Moore asks: How many people who aren’t prepared for digital television are moving to other technologies?

Facing questions about delays in the transition to digital television broadcasting Tuesday, Heritage Minister James Moore asked the Commons heritage committee, “How many people who are not prepared for the digital transition don’t want to ?” A significant percentage of people who won’t be joining the transition to digital television are tech-savvy youth in urban areas, Moore told the House Standing Heritage Committee Tuesday morning. Moore, who appeared before the committee to discuss his department’s priorities, said that while nine per cent of Canadians will not be prepared for the digital transition, some of them will not choose to be part of it. Facing questions about delays in the transition to digital television broadcasting Tuesday, Heritage Minister James Moore asked the Commons heritage committee, “How many people who are not prepared for the digital transition don’t want to ?” A significant percentage of people who won’t be joining the transition to digital television are tech-savvy youth in urban areas, Moore told the House Standing Heritage Committee Tuesday morning. Moore, who appeared before the committee to discuss his department’s priorities, said that while nine per cent of Canadians will not be prepared for the digital transition, some of them will not choose to be part of it. “Most of that nine per cent lives in urban centres, which says that probably a large portion of the nine per cent are young people who aren’t interested in television, because they see it as an old technology, or people who economically have bigger struggles,” he said. “How many people who are not prepared for the digital transition don’t want to ?” Barry Kiefl, president of independent research firm Canadian Media Research Inc., told The Wire Report statistics indicate that while those affected by the transition tend to be older, they also include Canadians under the age of 49, or about half of the nine or 10 per cent referred to by Moore. Kiefl said his firm compiled a report a few years ago for Canadian Heritage indicating the trends. Canadian Friends of Broadcasting spokesman Ian Morrison said in an interview that Moore was “talking through his hat” when assessing Canada’s readiness for the transition. “Generally speaking, the people who are not ready for the digital transition tend to be older people,” he said. “The government has failed to grasp the political dimension of this, that on a certain date, when signals go off the air, there are going to be a quantity of people who are going to be quite upset.” Morrison said public concern may be directed at the Conservative government. “They won’t blame James Moore, they’ll blame Harper. They will tend to be older people, and politicians know that older people tend to vote more than younger people, so I think the government is engaged in wishful thinking on this issue,” he said. Duncan Stewart, director of research at Deloitte Canada for technology, media and telecom, said in an interview that some Canadians will be affected by the transition, but most will benefit. “If you wanted to measure the number of Canadians who will be hurt by this, it can be measured in the hundreds of thousands, whereas the number of Canadians that would benefit from more rational allocation of spectrum would be measured in the millions,” he said. “We will need to educate , but it will not be impossible or expensive to do so.” When Liberal MP Scott Simms asked Moore what measures the government is taking to help Canadians transition to digital television by the Aug. 31, 2011 deadline, the minister said the transition will be a “key component” of the government’s digital economy strategy consultations this year. Moore also pointed to copyright and broadcasting policy as important aspects of the digital strategy. But Bloc Québécois heritage critic and MP Carole Lavallée criticized the Conservative government’s efforts to move towards a cohesive digital strategy, saying it is leaving behind a segment of the population. “We can’t create a strategy for digitization without a large portion of the population who isn’t following ,” she said. “The strategy, or I should say, the small steps you erratically take left and right, are not a global digital strategy.” But Moore said the strategy is far from erratic, and that it is policy driven by youth and ever-changing technological trends. “Radio-Canada are at the avant-garde of this movement, and it’s by choice, because they understand there is a great demand for new digital media,” Moore said. Committee members also questioned Moore about the recent cut in CBC funding brought on by the new Canada Media Fund (CMF). Last week the CBC said its funding envelope is dropping by $12.6 million this year due to the CMF’s new guidelines. The CMF says it is trying to level the playing field between the CBC and private broadcasters, and that the CBC can apply for funding based on the content it produces. “A drop of $12.6 million means the elimination of drama series, children’s programming and documentaries. There won’t be more Canadian content, there will be less,” Liberal MP and party heritage critic and Pablo Rodriguez said. Moore said the new CMF offers roughly $40 million more in funding over last year, and that, “if the CBC wants to continue receiving funding, they can continue to produce .” kfournier@thewirereport.ca

Moore asks: How many people who aren’t prepared for digital television are moving to other technologies?

Broadcast | April 13, 2010

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