Cable television service is included in the room rate in all University Residence Hall rooms and University Apartments. All residence hall rooms* and apartments are cable-ready and will need a high-definition TV to take full advantage of digital and HD channels. An HDTV with a clear-QAM tuner is all that is needed (no separate set-top box is necessary).
*Sellery Residence Hall no longer has active coaxial jacks for physical cable connections. HDTV service is available to Sellery residents through streaming and the Spectrum apps described below.
Common areas such as dens and lounges in most residence halls are also wired for cable TV and generally include a HDTV.
NOTE: Outdoor antennas and satellite dishes are prohibited.
Channels
The Spectrum channel lineup includes over 160 digital basic cable TV channels, such as CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, PBS, Big Ten Network, ESPN, NFL Network, NFL Red Zone, Women’s Entertainment, BET, Comedy Central, and Discovery, and a selection of international and native-language channels are available.
SpectrumU
SpectrumU allows you to watch TV on compatible devices for free whenever you are on campus. When connecting to Spectrum from a compatible device on the UWNet Wi-Fi network, it will recognize your location and give you access to the campus SpectrumU channel lineup.
SpectrumU App
The SpectrumU app is available on the following devices:
- Roku (2nd Generation and higher)
- Apple TV (4th Generation and higher)
- iOS for iPhone and iPads
- Play Store for Android phones and tablets
SpectrumU with a Web Browser
Devices with a web browser, such as a laptop or desktop computer, can also view SpectrumU on UWNet by visiting spectrum.net. Click on the Menu icon in the upper left-hand corner and select “Watch TV.”
Spectrum TV App
The regular Spectrum TV app is an option for some devices where SpectrumU is not available, including:
- Xbox One
- Chromecast
SpectrumU Support
For more information on SpectrumU and help docs, visit the UW-Madison KnowledgeBase. For technical support questions, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.