CBC's OTA Future: Discussion

[tvlurker]

The CBC (and TVO, for that matter) has special status that does not depend on being OTA locally when it comes to priority carriage. The only simsub issue would be for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, but I don't think those programs are being simulcast with any American stations anymore since they moved to afternoons at 4, so it's a moot point. (ABC Buffalo still carries them in the 7 to 8PM block, while CBC in Ontario has them between 4 and 5)

[roger1818]

I don't think adding an affiliate would affect CBC's advertising revenue. The affiliates would likely be required to air the national ads. as a condition of their contract with the CBC, and local advertisers don't care if people outside their market see their ad (and thus won't pay extra for those "eyes").

As for the affect the shutdown has on BDUs, the answer is none. The CBC has special must carry privileges that no other broadcaster has. As for sim-sub, yes they will lose those rights in those market, but given how little American programming the CBC shows, I suspect the CBC doesn't really care too much about that.

[alebowgm]

The only simsub issue would be for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, but I don't think those programs are being simulcast with any American stations anymore since they moved to afternoons at 4, so it's a moot point. (ABC Buffalo still carries them in the 7 to 8PM block, while CBC in Ontario has them between 4 and 5)

For what its worth CBET doesn't carry that programming because for syndicated programming its considered part of the Detroit DMA.

[goforit]

If that's the case, then maybe CBC should make use of sub-channels, e.g., CBLT 5.1, 5.2 CBLFT...

[majortom]

generally speaking I think CBLT does Jeopardy at the same time as WKBW in Buffalo, except for when CBC has Hockey on.

[roger1818]

That still costs money, something the CBC is trying to save. Besides, the CBC says, no one important watches them OTA. The problem with that argument is it can be misinterpreted as no one important watches them.

[tvlurker]

True for Jeopardy, but not for Wheel of Fortune, which this year was replaced at 7 by another half hour of Coronation Street in the non-playoff season. And in other markets (like Montreal), the "local" American affilliate swaps Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune so as not to simulcast with the CBC.

[tvlurker]

And it would take extra money to provide transcoders at each transmitter site to downconvert an 11 MBps 720p signal to something smaller.

[ota_canuck]

the CBC says, no one important watches them OTA

OMG,.. Did CBC actually say that?

The CBC's cry of poordom is most likely crying wolf to get more public funding.

I would guess that the extreme cost of having 2 separate CBC frequencies in each major center across Canada for french and english must by far cost significantly more than what the costs would be for multiplexing 2x720p [french/english] feeds onto one frequency.

CBC or CBC marketplace has no direct ties to BDU's,... they are strictly in the broadcasting business, so I'd doudt that BDUs would ever fail to carry CBC as a staple in their basic services being that CBC is Canada's public broadcaster.

So,.. as it was suggested earlier, contact marketplace@cbc.ca with stories and ideas.

I wonder if they could use segments from that "La facture, Feb. 14, 2012 "Rabbit ears, are they really dead?" and dub english or enlish subtitles. Maybe Kate Taylor would be interested in working with CBC Marketplace on this BDU sting project.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by ota_canuck

OMG,.. Did CBC actually say that?

Not using those exact words.

[Obed]

Originally Posted by goforit

If that's the case, then maybe CBC should make use of sub-channels, e.g., CBLT 5.1, 5.2 CBLFT...

With more imagination CBC should be making use of sub-channels to MAKE money from increased advertising revenues.

CBC have demonstrated their leverage to have CRTC rulings overturned when it suits them - e.g. last years analogue shut down avoidance.

Given that OTA is now concentrated in the >300,000 metropolitan areas and provincial capitals it would actually be highly efficient to freely distribute CBC, with SRC, CBC News Network and Bold as sub-channels to the bulk of Canada's population. Sure, not all could be HD but they could all be 16:9.

Money could be saved by not having 2 separate transmitters for CBC and SRC.

I know it wont happen. It would require imagination and vision.

[stampeder]

After reading GeorgeMX's reply to a discussion about the CBC in the Popularizing OTA DTV In Canada thread I've moved that discussion here into it's own thread, with his reply now in Post #5.

Please keep in mind that the actual technical and operational network status of CBC OTA is found in the following thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=144966

so in this present thread we can discuss what the future might/should/will hold for OTA TV broadcasting by the CBC. Also remember that the Rules of the Forum prohibit political discussions, so please tread carefully when discussing the CBC's budget.

[El Gran Chico]

I'm not sure this was posted anywhere yet.

http://mediatrends-research.blogspot...s-in-this.html

An interesting observation:

We know a few things about OTA viewers..... We also know that they are big fans of CBC TV. 1 in 3 say that CBC is their favourite station, four times more than cable/DTH subscribers. No other station comes close. Likewise, 1 in 3 say that CBC is the one station they would choose if they could get only one.

Pretty much the point I've trying to make for years. Yet the current Senior Management continues to have contempt for its most loyal supporters.

Not sure there's much to talk about regarding CBC's OTA future while this group is still in charge.

the CBC says, no one important watches them OTA

I think they said no one AT ALL.

[someguy23475]

What I don't get is why the CBC has so many microscopic powered repeaters to begin with. Why not combine a few of these and build a high powered digital transmitter? This would have to save money in the long run.

Look at SW Ontario for example. A boost of power and/or height to CBET Windsor could serve Chatham and the fringes of Sarnia. A high powered transmitter in London could serve the rest of the Sarnia area and Kitchener.

I'm sure there are countless examples out there of how the CBC can reduce transmitters and still serve the public.

[El Gran Chico]

someguy23475, I believe a lot of them are from a time that pre-dated satellite where terrestrial television was all that small isolated communities (BC with its geographical challenges, the north, cottage country, etc.) could get. I suspect many of them have very small footprints. TVO has a large number of analog transmitters in Ontario for similar reasons.

Back then, CBC took access seriously. Now they primarily rely on cable and satellite companies to do their distribution for them. If anything, perhaps CBC should PAY Rogers, Bell etc. for this service (sort of a reverse-FFC).

Contrast that with TVO that still does take access seriously, and realizes many of its staunchest supporters watch via OTA.