Broadcasters still struggling to find enough equipment, engineers, to meet digital transition: Canwest

There may not be enough equipment and manpower available to meet the Aug. 31, 2011 deadline for the transition from analog to digital over-the-air television, Canwest Television said in a May 6 submission to the CRTC. “As an industry, Canadian broadcasters are struggling to see how there are enough qualified engineers and equipment to satisfy transition obligations by the deadline, and no consumer education program has been developed, let alone decided or executed, despite the fact that Canwest highlighted this very issue and proposed the establishment of a multi-partite task force in the 2006 TV Policy Review and in several proceedings since,” Charlotte Bell, Canwest’s senior vice-president of regulatory and government affairs, wrote in the company’s submission to the CRTC. Canwest said in its submission that the United States spent years preparing for its digital transition, which occurred on June 12, 2009. The U.S. also set aside more than $1.5 billion generated from spectrum auctions to support a coupon program to aid consumers with digital reception equipment. Consumer advocacy group the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has called for a transition program modeled on the United States’ experience. Canwest has recommended the creation of a special task force made up of representatives from the broadcast industry, the cable carriers, electronics retailers and relevant government organizations to administer all elements of the transition. “Given the very limited time between this writing and the mandatory digital conversion date in 31 distinct markets, we urge the immediate establishment of the special task force, with meetings scheduled to begin by summer 2010,” Canwest wrote. The CRTC has estimated that in 2008 about eight per cent of Canadian households relied only on over-the-air television reception. The commission says there are about 900,000 households in “mandatory markets” where the transition must be made by the Aug. 31, 2011 deadline. The CRTC defines mandatory markets as those with populations of more than 300,000, or those with more than one local television station and fewer than 300,000 people. In non-mandatory markets, it is estimated that 44,000 households depend on over-the-air television and could lose their reception on the analog cut-off date. Stations in many markets are already broadcasting in digital. Canwest, along with other over-the-air broadcasters, such as CTVglobemedia and the CBC, have said that a public awareness program is necessary to prepare consumers for the transition. “Advertising in all media is an effective way to deliver important messages to the public,” Kevin Goldstein, CTVglobemedia’s vice president of regulatory affairs, wrote in a May 6 submission to the CRTC. “CTVgm believes the government should fund a comprehensive advertising campaign well in advance of the transition.” Other parties, such as Rogers Communications Inc., say they do not believe government intervention is necessary to educate consumers about the digital transition. “We do not believe that it is necessary to regulate the content and scheduling of PSAs ,” Ken Engelhart, Rogers’ senior vice-president of regulatory affairs, wrote in a submission to the CRTC. “It is in broadcasters’ best interests to advise and educate their viewers about the digital transition so that OTA viewers are able to take the necessary steps required to continue to receive their signals once analog transmitters are shut down.” Rogers is also against a proposed consumer subsidy program, similar to what the United States implemented during its transition from analog to digital over-the-air television. “Customers that wish to continue to use their older analog TV sets will be able to upgrade their existing reception equipment by simply purchasing and installing digital-to-analog converters, something that can be done for as little as $75,” Rogers wrote. Rogers added that there is no need for a subsidy program given the small number of households, especially in the non-mandatory markets, affected by the digital transition. The broadcasters disagree, favouring the American approach of subsidies. “Conceptually, we believe that all Canadians should be eligible for a subsidy towards the purchase of digital receiving equipment—and that such subsidies should be funded from the analog spectrum auction,” Canwest wrote. Industry Canada intends to auction most of the 700 MHz band for wireless technologies following the digital transition. The 700 MHz band is currently used for analog, over-the-air television. jmigneault@thewirereport.ca

Broadcasters still struggling to find enough equipment, engineers, to meet digital transition: Canwest

Broadcast | May 12, 2010

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us