An article last Monday in the “Law Bytes” column of The [Toronto] Star explains how a decision from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) could spell the end of free off-air TV in all but the largest markets in Canada.
The article, ”Free, off-air TV fades to black” by Michael Geist, explains that after broadcasters in Canada argued that with less than 10 percent of the audience viewing off-air signals, the digital transition was economically viable only in major markets. The CRTC has ruled that broadcasters are only expected to convert to digital in markets above a certain size with a certain number of TV stations. Refer to the article for the definition what CRTC defines as a “major market.”
Not only will viewers in most communities lose free off-air TV, but they will likely have to pay more to get service via cable, as CRTC allowed broadcasters to charge cable operators a fee for their signals. Cable and satellite providers said this could add $6/month to many cable bills.
Michael Geist holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa. His article has a good overview of the Canadian broadcasters' situation.
