OTTAWA – The CAB is urging Industry Canada to take the lead in establishing a government/industry working group to oversee the implementation and transition to digital television. It wants a consumer-focused working group that will contain representatives from private and public broadcasters, broadcasting distribution undertakings, Canadian and U.S. electronic industry representatives and the responsible government departments and agencies.
At stake it says are the estimated 3 million Canadian viewers who operate analog television sets that are not compatible with digital signals and not currently connected to cable or satellite, as well as licensees of more than 750 over-the-air analog television transmitters representing a significant financial and operational change for the broadcasting industry and consumers. “It represents a significant financial and operational change for the broadcasting industry and consumers, far exceeding that experienced during the colour TV conversion in the 1960s,” says Glenn O’Farrell president and CEO of the CAB in a letter sent to Industry Minister.
He adds that private broadcasters are currently developing a plan for the transition taking into account the practical options for continuing over-the-air delivery of television to Canadian viewers, the technical and financial challenges, the potential areas for government incentives to assist the industry and the need for a joint public education program to inform Canadian consumers of the impact of the digital transition. The CAB plans to share its implementation plan with Industry Canada and the CRTC before the end of September.
The CRTC has set the shut-down date for OTA analog television transmissions for August 31, 2011 and negotiations with the U.S. to finalize the Canada/U.S. agreement on the DTV transition are nearing completion. Private broadcasters’ ability to proceed with applications to Industry Canada for permanent DTV transmitters depends on the outcome of these negotiations says the CAB.
