September 9, 2008

Yesterday, the little city of Wilmington, North Carolina,
led the United States into the digital revolution. The rest
of the nation will wait five months.

Wilmington has roughly the same population as Kamloops. The
fraction of viewers who receive TV over-the-air with rabbit
ear antennas is the same. But unlike Wilmington, Kamloops'
viewers will be left in the dark when the digital switchover
happens in Canada in 2011 unless something is done.

About 10,000 over-the-air Kamloops' viewers already know
that sinking feeling after loosing over-the-air CBC TV in
2006. Now, they are about to abandoned again with the loss
of free TV. Rick Arnish, General Manager of CFJC in
Kamloops, warns that once Kamloops looses its old analog
transmitter, it will not be replaced. "Why, in this new
world of satellite and cable distribution, do we have to put
a digital transmitter on Mount Dufferin?"

That question isn't even considered in Wilmington. They take
great pride in being the first city in the U.S. to go
digital. No viewers will be left in the dark. The mayor
of Wilmington, Bill Saffo, says "There's a pride because
we'll be the first in the country." It's not just civic
pride; broadcasters are eager to try out the new digital
technology on a small test audience and iron out all the
bugs before the nation goes completely digital.

Like Kamloops, the switchover will mean nothing for the
majority of Wilmington's viewers who receive TV by cable or
satellite.

Wilmington's over-the-air viewers have been helped through
the transition. Viewers with old sets have been provided
assistance in buying digital converters so that the actual
cost is only about $20. The U.S. government has issued $40
coupons to be redeemed at stores.

And those who can't afford the $20 have been given free
converters. The Consumer Electronics Association gave them
to residents of long-term care facilities in Wilmington.
The president and CEO of the association, Gary Shapiro, said
"Wilmington is leading the nation in ushering in the era of
digital broadcasting, and this initiative by CEA members
means long-term care residents in Wilmington can continue to
enjoy their favorite channels, as well as new programming
choices."

Why do the CBC and our local broadcaster consider Kamloops'
10,000 viewers expendable while Wilmington values them?

There are three reasons. First, U.S. broadcasters take
their licenses seriously and understand that use of public
airwaves is a privilege, not a right. And part of that
public commitment includes the vital service of warning
viewers of natural and manmade disasters, and providing
instructions in case of an emergency.

Another reason is competition. Wilmington has 4 TV stations
which will switch over. If one didn't switch to digital,
the others would have a larger viewing audience and attract
more advertising revenue.

Americans see broadcasting as part of an informed citizenry.
If 10,000 citizens don't have access to local issues through
TV news, they are unable to make educated decisions.
Without free over-the-air TV, participatory democracy would
be a privilege granted to only those who could afford cable
and satellite TV. Do Canada's public and private
broadcasters really think that some viewers are dispensable?

The Canadian Media Guild has a plan for Kamloops that is
detailed in their feasibility study. The study shows how 6
free channels could be broadcast through a shared system
called digital multiplexing.

If implemented Kamloops could also become a national leader
in the digital revolution. The guild's plan for Kamloops
shows just how inexpensive it is to provide service to
viewers who would be otherwise left in the dark.

The shared cost for each broadcaster is less than $25,000 -
- less than the cost of many cars - - whereas the cost of
building a transmitter individually would be $132,000.
Digital multiplexing is flexible because it mixes ordinary
standard broadcast stations with high definition stations so
that viewers with big screens will receive a superior
picture.

Kamloops is a logical choice for implementing the new
technology. We are a small market with demographics similar
to other small cities across Canada. Also, since we were
the first to loose our CBC broadcast service, it's only fair
that we should be the first to get it back.

Canada can stumble into the era of digital TV or we can
follow the U.S. example by having an orderly transition.
When we do, Kamloops could be the little city that boldly
leads our nation into the new digital world of TV.

David Charbonneau is the owner of Trio Technical.
He can be reached at dcharbonneau13@shaw.ca

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