CRTC OTA Review November 2006 Discussion Thread

[blakew]

I wrote to the CRTC complaining about Global's slow progress towards digital OTA. I included that it's not right that Global be allowed to continue with providing an HD feed to BDU's considering the fact they do not have a single digital transmitter anywhere in the country. The CRTC saw my points as valid, and forwarded my comments to CanWest Global, and request that Global reply to me and CC the CRTC within 30days. That was Jan24th. And I'm glad to say I got their attention, because on Feb8th I got a reply.

We are in receipt of your email to the CRTC dated January 24, 2007.

The issue of the transition to over-the-air digital distribution was one of the key elements discussed at the Television Policy Review in November 2006. Since the Commission’s determinations on this issue and many others will not be available for a number of months, and in light of the many uncertainties as to how this transition will ultimately unfold, we have not yet implemented the launch of digital transmitters.

In our view, broadcasters are largely succeeding in accomplishing the first challenge with respect to the transition and that is HD content. We believe that this is currently the most important priority for the Canadian broadcasting system and consumers.

The second challenge we face – that of converting from an OTA infrastructure to HD – is progressing at a slower pace. Indeed, the fact that Canadian OTA digital television services have been licensed only in certain major markets to date, does admittedly suggest the pace of transmitter transition in Canada has been slow in comparison with the U.S. and some other countries. However, we do not believe that the pace of change has been inappropriate or damaging, at least to date.

We believe that a transitional approach will remain in the public interest for a period of another four years or so (2011 – or two years following the U.S. cut-off), assuming that the expected U.S. cut-off of analog OTA transmitters occurs as planned in February 2009.

We anticipate that the CRTC’s decision with respect to the TV policy review will provide us with the parameters and guidelines necessary to assist in the progression of our over-the-air strategy. This decision will likely be released this summer.

In the meanwhile, we will continue to provide the BDUs with the direct feed of CIII’s HD signal for distribution, as we are entitled to do under the current policy.

Global's giving itself a four year window to get off its ass, and you know they're going to delay it until the very last day. Why start something today if they can put it off 4 years down the road? We're already four years behind the US when it comes to digital OTA, you think they're going to be ready two years AFTER the US analog cutoff date? That's the transitional approach they're talking about, they'll want to postpone going digital OTA until they absolutly have to. And as for their continued defiance of CRTC policy regarding the distribution of HD feed requiring at least one digital OTA transmitter. If you boil it down, Global is a non-specialty channel that's providing a service that you cannot get without paying for it. That to me is the definition of a specialty channel, and Global should therefore be treated as such, and be stripped of its simsub privleges.

[ardsa]

Keep in mind that Global is refering to the US analog cutoff date. All US full power TV stations are already required to be broadcaster digital. I belive they have been at this stage for over a year already.

To achieve an analog cutoff, we must first reach a point where full digital is required.

In my mind we are much more than two years behind the US and it will be very difficult to make even a 2011 analog cutoff date.

[99gecko]

Konrad von Finckenstein, Chairman of the CRTC has announced that:

Around May 15, we will issue our determinations arising out of our review of over-the-air television.

Apparently one of the principles he is instituting to the management of the CRTC is "timeliness", hence the earlier (than I anticipated) release.

See this thread for more info: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=63799

[ASA]

In the meanwhile, we will continue to provide the BDUs with the direct feed of CIII’s HD signal for distribution, as we are entitled to do under the current policy.

And they will continue to rub everyone's nose in it. Example, I was at my neighbour's house the other night and I finally saw that stupid beaver commercial that everyone has been talking about. (the one that states... "you could be watching this show in HD on Bell ExpressVu").

That attitude of their's really ticks me off.

Well at least I can watch some of those shows in HD on OTA US channels. : )

[El Gran Chico]

You know what will really get Global moving? You, me, your friends, my friends and thousands more start watching the shows Global carries on OTA HD (seems like a lot of their prime time content is US based anyway) or even stop watching Global programming altogether!

[Tom.F.1]

Originally Posted by El Gran Chico

You know what will really get Global moving? You, me, your friends, my friends and thousands more start watching the shows Global carries on OTA HD (seems like a lot of their prime time content is US based anyway) or even stop watching Global programming altogether!

I did that a long time ago, quit watching global.

Nice to hear about the Aug 31 2011 cut off date. I'd expect to see appeals, so the date may slide.

[blakew]

The only show I ever watch on Global is Heroes. I refuse to watch a network that is so stuburn/cheap towards its progression towards digital OTA broadcast. Heroes finalle is on monday, so after that, I won't be watching Global until the next season starts, or until they start broadcasting digitally in Vancouver (ha! - is it Aug 31, 2011 yet? I didn't think so).

[stampeder]

A CRTC decision on the mandatory cutover of analogue OTA to digital has been made. This thread is closed and I direct you to the following post-announcement thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=63969