other satellite providers. In spite of the cost, Knorr said they provided a high-quality of channel service to cable subscribers.
Lawrence residents are not the only ones who are being affected by the digital transition era. According to the Federal Communication Commission Web site, by February 2009, broadcasters such as ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS must stop distributing their signal in an analog format. The FCC has strongly encouraged cable TV operators to transition to all-digital distribution.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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