University of Dayton Information Technologies is negotiating a new cable television contract for student residences which would bring HBO to campus.
UDit chief information officer Thomas Skill said he anticipates the negotiations will be finalized by mid-September.
The new cable deal will replace the current Flyer Movie Channel with multiple HBO channels and add more high definition and international channels to the current lineup, Skill said.
Negotiations are being made with both Time Warner Cable and Campus Televideo for future services, which will replace those currently offered by Time Warner. Skill said the university may purchase services from either company or both.
Several UDit employees and Skill declined to comment further until the deal is finalized.
Students on campus seem pleased with the proposed changes in services. Senior accounting and entrepreneurship double-major Marc Robinett said he’s looking forward to gaining access to HBO programming to catch up on his favorite shows.
“I wish they did this earlier,” he said. “The Flyer Movie Channel is sweet but you can’t touch HBO. They have so many good shows, it’s ridiculous.”
HBO airs a number of popular and critically-acclaimed original series, including “Game of Thrones,” “The Newsroom,” “True Blood,” “Boardwalk Empire” and “Eastbound and Down.” The network received 81 Emmy nominations in 2012.
Brian Haggerty, a senior electronic and computer engineering technology major, said he’s excited about the proposed addition of more high definition channels.
“I have a high-def TV and it’ll be nice to have more HD channels,” he said. “Saturdays and Sundays will be a lot better with HD football.”
Aziz Abdullah, a freshman mechanical engineering major from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, is also looking forward to the proposed changes in cable services. Abdullah said he hopes the addition of more international programming will include Arab news and shows.
“It’s difficult to come such a far away from home and start a new life,” he said. “I’d be very pleased to see more shows in Arabic. It makes you feel closer to home just a little bit.”
Still, some students on campus are hesitant to accept the proposed changes. Lauren Feller is a sophomore marketing major from Indiana who is against the discontinuation of the Flyer Movie Channel.
“I would hate to see the Flyer Movie Channel go,” she said. “I loved being in Founders last year and throwing it on between classes, especially when they played ‘The Town.’ I love Ben Affleck.”
Until the switch, Robinett is waiting excitedly.
“Winter is coming,” Robinett joked, alluding to the HBO original series “Game of Thrones” foreboding tagline.
Flyer News will continue to follow the contract negotiations. For more information about UDit, visit www.udayton.edu/udit.
