SunTV OTA (Shutdown November 1, 2011) - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

ota_canuck · 2011-07-23, 10:31 AM

Is SunTV a BDU only broadcast? It appears so! According to this SunTV webpage, they are not publishing any OTA viewing channels at all:
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/where-t...-sun-news.html

Quote:

Looking for Sun News Network on the dial?
Below is a list of cable and satellite providers that carry us and the channels we can currently be found on.

Shaw Digital - Channel 177

Shaw Direct - Channels 149 and 517

Rogers in Toronto - Channel 15

Rogers in Ottawa - Channels 66 or 142

Shaw Cable Hamilton - Channel 21

Cogeco Cable Hamilton - Channel 16

Videotron - Channels 79 and 679

If your provider is not listed above, call them today to request they carry Sun News Network!

GeorgeMx · 2011-07-25, 12:26 PM

Unless Sun News has signed distribution deals with Cogeco, Rogers and Shaw, turning off OTA on August 31 effectively terminates availability of the network except for Videotron in Quebec. Without major coverage outside Quebec the network is dead. So, Sun is forced to continue with OTA until they sign distribution deals or make the decision to shutter the operation.

Humbar · 2011-07-25, 12:58 PM

You forgot both SHAW and Shaw Direct carry the channels as well in western Canada. They really need Rogers to get on board for it to become viable.

magnet · 2011-07-25, 01:04 PM

EastLink carries the HD and SD versions of Sun News to NS and PEI.

alebowgm · 2011-07-25, 01:47 PM

Shaw does have a deal to carry Sun News

see http://www.digitalhome.ca/2011/04/su...eal-with-shaw/

GeorgeMx · 2011-07-25, 03:07 PM

Thanks for the correction. The Shaw deal gives them national access on satellite to anyone who absolutely must have Sun News. Shaw certainly covers western Canada but has only a minor cable presence in the key Southern Ontario market. The unknown with respect to Shaw is pricing and the take rate for the channel if it is not put into an existing package.

As Humbar says Sun pretty much has to sign Rogers to have a chance of viability. According to earlier reports, Sun wants the channel 15 placement which automatically puts them on analog basic in Ontario and they want payment for the service. Sun is basically saying to Rogers give me a lot of money and a prime channel on the dial that all subscribers receive so I can secure a lot of advertising revenue. What does Rogers get out of that deal? Perhaps they have reached a stalemate. If Sun wants to continue to be distributed on Rogers cable 15 they will have to continue OTA until they reach a deal with Rogers or decide to throw in the towel.

Emarsee · 2011-07-26, 01:29 PM

As far as I am aware, currently no OTA station is eligible for FFC as the legality of it is still being determined by the courts.

CKXT might be risking its OTA license by continuing with the Sun News format. Like any other station in a large market, there is a 14 hour local programming requirement, and I don't think that any of the shows they are producing can be counted as local programming, since it is intended for a national audience.

As part of CKXT's license conditions they must:

Quote:

shall broadcast, at a minimum, in each broadcast year, an average of two hours per week of Canadian programs in the priority program categories between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., from Monday to Sunday.....

Canadian drama programs; Canadian music and dance and variety programs; Canadian long-form documentaries; Canadian regionally-produced programs in all categories other than News and information and Sports; and Canadian entertainment magazine programs.

None of the shows Sun News airs in primetime would fit into these categories.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-490.htm

alebowgm · 2011-07-26, 01:50 PM

We have had this conversation before on this site. News broadcasts are considered to be local programming.

ScaryBob · 2011-07-26, 01:54 PM

That is my understanding as well. SunTV is in violation of its broadcasting license by carrying Sun News 24/7. Quebecor could easily fix that but it seems nobody cares enough to file a complaint. It looks like Quebecor is trying to get the equivalent of a CAT1 Sun News channel with BDUs since it failed to get one from the CRTC. BellTV and Rogers seem to be the major holdouts. I am guessing that Quebecor is keeping SunTV on air until at least Rogers caves or the CRTC tells them to meet their licensing requirements.

2011-07-25, 01:04 PM	#4
magnet Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 4,014	EastLink carries the HD and SD versions of Sun News to NS and PEI. __________________ When it comes to humility, I am the greatest!

2011-07-25, 01:47 PM	#5
alebowgm Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,962	Shaw does have a deal to carry Sun News see http://www.digitalhome.ca/2011/04/su...eal-with-shaw/ __________________ Windsor:CM4228+4220HD to 1.Samsung LNT3242H+2.AccessHD DTA1080D [RCA DTA800+CM7775+DTB-H260F in storage] GTA:LN40B750

2011-07-26, 01:50 PM	#8
alebowgm Veteran Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,962	We have had this conversation before on this site. News broadcasts are considered to be local programming. __________________ Windsor:CM4228+4220HD to 1.Samsung LNT3242H+2.AccessHD DTA1080D [RCA DTA800+CM7775+DTB-H260F in storage] GTA:LN40B750

2011-07-26, 01:54 PM	#9
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	That is my understanding as well. SunTV is in violation of its broadcasting license by carrying Sun News 24/7. Quebecor could easily fix that but it seems nobody cares enough to file a complaint. It looks like Quebecor is trying to get the equivalent of a CAT1 Sun News channel with BDUs since it failed to get one from the CRTC. BellTV and Rogers seem to be the major holdouts. I am guessing that Quebecor is keeping SunTV on air until at least Rogers caves or the CRTC tells them to meet their licensing requirements. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

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2011-07-25, 12:26 PM	#2
GeorgeMx Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 732	Unless Sun News has signed distribution deals with Cogeco, Rogers and Shaw, turning off OTA on August 31 effectively terminates availability of the network except for Videotron in Quebec. Without major coverage outside Quebec the network is dead. So, Sun is forced to continue with OTA until they sign distribution deals or make the decision to shutter the operation.

2011-07-25, 12:58 PM	#3
Humbar Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 453	You forgot both SHAW and Shaw Direct carry the channels as well in western Canada. They really need Rogers to get on board for it to become viable.

2011-07-25, 03:07 PM	#6
GeorgeMx Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Toronto Posts: 732	Thanks for the correction. The Shaw deal gives them national access on satellite to anyone who absolutely must have Sun News. Shaw certainly covers western Canada but has only a minor cable presence in the key Southern Ontario market. The unknown with respect to Shaw is pricing and the take rate for the channel if it is not put into an existing package. As Humbar says Sun pretty much has to sign Rogers to have a chance of viability. According to earlier reports, Sun wants the channel 15 placement which automatically puts them on analog basic in Ontario and they want payment for the service. Sun is basically saying to Rogers give me a lot of money and a prime channel on the dial that all subscribers receive so I can secure a lot of advertising revenue. What does Rogers get out of that deal? Perhaps they have reached a stalemate. If Sun wants to continue to be distributed on Rogers cable 15 they will have to continue OTA until they reach a deal with Rogers or decide to throw in the towel.