On April 9, 2008 at 10:57, Biggy said...
Many of us are looking forward to adding OMMI 1, OMNI2
and Global to the list of OTA channels to list. Unfortunately
this could be short lived as the CRTC may give in to the
GlobalCTV and allow them to stop transmitting OTA signals.
If is happens then most likely all the Canadian stations
will for suit :-(
It's interesting to note that most, if not all, OTA broadcasters lease space at their transmitter sites to radio stations, cellular providers, etc., so it's not as if their transmission infrastructure is a black hole to their bottom line. I'd venture a guess that in fact, most OTA broadcasters, with stand-alone tower sites, have virtually no cost to operate/maintain their transmitters, when revenues from co-locating are considered -- they're just not raking in gobs of extra money that they think they deserve if they could charge BDUs for use of their signals.
I have been following this issue for quite awhile and
it looks like CRTC is more like a puppet and unable to
standup for Canadians.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
On the plus side we can still get the US stations I haven’t
heard anything from FCC in the US, they have no such plans
to shut down free OTA signals.
Not by a longshot. I've never quite understood how in America, where I always assume profit trumps all else, that THEY'RE not the ones whining about why OTA still exists, but no, here we are in Canada, trying to do away with free, all in the name of profit for monopolistic corporations.
And look at how local stations are almost nonexistent, nowadays. Broadcasters think they can make more money simply by importing more Hollywood gossip trash programming.
Sad indeed.
