OTTAWA – Some 31,500 rural Canadians who relied on rabbit ears or antennas to view local TV now have another year to apply for Shaw Direct’s Local Television Satellite Solution (LTSS), to ensure the transition to DTV and loss of OTA transmitters doesn’t leave them behind. Under LTSS Shaw provides a free dish, receiver and installation to rural viewers so they can continue to receive local channels.
The CRTC in a letter to Shaw has agreed to extend the eligibility period for LTSS for 12 months to November 30, 2013. It also approved Shaw’s requested to allocate tangible benefit funds towards the administration and marketing of the program during that period.
As part of the purchase of Canwest Global Communications, Shaw allocated a portion of its tangible benefits package to the provision of free local or regional services, and the necessary satellite receiving equipment and installation services, for up to 31,500 households that have lost access to one or more local over-the-air stations as a result of the digital television (DTV) transition. Shaw was authorized to allocate $1 million of the $15 million LTSS benefit to costs incurred to implement and administer the service during the initial eligibility period ending November 30, 2011, and an additional $1.5 million to administer the program during the 1-year extension of the offer period ending on November 30, 2012. Shaw was also authorized to allocate $1 million of the benefit funds to undertake a targeted local marketing campaign in order to increase awareness of the program.
In its letter to the CRTC Shaw noted that subscriptions to the LTSS program have increased 77% since July 2012, and indicated that households continue to request access to the program.
The Commission agreed to Shaw’s request to allocate an additional $1.5 million of the LTSS benefit towards administration of the program during the extension period, provided that the program is made available to 31,500 households, if such demand materializes. It also approved Shaw’s proposal to allocate $1 million of the LTSS benefit to undertake additional local marketing during the 12 month extension of its program.
The Commission expects Shaw to make readily available information describing the program and subscription process on its website.
