Thanks for that, vcrite.

What a politician's answer... complete garbage with almost nothing to do with the tweeted question. :mad:

I sent the following question to the CRTC:
CBC announced on August 6, 2010, its intent in many mandatory digital transition markets to either not convert to digital or to delay conversion until August 31, 2012. To date, neither the CRTC nor the Government of Canada have issued any public response to this intent not to comply and to not act in the public interest by not providing digital signals in many markets such as London, ON and Saskatoon, SK. When will either the CRTC or the Government of Canada provide a public response to this announcement by the CBC?

Here's the answer I received:
...regarding the CBC’s digital plans, I would like to point out that the CRTC will be reviewing the conditions of licence for the CBC in the coming year.

As specified in CRTC's Broadcasting Decision 2010-561, issued August 9, 2010, CBC's conventional television licences have been renewed until March 31, 2011. This is earlier than CBC's other licences (specialty TV, radio), which have been renewed until August 31, 2011.

Link: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-561.htm

Hmm, interesting. I see an opportunity for public intervention forthcoming.

What a politician's answer... complete garbage with almost nothing to do with the tweeted question. :mad:

Quite frankly I don't think he understood the question (I don't think he knows what OTA is).

Quite frankly I don't think he understood the question (I don't think he knows what OTA is).
I wouldn't say that. I think the questioner got himself in trouble by using the "providing service to the regions" card, which Tim answered without having to address OTA directly.

A better question might have been:
"Many viewers in the regions rely on Over the Air transmission from CBC transmitters. How is service tot he regions to be improved for viewers in the regions who rely on these soon to be shut down over the air transmitters, and do not have access to high speed internet to access CBC New Media?"

^^^^
I also had the impression he didn't understand or hear the question.

I'm sure he knew exactly what was being asked of him. I think he answered clearly and honestly -- the CBC would rather fund content and online distribution than OTA broadcasting.

To be honest, I would be less bothered with the strategy if they provided an open HD stream of their stations (with RTSP for example) instead of the on demand web-based content. For example, I can't just tune to the Toronto CBC feed, like I can with radio one.

The CRTC has approved CBC's application for digital TV in Calgary.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-813.htm

The Commission approves the application by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to amend the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking CBRT-TV Calgary in order to add a post-transition digital transmitter in Calgary (CBRT-DT). The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.
The new transmitter will operate on channel 21 with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 11,800 watts (maximum ERP of 23,500 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 276.3 metres).

As noted earlier, these are temporary technical parameters associated with some kind of temporary antenna/transmitter installation. There are plans afoot to improve Calgary-area coverage some time in the future.

I see that the CBRT-DT application has now been approved by the CRTC today.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-813.htm

I understand that they should be receiving the new UHF antenna any time this week, possibly today. I may be able to get pictures if anyone is interested? The CBRT-DT service is expected to begin next year sometime in the first quarter.

and yes - the new transmitter is a Rohde and Schwarz. Not sure what it's power output is as yet but will find out.

As noted earlier, these are temporary technical parameters associated with some kind of temporary antenna/transmitter installation. There are plans afoot to improve Calgary-area coverage some time in the future.

Likely they plan to eventually take down the channel 9 antenna and replace it with a UHF antenna to give them a higher HAAT. This is also being done in Ottawa where they will temporarily use their transitional parameters post transition.

This is awesome news~!! Can we assume that Edmonton will be the same time frame Q1 2011?

Calgary and Edmonton are the only two remaining locations where CBC (English) expects to have DTV stations in operation BEFORE the transition deadline of Aug. 31, 2011. So it follows that Edmonton is next on their list … when exactly, I don't know. Perhaps someone else has the information.

CBHT Halifax

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/308/3/b/cbht_by_emeraldboar-d325e3b.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
Al

CBXT Edmonton

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/308/b/c/cbxt_by_emeraldboar-d325eq7.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
al

CBWFT Winnipeg
CBWT also appears to be same map.

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/308/2/0/cbwft_cbft_by_emeraldboar-d325enh.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
Al

CBVT Quebec

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/308/f/1/cbvt_by_emeraldboar-d325ekq.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
Al

CBRT Calgary

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/308/a/3/cbrt_pt_by_emeraldboar-d325eh7.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
al

CBOT Ottawa

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/308/2/d/cbot_by_emeraldboar-d325eci.png

Special Thanks to Deviantart.com
Al

That CBWT/CBWFT post-transition coverage looks awfully small compared to their current coverage from the Starbuck transmitter. If they want to be available OTA in Portage La Prairie they'll need a rebroadcast transmitter.

According to the picture, CBWT will be located less than 500' haat which is about 400' below the existing VHF stack at Starbuck. Not sure what that means... maybe they are adding a side-mounted antenna half way up the tower until the main antenna can be replaced? Hope the loss in coverage would be temporary.
-C.