Since the founding of this nation, politicians have long called for the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Being able to watch UConn games was not in that original list, but for some in this state, UConn is entwined with the pursuit of happiness.
Now, some local officials are getting involved in the battle between a TV network and a cable provider to get the Huskies on residents’ airwaves.
The issue is that thousands of Charter Cable TV subscribers are not getting the games, which air on the SNY television network. Most of the people who are blacked out live near the Storrs campus.
State Reps. Bryan Hurlburt, a Democrat who represents Ashford, Tolland and Willington, and Joan Lewis, a Democrat who represents Columbia, Coventry and Vernon, have met with University of Connecticut officials about a deal with the SNY television network.
“It appears that Charter is trying to use this situation as some kind of leverage, yet all they are really doing is ignoring their customers and damaging their own reputation,” Lewis said. “Charter’s cable system in the western part of the state already carries SNY, so clearly they have an agenda here.”
Lewis, Hurlburt and UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway are urging people to call Charter and call again to request the network.
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UConn also sent an email to area ticketholders and posted a message on their athletics website encouraging people to call Charter.
“This is not simply an inconvenience, this is the fabric of the university community – many of which attend or work at UConn,” Hurlburt said.
Lewis and Hurlburt have also talked with Charter’s government liaison and the lawmakers believe the company is getting the message, but they want people to keep the pressure on.
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