The Digital Transition in Your Community
The way TV signals are delivered over the air is changing in Canada beginning in August 2011. If you have a cable or satellite subscription, your service will be unaffected. If you watch TV using an antenna ("bunny ears") mounted on the TV or on your roof, you will find yourself in one of the following situations:
- In most major towns and cities, broadcasters are upgrading their signals to digital. You'll need either a digital TV or a digital-to-analog converter box to continue watching over-the-air TV with an antenna.
- In smaller communities, some of your local broadcasters may upgrade their signals to digital (and you'll need a digital TV or converter box). Others may continue broadcasting in analog. In both cases, you can continue watching free TV, for now.
When the analog transmitters reach the end of their useful life, however, local broadcasters may elect not to replace them. At that time, you and your neighbours would have to subscribe to cable or satellite to continue to watch TV. That could happen next year, or in 5 years.
For example, the CBC is likely to begin phasing out analog transmission in 2013, affecting more than 600 transmitters serving small- to medium-sized communities across Canada.
- One or more of your local broadcasters may cease transmitting immediately rather than maintain old analog transmitters. In this case, you and your neighbours might have to subscribe to cable or satellite service right away to continue watching TV, unless you take matters into your own hands, as many communities have done both here in Canada and south of the border.
To find out whether your community will continue to receive free over-the-air TV signals after August 31st 2011, check the web site on the Digital Transition maintained by Canadian Heritage.
Your community has options to maintain these services and to add new ones. For more information about Community Distribution of TV and other services, click here:
NEW OPPORTUNITIES: COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION
This information can also be viewed as a .pdf file by clicking the link below. This document may not be reproduced without permission. A double-sided printer-friendly version that can be assembled into a pamphlet for community distribution is, however, available on request.
The Transition to Digital Over-the-Air
Television: New Opportunities (.pdf)
This information has been developed and is maintained by volunteers. If you have found it useful, please make a donation to CACTUS.
