This isn’t really that serious but it does bug me. Why are the Canadian Television broadcasters so slow to give us over the air HD (ATSC) broadcasts?

This morning I emailed CBC, City TV, CTV and Global asking this question, and asking when we can expect OTA HD in Calgary. I’m not expecting answers from any of them. I’ve been emailing them every few months with these questions for the past three years and I’ve never gotten anything more than an automated response.

Most of the major networks have HD transmitters in Toronto and Vancouver. Those cities also have the advantage of picking up some spill-over from the US. CBC has HD transmitters in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Consumers outside of those cities are at the mercy of the cable and satellite companies that charge in excess of $80 a month plus hardware rental fees for the same HD programming you can pull out of the air for free in any major city south of the border.

With the billions of taxpayer dollars the CBC receives I figure at least they would have HD transmitters in every Canadian city by now. Not that I really need to see Rex Murphy in any higher definition.

Just one more incidence of the Canadian consumer getting screwed I guess.

   

Firstly, HD equipment is expensive. And, Over-the-air signals will dissappear in Canada by 2011.

Canwest just announced there will be major cuts to staff as they move to HD. They will cut most of their stations, in favour of production in 4 locations. Those 4 locations will service the entire country. For example, Calgary now produces news broadcasts for Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, etc. All the camera staff and production staff will be let go, and the cameras and studio will be remote controlled from Edmonton. All news in the Maritimes and BC will be produced in Edmonton. Quebec production will be done in Ontairo.

The reporters and news staff will remain, just the production staff are affected.

All to cover costs of HD.