Beresford approves cable rate change and to end digital cable service June 30, 2025

Beresford city officials voted to raise cable service rates and to discontinue digital cable service at the end of June after hearing that transport and programming costs have spiked.

The Cable TV board adopted Resolution 2025-01 to adjust service rates presented at the meeting and separately approved a motion to cease provision of digital cable services on or about June 30, 2025, the date when the provider’s satellite feed will end.

Board members and staff said increases in program and transport costs drove the decisions. Staff said programming costs rose about 10.7% on the city’s tier 1 packages and 9.8% on tier 2. A vendor quote presented at the meeting said the city would face a minimum transport fee of about $750 per month if it paid a $10,000 upfront fee, or about $1,200 per month otherwise; staff contrasted that with the existing per-customer cost of roughly $200 in total.

Officials also noted additional capital costs if the city were to replace aging digital set‑top boxes: used units are no longer available and replacing all customer equipment would require a substantial one‑time investment. Council members discussed whether a smaller, service‑oriented role for Beresford Cable — maintaining channels that streaming services do not carry for some residents — justified continuing parts of the service.

Councilors and board members said customers who keep basic cable tiers would retain many local and common channels but that higher‑numbered digital channel packages and DVR functionality would be discontinued under the plan. Staff said some high‑definition local channels and single premium channels (for example, one HBO and one Showtime channel) could remain in a reduced form, but most tier‑2 digital channels and DVR options would end.

The board also discussed the small number of remaining digital customers; staff reported 43 customers on the digital package and 63 total cable customers without internet service (9 on tier 1 basic and 54 on tier 2 basic). Councilors said any remaining costs for continuing digital service would be borne by the customers who keep it.

The motions were put to a vote and carried. The board directed staff to implement the rate changes and to wind down digital service consistent with the provider’s schedule and the June 30, 2025 deadline.

Ending details: staff said it would provide the council with further customer counts and follow-up cost estimates at a later meeting to guide any additional decisions about service structure or equipment investment.