was it perhaps a condo with it's own rules?

No, she said Mississauga and insisted she heard it from city hall. Also, antennas are not illegal in condos, though they may be against condo bylaws. This came about when I was talking about antennas with someone who had previously asked where she could buy one and then this other woman jumped in and claimed they were illegal. I've known her long enough to know she often speaks without knowing the facts.

I don't think it is a losing battle, but I don't think it is an easy one. I am heartened when I look around my area and see the number of new looking antenna installations. There are more popping up all the time. I get disheartened when I talk to someone and she says "oh, I COULDN'T live with out my xxxxx channel", even although I know she is disabled like me, living on a low income and could really use the money saved by no cable fees. Successful brainwashing on the part of the cable company. At least the ones who think it is illegal can be educated. I suspect many of those are confusing OTA with grey market satellite.

Agree 100% with Goldielover. Just because it is difficult, doesn't mean you should give up. Quite the opposite.

I can't emphasize it enough - if you have concerns (reception issues, PSIP) contact the station (preferably by Phone, email has no impact most of the time). Let them know OTAers are out there.

The CHCH Hamilton and Global Ottawa changes coming up shortly are happening to address OTA viewer concerns. These aren't happening because the station managers are cruising through web forums like this one looking for rants. :rolleyes:

We actually do have quite a few industry folks here as members, from wire pullers to boardroom execs, so we certainly have a great place to discuss OTA in Canada, but I agree wholeheartedly that the most effective way to deal with OTA broadcast entities in Canada is to approach them directly and/or via the CRTC's public proceedings.I suspect many of those are confusing OTA with grey market satellite.Sigh... a point of confusion that never seems to go away...

Its too bad that these Marketplace guys are rapping up the CBC'c your busted series.
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2012/busted/

They could have done a sting Operation on cable/sat retailers who give false/misleading info about OTA's existence and legality. If the CRTC would do a public advertising campaign about what is legal [OTA] or not legal [thieving via FTA], then that would be money well spent. The CRTC's ommisions to inform the public that the option of OTA is free, legal and an available option to Canadians is just as bad as these service providers and retailers misleading the public.

Hey folks, good news. I was wrong. It seems that CBC's your busted will continue after all.

Thanks for your note. I just wanted to reply quickly to tell you that Marketplace has not been cancelled! In fact, we're back in September for a full season of full edition shows and Busted segments, so you can be sure that we still have your back!

Thanks for your pitch; like all the ideas that we get, it will be shared with our editorial team.

Best,

The CBC Marketplace Team.

So,... send your popularizing OTA thoughts known to CBC'c Marketplace 'Busted" at:
http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2012/busted/

ota_canuck, can't see CBC doing this. Conflict of interest. Cable/Satellite is the core of their new distribution system once they shut down all but 14 CBC digital transmitters and the exclusive supplier of CBC for about 40% of the nation's population. :p

El Gran Chico,

If that's the case,... then the hidden-truths/blatant-lies will likely be condoned through the ongoing practice of compacent-omission by all media,.. which makes the FREE-OTA awareness expedition pointless.:(

I get disheartened when I talk to someone and she says "oh, I COULDN'T live with out my xxxxx channel"

A number of those specialty channels have programming available on the internet. I had one situation where a neighbour wanted to cut his cable service, but couldn't live without BNN. I showed him that BNN is available live-streaming on its own website. No kidding - they guy went into his workshop and gleefully came holding a pair of wire-cutters, ready to literally cut the cable! Thankfully I stopped him on time, and pointed out that he still needed the cable to get his current internet service. LOL!

CBC "Busted" should just do a show on themselves. BUSTED!! for closing transmitters down in OTA markets (London) and not recognizing and accepting that OTA is still something people are interested (and popularity is growing), especially now that the picture/sound quality is better. Not to mention the ever increasing costs of cable/sat monthly bills.

CBC Your BUSTED!

Haha good one!

:precognizing and accepting that OTA is still something people are interested (and popularity is growing), especially now that the picture/sound quality is better.

Bang on Marbles,.. but I have a feeling that CBC is not quite finished with the shutdown issues and the battle with the CRTC. We will see if CBC actually does shut down all analog transmitters or if they get extentions on keeping rural area analog LP.

huh...someone say shutting down digital xmtrs???

He meant "analogue"... ;)

majortom,

Sorry for giving you such a scare :p

Ahhh, analog, digital, what's the diff?

011011100110111101110100001000000110110101110101011000110110 1000

CBC Your BUSTED!

YA.

Not only Busted. Also BUST. Broke. No Money - according to the "financial and technical rationale" written into that CRTC - CBC Decision.

The CBC - Canadian [Busted and Broke] Corporation.

We will see if CBC actually does shut down all analog transmitters or if they get extentions on keeping rural area analog LP.

There was never any question about extensions. Actually the opposite - it was the CBC that wanted to shut the analog network down.

Back to the question about the existence of OTA - with today's decision, in 2 weeks there will be large areas in the country where "OTA doesn't exist" is a true statement. :(

Slightly off-topic but the LPIF program was terminated today (will be phased out over 2 years). http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/stats10.htm

I hope this doesn't prove to be another excuse for shutting down Canadian OTA stations. :( OTA can only become more popular if there are signals able to be received.