This may have been asked before, but why doesn't the CBC broadcast its signal through one of the satellites on the KU band unencrypted so that it is available to all Canadians in all markets?



They cannot be FTA because of foreign program rights, particularily hockey.

They could work with one or both DTH providers to distribute their local channels to where there are no transmitters, and work out an arrangement where the viewers only need get a DTH receiver and dish installed.

But still, this is not the thread for it, and it has been discussed elsewhere.

ScaryBob & I both live in London. We both would rather see CBC go dark. In my case, it is because I feel that would probably result in enough pressure to make them broadcast DTV in London.

I saw this in an article, and it looks like CBC isn't even going to try to convert to digital next year either:


Steve Guiton, CBC vice-president and chief regulatory officer, said the network will have upgraded its primary towers that broadcast its stations to highly populated Canadian cities by the end of the month.

Guiton said the CBC would look at the areas where it is expected to convert to digital TV signals and would likely change over some, but not all, of the towers. He said the CBC is likely to ask for another extension from the CRTC next year.

Guiton was unsure the CBC would ever be offering digital TV broadcasts exclusively.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/wins+year+delay+digital+switch/5261743/story.html

They cannot be FTA because of foreign program rights, particularily hockey.

They could work with one or both DTH providers to distribute their local channels to where there are no transmitters, and work out an arrangement where the viewers only need get a DTH receiver and dish installed.


The CBC could easily broadcast encrypted on Ku band satellite and provide free smart cards to any Canadian address with a certain limit per household that people could use in any FTA receiver with a smart card reader. This would solve the issue of foreign program rights and would easily provide nationwide digital coverage to all Canadians free of charge. Another less desirable option would be to broadcast FTA but blackout events with foreign rights issues.

Relying on a satellite BDU is not really an ideal option as they will certainly use this as an opportunity to upsell more services at a later date. Canadians have the right to receive both CBC and CBC french without having to rely on a BDU.


Dr. Sat

Last warning guys, this thread is about the CRTC decision. Next post about technology, FTA, Skinny basic etc will be deleted without warning.

I also suppose, that you don't live in one of the affected areas, and depend upon OTA only?
I am in an affected area but currently don't rely on OTA only. I am waiting for a full digital conversion to switch to OTA only. Since the CRTC decision let's the CBC continue analog transmissions, this does affect me directly. Without all major Canadian networks in digital HD, going OTA only does not appeal to me.

I have mixed feelings about the decision. On the one hand a number of you raise the very valid point that the decision is very unfair to the other broadcasters. However, being in Moncton and relying solely on OTA I was not looking forward to the shutdown.

A little while back, I wrote an angry letter to the CRTC and CBC dissecting the CBC's "justification" and how I felt it ridiculous that they would cherry pick some markets over others solely on the presence of a studio.

An earlier poster pointed out that the whole thing might simply be a political play by the CBC to push the gov to pay for the extra transmitters. Given Harper's track record so far, I won't be holding my breath.

I'm happy that I'll at least get to enjoy the CBC for at least another year.

TVO also government funded will make the transition.
The CBC ,government funded, and ALSO SELL COMMERCIALS unlike TVO should have enough to make the changes and play by the same rules and go digital in all the same markets.

I hope if business are buying adds in the analoge markets they get a discount.
I plan to watch the clear pictures on the digital stations, before I chose to watch the CBC.

OR

Stop funding the CBC and as a private station, they can chose to shut down if they want.

TVO also government funded will make the transition.
The CBC ,government funded, and ALSO SELL COMMERCIALS unlike TVO should have enough to make the changes and play by the same rules and go digital in all the same markets.


Whilst I am pleased for those whose CBC analog service has been given a stay of execution, I must also join the chorus of disapproval at what is a disgraceful decision from a public policy perspective.

Even worse, is the cynical timing. Is it really a coincidence that this decision was timed to be announced hours AFTER tvo had finished the process of converting London and Kitchener/Waterloo over to digital?
And then they give CBC a free pass in those two markets and others???
Outrageous partiality, and therefore an abuse of power.

And now we learn that CBC will likely ask for another delay!

CBC happy to get extension for digital TV transition, may seek another
By The Canadian Press | August 16, 2011
TORONTO - The CBC has been granted another year to finalize its transition to digital TV and says it may seek another extension.

In 2007, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission mandated that all TV broadcasters switch from analog signals to digital by the end of August this year.

While the majority of Canadian TV viewers won't be affected by the change, it will impact those accessing analog over-the-air signals with an outdoor antenna or so-called "rabbit ears."

Those viewers will need a newer TV with a built-in digital tuner or a set-top box to access the digital feeds.

The CBC sought and received a one-year extension from the CRTC, which will keep analog signals running until Aug. 31, 2012 in 22 markets.

But while the CBC says it's happy with the decision, it has no plans to add digital transmitters in those 22 markets when the year is up.

"This decision is important for us because it allows us to continue to operate analog transmitters and to allow Canadians to make the transition to digital in a more gradual way," said CBC spokesman Steve Guiton on Tuesday.

The CBC does plan to install a total of 27 digital transmitters across the country, each with a price tag of around $1 million.

"They're expensive propositions," said Guiton.

"In an environment where we have to be on a large number of platforms — mobile, online — we really can't afford to be putting in a large number of digital transmitters across the country."

He said the CBC may ask for another extension next year.

The CRTC said in a release that granting the one-year extension was necessary because the CBC has a unique mandate to serve the entire country's population.

The CRTC will review the national broadcaster's transition plans during a public hearing to renew its radio and TV licenses next June.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/40316--cbc-happy-to-get-extension-for-digital-tv-transition-may-seek-another

Like I said we will have to drag them kicking and screaming to the DTV. You know what if CBC want to become a cable speciality channel am fine with that. But let cut their public funding and end their must carry status! Let them live off advertisement and subs by those who want to pay for that crap.

A perfect example of the tail wagging the dog. Time to cut off the head.

The CRTC should tell CBC "NO" and force them to provide television coverage to all Canadians.I am sure the government will receive billions of dollars on the auction of public airwaves so spend a few millions on transmitters that's the least they could do for Canadians.

From that Canadian Business article:

The CRTC said in a release that granting the one-year extension was necessary because the CBC has a unique mandate to serve the entire country's population.

Perhaps the CBC needs to be reminded of that mandate and given that one year to get up to speed with digital. As far as I can tell, killing transmitters because the CBC doesn't want to replace them is simply not an option. If the CBC is not prepared to fulfill it's mandate, then I'm not prepared to support them with tax dollars.

I wouldn't say it's killing transition because it's only affecting certain markets. Many of the CBC's markets will be converted to digital. But I don't see the CRTC giving an extension beyond the one year period.

I hope those at the CRTC wake up and force CBC to launch at least two new HD Transmitters:
1. serving both Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo and London with a location near Woodstock (half way between the two metros), and
2 serving Saskatoon.

For Radio-Canada in anglophone markets transmit the Radio-Canada feed on a digital sub-channel of the English language station either in 720p or 480p (widescreen). [And the same for English language feeds in francophone markets.]

The CBC is probably waiting for BluSky and other BDUs to provide "skinny locals" in order to claim they are serving all Canadians. Never mind that it will drive up costs for all BDU subscribers, waste energy and cost consumers millions of dollars to implement.

If the CBC streamed their channel in it's entirety on the Internet as Sun TV does there would be no need to worry about providing service to those areas. But it's probably going to be headed there eventually.

It's also important to note that this is only 22 out of hundreds of CBC broadcasters and that the CBC has more transmitters to convert than any other provider. It's not like they're refusing to convert all their transmitters, only certain ones that don't seem to have enough economic viability.

I really don't see a problem with allowing a few channels to stay analogue as long as they don't interfere with others. Although the CBC had plenty of time to prepare and if they were going to just shut down these transmitters they should have given plenty of fair warning before hand rather than waiting until practically the last month to let people affected know.

But even if they do keep analogue transmitters in those areas, it's likely that many affected will just stop watching the CBC. They could watch Sun TV on the Internet instead. :)

Incidentally, we have a local station that will be exempt from the shutdown. It mainly runs CBC shows with local news.

only certain ones that don't seem to have enough economic viability.
Economic viability has nothing to do with the decision. It's based solely on the existence of an originating station and the political status of the city. In addition, the CBC gets over $1 billion a year in taxpayer money so economics should not be a major issue. Serving taxpayers should be a primary consideration. Under the CBC's criteria, a station that is losing hundreds of millions of dollars per year could get converted to digital while another that is making money could not.

Also, its not just a few markets that are not economically viable. These are mandatory markets designated by the CRTC. All the non-mandatory markets are allowed to stay analogue and will be shut down in a few years.

This isn't the place to argue about which city does or does not deserve a digital broadcast. IMO, all citizens do. However, the CRTC made the rules, and the CBC is the only broadcaster that has been allowed to break them.

I just don't see why the free digital terestrial television model won't be as popular in Canada like how it is in the UK. I think that if all of Canada large CMAs were able to receive 12-15 digital televion feeds (including subchannels) a large amount of viewers would drop Cable, IPTV or Satellite.