News from 2009
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In his column, David
Charbonneau says that we should worry about the smaller number of TV
broadcasters
across Canada due to the financial downturn, not just the CBC.
"CBC's problems are political, not financial. Governments prefer a state
broadcaster that is the mouthpiece of ministers. Viewers want a public
broadcaster that is sometimes critical of government. Since governments fund
the CBC, not viewers, tension is inevitable and stable funding uncertain."
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The audience for over-the-air television in Kamloops would increase if viewers had a greater choice in free TV, says Karen Wirsig of the Canadian Media Guild. "Kamloops stands to lose three over-the-air stations but instead it could have six," said Wirsig.
TV broadcasters claim that free TV is not worth the cost of transmitters but more choice could make the market viable.
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Antennas are springing up across the country as Canadians take advantage of free TV. Yes folks, that's free TV. Fields of rooftop antennas may evoke past memories but this is not your granny's TV. Over-the-air reception has been made new again by digital TV. Snowy, coarse images have been replaced by cable-quality crisp pictures.
But not in Kamloops. Pity. Kamloops could have it all: free high
quality TV and a choice of six superior channels. The Canadian Media Guild
has mapped out a plan for Kamloops' digital stations and the costs are
surprisingly affordable. They have pitched a comprehensive plan for
Kamloops' new transmitter to the CRTC.
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But discussion not anything near serious yet, says VP Christopher Sequin. And Karen Wirsig of the Canadian Media Guild estimates that 11 million TV set will go dark if digital transmitters are not launched but Rick Arnish of local TV station CFJC says that's :"totally erroneous," despite having said previously that CFJC has no intention on replacing their aging analogue transmitter.
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A poll of Kamloops reveals that one-third of would abandon Cable and Satellite if they could get 6 channels of free TV over the air. Since only 6 per cent now receive TV by antenna, that would mean that 5 times more viewers would be pulling the old rabbit ears out of the attic The poll, comissioned by the Canadian Media Guild, is the first of its kind in Canada.
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One way to develop community TV is to buy the station. That's what employees of Victoria's oldest TV station did when it was threatened with closure. Another way is piggyback the community channel to the six-pack of channels that restores CBC TV with enough room left over for a community channel plus four others.
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Pam Astbury talks about the future of over-the-air TV in Kamloops.
A better quality video can be found at the CPAC website but it requires a bit of work. Click the next button on the player 3 times which will take you to the 4th section. Slide the position bar to 55 miniutes where Pam's presentation starts.
Amid the barrage of broadcast, cable and satellite heavyweights appearing before the CRTC as it ponders the future of Canadian TV, a sole grassroots voice gained a measure of applause Tuesday.
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Digital multiplexing will improve the quality and choice of free over-the-air TV but broadcasting must also return to its roots. Before TV was corporatized, the station was the heart of a community. Loyal viewers watched local TV because they saw themselves and their communities reflected in the programming - - something they would never see on big networks.
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