Future of the /A\ stations

[Emerald_Boar]

Multicasting

That a shame.
In that case the only subchannels i can see coming are:

All Local news channel. aka broadcast an hour of toronto then hour of Ottawa then London then Vancouver, etc.

Canadian Gold. All Canadian old TV/Movie channel. Littlest Hobo, Birzarre & Old Canadian classics.

Read ya l8r,
Al

[mkenney]

Well down here in Windsor it seems like it is a real possibility that many Canadian OTAs will simply walk away after post-digital, If making use of Sub-channels can reduce their costs and make the conversion more viable I fully support it.

CBET,CBEFT and TVO could all go to one set of sub-channels, as it currently is they are sharing the same tower now, they may even add TVOF. The A-Channel, Global and possibly CTV could share, as well, other than the limitations on Hi-Def I could see this as a win-win for both broadcasters and viewers. As it is now all of the public broadcasters in Windsor have yet to even offer stereo as it would be perceived as a luxury.

On a side note the other day I picked up channel 9.1 and 9.2 from Cadilac Michigan, 9.1 WWTV CBS while 9.2 was WFQX FOX. So as you can see this model is aleady being expoited stateside.

[roger1818]

mkenney, I am not sure what your concern is as Windsor should do pretty well. TVO and CBET will definitely transition (though CBET may be a bit late). It is true CBEFT will likely go off air though. The future of the /A\ network is a bit uncertain at this point though and I don't think sub-channels will help it. I haven't heard anything about CTV yet though, but I would be surprised if they didn't transition.

[cm023]

/A\ Victoria has applied for a Post-Transition transmitter (as per the CRTC releases today), so it may be a possibility that they plan to convert the /A\ stations.

[alebowgm]

INSERT VENT HERE: Can someone explain to me how every other primary and secondary network in all of Canada (I will give Access TV in Alberta a pass) has at least one HD feed available, yet /A\ is the only network that still hasn't upgraded its facilities somewhere to provide this service. Heck, you would think they would by now one way or another... its just frustrating...

[ScaryBob]

I think CTV would rather shut most of them down than put any money into digital conversion. The /A\ channels have been gutted of talent and equipment by every recent owner, including CTV. They don't make money now and digital conversion is a major investment with no promise of any return. I think CTV is hoping a buyer will appear but it doesn't look promising.

[cm023]

I don't get how a station like CHEX-TV Peterbrough or any one of those other small-market broadcasters see a future upgrade to Digital and stay on the air. Yet CFPL (A-Channel) can't turn a profit or choose to provide anything above a sub-par talent gutted station to a market the size of London. It really is pathetic that we could loose our source of local TV news. I could only imagine what the Blackburn family would think of what has become of CFPL.

[mjjl]

I think CTV would rather shut most of them down than put any money into digital conversion. The /A\ channels have been gutted of talent and equipment by every recent owner, including CTV. They don't make money now and digital conversion is a major investment with no promise of any return. I think CTV is hoping a buyer will appear but it doesn't look promising.

I still think it's possible that CTV will put CFPL into the CTV network fold. Strategically I think there is just too much to lose by walking away from a market of almost 1 million (when you factor in their coverage area throughout Southwestern Ontario).

[ScaryBob]

CFPL probably would make money as a CTV affiliate. It made money as a CBC affiliate but went downhill as an independent. I'm not sure what the CRTC would have to say or what the business perspective would be but it makes sense since the London market is at least as large as Kitchener/Waterloo. In the US, a market the size of London would probably have at least 3 major network stations plus independents.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

CFPL probably would make money as a CTV affiliate. It made money as a CBC affiliate but went downhill as an independent. I'm not sure what the CRTC would have to say or what the business perspective would be but it makes sense since the London market is at least as large as Kitchener/Waterloo.

While I agree that it could be profitable, the question from CTV's perspective is would it make more money than having one station serving both K/W and London.

In the US, a market the size of London would probably have at least 3 major network stations plus independents.

Comparisons with the US are always difficult since the regulations are different. For one thing, the major network stations in a market the size of London wouldn't be owned by the network, but be independent affiliates. Allowing networks to own most/all of their affiliates encourages widespread distribution of a limited number of centralized stations. Requiring a certain percentage of their markets have independent affiliates encourages them to sell affiliations in more small markets to permit them to own more stations in major markets.

[ScaryBob]

would it make more money than having one station serving both K/W and London.

CKCO doesn't really serve London and the signal is marginal. I know the CRTC thinks it serves London but they are wrong. CKCO isn't on BSTV or ShawD either so only people on cable and the few that have decent antenna systems can actually watch it.

[mjjl]

CKCO doesn't really serve London and the signal is marginal. I know the CRTC thinks it serves London but they are wrong. CKCO isn't on BSTV or ShawD either so only people on cable and the few that have decent antenna systems can actually watch it.

Also Kitchener and London are vastly different communities. CTV trying to serve both markets with a single slate of regional news programming would almost be as foolish as what CBC did in Alberta almost 20 years ago, trying to serve Edmonton and Calgary with one newscast. Local advertisers would have a lot to say - local London businesses would feel they are wasting their ad dollars on a newscast targeting both Kitchener and London, and vice-versa. With the cost of TV advertising today, a lot of local advertisers could be turned off by such a move and move to other media. Or worse for CTV, band together and apply to the CRTC for competing stations.

[Donnybrook]

The Chatham CKCO repeater on 42 comes in fine in London. I know that a few local London developers have looked at the CFPL property. The sticking point is the building since the area has residential zoning. It must either be demolished or turned into a retirement home.

Bell will have 2 floors empty in their leased building in downtown London in 2011 - plenty of room for a small studio to do 1.5 hours of local news/day.

[ScaryBob]

The Chatham CKCO repeater on 42 comes in fine in London.

Not true. There are large areas of London where 42 (CTV) and 29 (Global) are not receivable. Where I am, it is two edge, eclipsed by the Byron Hill. According to TV Fool, I need a 250' tower to get LOS and almost as much to get one edge. The Byron hill and high ground to the north and south of it make 42 and 29 a lost cause in many parts of London.

[PlayitSimple]

I still think it's possible that CTV will put CFPL into the CTV network fold.

I think that is a good idea, enough of this A crap- time to put that brand to rest. Also, Bell could set up a mini system for southern Ontario like they have with their 3 stations in Northern Ontario. You could have CTV Southwestern Ontario- London & CTV Southwestern Ontario- Kitchener.

I agree that Kitchener and London are different communities and markets. With London, they could extend the coverage area to include everything south to Windsor & west to Sarnia and make it sort of a Southern Ontario superstation. The Kitchener station, on the other hand, should be intended to serve the grand river area (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph & Brantford) as well as Woodstock, London is a little too south.