A couple of corrections to El Gran Chico's list:

- Rouyn-Noranda does have access to the CBC English service over-the-air. They should be in range of both the Malartic transmitter (repeating Montreal) and the Kearns, Ontario transmitter (repeating Toronto).


According to TVFool, the CBC repeater in Malartic has a null towards Rouyn, so reception in town would be pretty poor. The Kearns station does cover Rouyn, at least for those with an outdoor antenna.

I'm not sure why Saskatoon would not be converting to digital. Not only is Saskatoon in a mandatory market, but the CRTC considers CBKST to be an originating station (unlike CBLN in London), even if it functions as a "contributing bureau" for the network and has newscasts originating in Regina with some local content.

So far, CBC and Radio-Canada both have plans to put up digital transmitters in Regina and neither have plans for Saskatoon. Wouldn't it make more sense, and cost essentially the same, to put up one transmitter in each city and offer both stations on each transmitter? That way, Saskatoon and Regina would both get CBC and Radio-Canada coverage. I understand they could even get two decent HD stations on a single transmitter.

I completely agree with reader.
Having both CBC & CBCf on one channel across Canada makes sense.

But the really is...
The more transmittors that CBC can have. The HIGHER the BUDGET that they think they should get. Its great to spend OPM (Other People Money).

Read ya l8r,
Al

According to the CRTC website, CBC has applied to convert CBRT Calgary to digital, using Channel 21.

Yup. Discussion in the Calgary station status thread:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=128296

Back on August 8, I wrote to the CBC to ask what their transition plans for London and Saskatoon are. I just received the following response:

I sincerely regret the prolonged delay in responding to your inquiry.

CBC will not be installing digital off air transmitters in North Bay or Saskatoon. Both locations will continue to receive analog off air television broadcasts for the forseeable future after August 2011.

With the United States having made the transition to digital broadcasting in June of 2009, analog transmission technology will eventually be phased out of use in North America. As a result, CBC will not reinvest in maintaining its analog distribution infrastructure once the end of its useful life is reached in coming years.

Thank you for writing to CBC.

Kim Belle
Communications Assistant
CBC Audience Relations

I just wrote back to ask about London (since the reply mentioned North Bay instead) and to ask how continued analog transmission in Saskatoon would be possible given the CRTC's list of mandatory markets.

I know the Maritimes have diddly when it comes to population compared to centres like Calgary and London, but can anyone explain why Halifax (which originates This Hour Has 22 Minutes) gets the 1 year postponement?

You would have to ask the CBC to be sure, but I think you answered the question yourself. CBC only has enough money to transition the 5 largest English markets by the deadline. Unless they can find more money, everyone else will have to wait an extra year (except those who will be losing service all together).

I know the Maritimes have diddly when it comes to population compared to centres like Calgary and London, but can anyone explain why Halifax (which originates This Hour Has 22 Minutes) gets the 1 year postponement?

My guess is that it's all about market population. Biggest bang for the buck.

For CBC OTA viewers in London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Moncton, Lloydminster, Lethbridge, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saskatoon and other areas who will permanently be losing over-the-air access to CBC service, here's your chance to make some noise:

The web-based meeting is Oct 20.

http://www.snwebcastcenter.com/custom_events/cbc-apm-en/site/?referral=100

Right on - anyone with grievances about the CBC's DTV transition plans should make their feelings known that way.

In their application for post-transitional DTV stations, CHNU and CHNU-1 have reserved the right to extend the operation of their analog TV stations should this right be granted to CBC.
In effect, the CBC's proposed DTV delays could be single-handedly responsible for derailing Canada's entire DTV transition — not that it was well-planned in the first place.

So far, I don't think the CRTC has agreed to that strategy, and when I wrote to complain about the CBC's transition plan I said that nobody should get analogue extensions. Hopefully, they are denied.

That's the problem: We don't know. Whatever process CBC is using doesn't appear to be accessible to the public.

In areas like the Vancouver-SeaTac corridor where station allotments are pretty tight, all it takes is one slowpoke to cause all the others to grind to a halt.

I suggest that if the CBC announces that they will keep analogue stations running in such areas that they automatically forfeit their PT allotments and their place in line so that others can get on with their transitions.

The only catch with that is whether the other broadcasters are waiting for the CBC to host them. :eek:

In pretty much every developed country the leading national public broadcaster is leading the technological innovation. Obviously not in Canada.
Remind me again who's financing the CBC and what their priorities are. Also, who and why would allow them to circumvent the rules.

I agree this is a mess. For the CRTC to approve an extension for the CBC is a very slippery slope as then all the other networks would want extensions.

On the other hand, to have the transmitters shutdown in 2/3 of the markets for a year is also unacceptable. In the end it is a loose-loose scenario for the CRTC and I certainly wouldn't want to be in their shoes.

What is needed is for the government to come up with a one time cash infusion to the CBC to allow them to manage their transition on time. Maybe that is what they are really hoping for.

What is needed is for the government to come up with a one time cash infusion to the CBC to allow them to manage their transition on time. Maybe that is what they are really hoping for.

Yup. I totally agree! I've already been discussing it with my MP, but this is what Ed Holder said:

The Government of Canada provides annual funding to the CBC and expects the Corporation to use these public funds in the most efficient manner possible. We will continue to work closely with the CBC to ensure that public funds are managed wisely, particularly during this time of economic instability.

As an independent Crown Corporation, the CBC’s Board of Directors and senior management are responsible for its day‑to‑day operations, including its programming, budget and business plan.

Which, to me, doesn't sound like they are interested in spending cash on the conversion.

In pretty much every developed country the leading national public broadcaster is leading the technological innovation. Obviously not in Canada.
Remind me again who's financing the CBC and what their priorities are. Also, who and why would allow them to circumvent the rules.
The CBC is the ONLY Canadian broadcaster that is one of the 146 members of the ATSC (http://www.atsc.org/cms/index.php/info/people/146-members) that I can see. CBC Transmission has published numerous studies on ATSC performance.

This is not an issue of being up-to-date with the latest technology. It's all about money for implementation.

First, a post that was political in nature was deleted and a warning given to the member since such posts are only allowed in the Politics forum.

Second, as tvlurker explained well, the CBC has been at the forefront of Canadian DTV, and over the years several of the CBC's broadcast technicians have been providing excellent information here as members in good standing of this site.

Finally, this thread needs to focus on the factual and the informative. Personal opinions about the merits (or lack thereof) of the CBC are not appropriate for this thread.