Comments on: CBC wants new Canadian only basic cable packages

By: DjFIL

DjFIL — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:48:35 +0000

Does this mean I can get a TV package without these currently ‘CRTC required’ Canadian channels? Other then the news (which I get from the internet) they only show american programming anyway. So I’ll take a package with just my Sports channels (TSN/SportsNet/Score/etc), the US channels (NBC/FOX/CBS/PBS/ABC) and a few of my other favorite specality channels… and that’d make me happy.

By: SkidMark

SkidMark — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:15:45 +0000

Robert has hit the nail on the head!
Prime time broadcast of Global/CTV/City/A contain no Canadian content to speak of. The only reason we watch any of these networks is because the cable provider must substitute a Canadian network for a US network when programming is substantially the same.
Think about it. How can Global/CTV/City/A not make money? They have a guaranteed market for their broadcasts and the advertisers they sell to. Only mismanagement or competition can produce a red bottom line – Oh wait, there is competition from all the speciality channels so the OTA market is shrinking – Oh wait, the OTA complainers are part of the same company that owns the specialty channels. Well I guess the truth comes out, the OTA guys have simply mismanaged themselves into a corner and need the regulator and the politicians to bail them out. God help the politician who does not side with the OTA bandits – can you imagine the local news coverage they will get?

By: Robert Bradley

Robert Bradley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:29:08 +0000

Why has the CRTC issued so many licenses for so called local channels CTV GLOBAL CITY-TV and there is an A channel. Non of these stations produce any worth while prgramming 1 hour of local news a day US stations produce the same and in many ceases more local news also more some produce much more local shows. CTV and Global have never lived up to there license content requirements and who really wants these channels, they programme the same shows as US border stations and simply pirate the channel space. I dont watch these channels there garbage i can get better quality signals watching the network stations. Why should i pay for this crap, I already pay taxes to support the CBC which in 55 years hasn’t produced anything worth while and has half a dozen cable channels. I pay enough for cable and why should we be paying to upgrade transmitter and studio equipment for these locals (under the disguise money needed for local programming campaign ) so they can make enormous profits.

By: andy janssen

andy janssen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:26:46 +0000

Won’t these Canadian Networks get a hold of themselves?
The cable companies do the stations a service: by allowing cable tv to carry your signal, you don’t have to keep your transmitters going, and still have “service” going to the people who wish to pay shaw, rogers, or bell expressview. CBC has the best of both worlds already. They have simu-sub when they air at the same time a US station does for their regular stations, and they have extra money comming in from Bold and Documentry. What the cable companies pay for Newsworld, i’m not sure….

But CBC has been dis-affiliating and shutting down transmitters…
Kamloops and Prince George are both out in the cold. Our TV stations have gone “independent” but it sure seems like they’re can-west affiliated now. No more Don Cherry on rabbit ears here.

I prop up CBC with my tax money, and don’t even have a CBC-tv transmitter to show for it. Of course, they still broadcast the FRENCH station out here, just not an English one.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:09:24 +0000

Right now I get all my CBC channels for free with rabbit ears, I’m expecting (hoping) that continues.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:07:29 +0000

Hear hear! I do exactly the same thing. I’m happy with my free CBC channels and purchasing seasons of shows.

By: DanTou

DanTou — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:16:16 +0000

You live in a big city, don’t you? Let me guess Toronto or Vancouver area?

Read everything before you post. OTA is NOT available to everybody.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:19:56 +0000

No because our lazy producers are overcharging for the crap they produce.

You know what would be just?

EVERYBODY pay for tv, like in Engalnd. Put a new annex in the annual tax decleration. Why will it always bee the people using cable that should pay for the rest?

Oh, it’s not OK? Why? because Canadian TV is crappy?

Yeah, tought so

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:14:09 +0000

Yeah, and cable, phone and Internet services cost WAY LESS then here.

Government intervention is so usefull in our market…

By: OTA guy

OTA guy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:03:57 +0000

People listen!!!

You can get FREE TV OVER THE AIR!!!!! …..with a good old UHF antenna from Channel Master for around $60.00 to $100.00 each.

The broadcaster are switching from “Analog” to “Digital” transmission of the signal.

All new HDTV are equipped with a ATSC tuner to receive the “Digital” broadcast from OVER THE AIR with antenna.

Most main network broadcast in HD !!

If you have a old TV set just buy a ATSC tuner at BestBuy or FutureShop or Wal-Mart for around $70 bucks and voila….you can watch TV for FREE!!!!!!!!

And forget about the DIGITAL word on every box or package it’s only for marketing!!

An antenna will receive any signal it doesn’t matter if it’s broadcast in digital or analog .

Enjoy!

ps: screw the CBC,CTV,GLOBAL and CRTC……Long Live OTA!!!!!

By: KCLP

KCLP — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:34:06 +0000

The CBC proposal is an excellent idea. But the basic fee is not high enough. We should pay at least $5 per channel and 99% of the money should go towards the TV stations.

By: random.meme

random.meme — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:23:40 +0000

BellTV charges $3 a channel.

I agree – let the free market dictate pricing err…. never mind.

By: Darkmatter

Darkmatter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:40:52 +0000

That is what is pretty much coming down too. Soon enough Cable/Satelite providers will lose more and more customers when people can just download the show they actually want to see without ne commercials and such or just pay for the dvd tv series, without the irritating commericals; then sometimes sit at home, have a good time chilling watching marathons of whatever show that it is you desire without the BS that would come along normally if viewed on cable/satelite.

CRTC and Cable/Satelite providers have to get it out of there heads, that they can control ne thing and everything they want; when the canadian public doesn’t like it in the first place.

The only show my mum watches is Coronation street, then she turns off the tv after cause everything else is crap. Everyone else in our family either just buys the series they want, or watch them on sites.

I wanna see some figures from Cable/Satelite providers from 1980’s+ to now too see how much those packages have declined in being purchased.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:38:21 +0000

GO live in the US then.

By: de'line

de'line — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:15:52 +0000

I threw out my tv 17 years ago, sick of American garbage, soft-core porn permeating the majority of programing, entertainment masquerading as news, mutilated woman of the week cop shows, glut advertising and ignorant television personalities who couldn’t do an interview if their lives depended on it.

This Canadian option might get me back. Let’s see what the offer is first.