Went to my local Future Shop store to ogle the big-screen TVs....(that LG 60 inch plasma looks pretty nice) and what did I see below the HD gear? This sign, which I consider misleading to say the least:
"Three things you need to receive HDTV:
1) HDTV ( I assume they mean the monitor)
2) HD Satellite or Cable box
3) HD Programming"
Not a word about the *FREE* OTA digital content available to anyone with an ATSC tuner and a decent antenna....(none of which they seem to carry, of course....)
It makes me wonder how much of a kickback FS/BB is receiving from Shaw/Rogers/ExpressVu and Starchoice.....????
Hey, that is a great deal. I knew a guy in Toronto who had free cable for a couple of years after he moved into a new house.... just had to remember never to call and complain about their service.
We don't subscribe to Shaw cable and only watch OTA, but we get the occasional dunning notice in our mailbox that we have cable but aren't paying for it. It's not from Shaw though, maybe it's a third party they hire.
That reminds me that last summer I got a note from Rogers saying that they discovered that they hadn't disconnected my service and that if I wanted to continue receiving cable to call them. The problem is when I did have the service disconnected years ago the piece of RG6 connecting the box to the house hadn't been buried (I only had service for less than a year over winter), so I had the guy cut it at both ends, coil it up and give it to me (I didn't want to be accused of damaging their property). Unless there was a wireless connection between the box and my house, there is no way I was actually receiving free cable .
No. The theory there, is that rural viewers of OTA will already have a big honkin' OTA antenna. But many of them will have VHF-only antennas, and it is possible that the new DTV transmitters will be on UHF instead.
Thus the "Some viewers in rural area may require a [new] UHF antenna" comment.
The difficulty in getting people to believe that they don't need to pay for high-quality television, is much the same as the similar issue that exists with computer software.
Very few people in this forum would believe that they could exist without expensive MicroSoft (or Apple) products on their computers.
And so it goes for people with cable-TV subscriptions as well.
A sort of informative clip on CKCO TV 13 News on the US digital switch but no mention of Buffalo or Toronto or Hamilton channels being received in KW/Cambridge,Guelph area wonder why? Maybe they didn't know?
A sort of informative clip on CKCO TV 13 News on the US digital switch but no mention of Buffalo or Toronto or Hamilton channels being received in KW/Cambridge,Guelph area wonder why? Maybe they didn't know?
The story was more about clearing up the confusion about digital tv. The station was getting a lot of calls from viewers who were seeing the US ads about the US digital tv switchover and were confused about what that meant to canadians.
frubsen no disagreement on that they were getting lots of calls but I think they should have said these US and Canadian channels are availble here in the region and shown them and not just border cities. I know economics wise moneys tight for everyone including the tv stations but you think CKCO would start thinking of putting up there digital signal soon now that they pick up the NFL games. and show us canucks that the picture quality is superb. I think Kyle and their tech guy did a great job reporting it and so did the guy from Steve's TV most places that sell tv's wouldn't dare mention free ota reception. What killed me I went to bestbuy a few weeks ago after hearing they have the insignia convertors the sales staff told me I must have looked on the US site. He was shocked when I showed him it on the Canadian site.But they don't stock them here in the KW store yet. oh and wow where did they find such a prehistoric floor model tv it even had a dial tuner on it?
I see that point of not wanting to promote there competition but they also broadcast to Windsor and other border cities in Ontario via diffrent channel numbers. You would think though they would want to promote there digital switch if it's in the works before 2011??
The reality is for most stations a switch to digital isn't in the works before 2011. Many will wait until 2011 and flash cut to digital and others may even shut down altogether (at least temporarily).
It's wishful thinking it would happen before 2011 we got to start inquring the stations about it and maybe they will see the market is out there and attempt a low power transmitter.
[cynic]Which broadcasters would you mean? CTVglobemedia, CBC, Canwest-Global, Rogers? Don't they all own cable-only channels which would mean that they lose revenue for every customer that cancels cable and goes to OTA only? Even the CBC gets money from Newsworld from pretty much every cable/sat subscriber and they also own Bold (FKA Country Canada) a cable only channel.[/cynic]
Advertising follows the viewership. That's what he's wondering about (whether broadcasters and advertisers are becoming aware of trends that might be pushing people towards OTA).
Thanks Stampeder for clarifying. We all can still keep cable or sat but maybe it would be better packages offered to us or pick and choose what we want. I'm not saying that we should all cancel cable and sat but make the networks and broadcasters and the cable and sat companys think hey there is an alternative and we better do something about cost. I think Rogers and Bell and Starchoice have it in our heads now they are the only way we can watch tv?? I still have my cable. I just like the real superbowl commercials and the clarity of OTA.
Fantastic thread. I just read the whole thing. I especially like the people who have given demonstrations to the hopeless salesmen.
Personally I think OTA is going to grow like crazy in the US. Much as Napster changed the way people aquired new music. Once people start seeing that the quality is best and free in OTA, how could it not catch on?
I'll admit, the lack of info out there is still astounding. Unless you actively look up the info yourself on the internet, you just won't know about it. I'm probably like a lot of other people here. I remember growing up getting channel 2, 6, and 12 on the rotary dial television. Antenna reception stunk. And switching to cable 25 years ago, I never looked back. But it was cheap back then. About $20/month and offered lots more channels in clear reception.
But with the internet taking up a huge amount of my free time, I just don't sit down and watch as much TV anymore. And the thought of 200+ channels doesn't interest me with cable. Especially when my bill is coming in at $70/month for cable plus the added cost of internet..... Now 20-30 high quality OTA channels and free HD (living in USA) or the reduced equivalent living in Canada. Now we're talking.
The Future Shops and Best Buys of the world could just as easily make some money selling antennas as they could getting commission from cable/sat companies.
The word of mouth advertising for OTA will probably do more to boost it's popularity than anything else.
Hey Bob, what's with the antenna on your roof?
Come on inside and take a look.
Holy moly! That's all from that antenna? And it's free?
Yep.
How do I do this?
I'm glad you asked........
The more this catches on in the USA, it naturally has to spread to Canada. I don't see cable companies reducing their prices any time soon. So the growth of OTA in the future can only get better.
The Future Shops and Best Buys of the world could just as easily make some money selling antennas as they could getting commission from cable/sat companies.
It is sad that Canadian broadcasters have been so slow in rolling out DTV broadcasting. It may not be available now, but it will come eventually. Depending how close to the US boarder you are, you might be able to pick up stations from Maine though.
Wow .. great place to get great info. Thanks to all those who've been here before me.
Currently I have basic cable, and as of March, my local cable provider (Aurora Cable) is integrated into the Big Cable Company. Yes, my monthly bill WILL go up (although not right away ... guess to keep current customers from fleeing).
I never thought about OTA before reading this forum. I was only concentrating on how to get the best deal from Big Cable but although I haven't had a chance to read through all the relevant posts, it appears folks in my area (Upper Richmond Hill/Oak Ridges/Aurora boundary) do get a decent amount of OTA HD stations.
When summer comes, I'll probably research to find a reputable antenna installer in my area and just go ahead with a decent equipment/install. I will then truly shed the cable bondage !!
Thanks again everyone ... if anyone has personal recommendation on installers in this area, would appreciate it.
That's a pretty good analogy. I learned about napster talking to people by the coffee machine at work. Twice this week I had people stop to talk to me at work about OTA since I'm now known as the "antenna guy" around the office (I told them everything I know came from this forum ).
I've also helped a neighbour convert his analog tv and rooftop antenna to digital. Word of mouth works.
I agree that OTA isn't for everyone, but a surprising number of people rarely if ever watch those specialty channels (or would be willing to give them up) and would be very well served by OTA if they knew about it.
I couldn't agree with you more. I still have my BEV. I have CNN, Much Music, TLC, Discovery, etc, etc as naseum. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched any of these channels except Discovery. My kids watch Treehouse and Playhouse Disney but my 5 year old is becoming a big fan of Word Girl and both love Curious George, both of which are on WNED. Will I give up my BEV? Maybe, someday. I've had my OTA for about a month and a half and I very rarely watch BEV anymore. Usually only if I've missed a show and I am watching something on the PVR and all that time I'm ticked that it is in 4:3. Once I get my Media Center PC built I'll not even watch for that. Sure there are times that I switch to the BEV when there is nothing on the OTA stations that I want to watch, but let's be honest, I don't have to watch TV just because it is there and going a few hours without it would give me time to do other things that I should be doing.
I did go OTA because I have a PVR with BEV right now and love it. For me to upgrade to an HD PRV would cost me around $600 plus the extra fee for the HD channels. I can pay for my whole setup including most if not all of my Media Center PC for that cost.
So far I love OTA and can not wait to get my antenna up higher once the weather is warmer. It surprises me, however, how many people do not know about it. I've know about it for a while but didn't have a TV with an ATSC tuner so didn't bother. I couldn't believe that no one else that I work with in an office of 20 some odd people (and yes most of us are very odd ) didn't now about OTA. They are all very impressed when I tell them about it. I've sent a few to this forum already to get started themselves.
FS and BB are bargain hunters low end consumer electronics retailers. They were never meant to cater to niche markets, or the connoisseur.
Back in the old analog days, where did we go to buy antennas? Not BB or FS. You went to an antenna sales, service, installer. He'd set you up with a tower or roof mount, antenna, wire, etc., etc. Has any of that changed with the advent of ATSC? Now we all want to be do-it-yourselfers, and have it given to us when we buy a TV.
I've had neighbours ask about my antennas. I tell them about DTV, free. But the conversation ALWAYS ends up about the very limited choices of Channels OTA. News, Sports, Music and evry other speciallty channel is cable or sat only. IPTV & Fios are coming too.
I'm sorry to say, OTA just doesn't compete for the majority, nor will it ever become the norm. Its for people who want a very, very limited number of channels, OR, people like me, who want the higher quality, sim-sub free TV on top of full service from Satelitte or cable or whatever. I personally, couldn't do without Sports and news channels. No self respecting NASCAR fan could live without Speed channel.
Wouldn't it be better to watch Nascar on FOX-HD OTA? I didn't even know Speed Channel had Nascar racing.
There are enough people out there spending $60 for a Monster HDMI cable and $50 for a Monster surge protector, that I don't think the added cost of an antenna would be all that bad. Especially with people buying larger and larger TV's on average. They're willing to spend a few extra if it means better quality. Whether that's real (antenna) or psychological (Monster.*)
While it's true that many downplay OTA because of the lack of channels. I know more people than I can count who tell me they wish they could pick and choose what channels they want rather than pay for the giant bundle of channels that the cable/sat companies sell. Also that "nothing good is on TV" and that 99% of the channels they never watch.
On that last point, I'll admit, there are channels that I like the idea of. Yet I hardly ever watch them. Discovery, History, Biography. All channels I like. Yet I never get around to watching them.
I do watch NASCAR on FOX, OTA (WUTV-HD) for the first part of the season. And the last part of the season, I watch NASCAR on ABC, OTA (WKBW-HD).
The middle part of the season is NOT broadcast OTA. It's on TNT or ESPN, carried (sim-subbed) by TSN in canada. TSN also has the Nationwide series, only on ESPN in the US.
Speed Channel has NASCAR Qualifying, Raceday and the Truck Series. If I could get all that OTA, then I'd give up Bev. But since i have it, i like news channels, HDNET, and some Discovery, etc., etc.
I've been OTA and sans cable/sat for 5 years now. I used to enjoy discovery back when I had cable, but even they had a fair amount of "filler" material. This is not worth paying $40 or $50 month, for me anyways. everything else I watched was on freely available channels.
Question I often get asked, besides "isn't that illegal ?" is "how may channels do you recieve ?"
The question I feel, should be "how much worthwhile programming do you recieve ?"
Although subjective, I dont find there is a direct correlation between the two.
But, different strokes for different folks, if cable/sat has value for people, then thats OK. Not everyone wants to take the time, effort, and outlay to set up a decent antenna system for reliable reception (ie not rabbit ears), personally I found the time and outlay modest, but not everyone would agree. But then not everyone is even aware the option exists, and that's a shame.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums
1.7M posts
114.9K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to Canadian TV, computing and home theatre owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about home audio/video, displays, troubleshooting, styles, projects, DIY’s, product reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!