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CRTC extends the analog to digital TV conversion to August 2012

Posted by Hugh Thompson on August 16, 2011 · 6 Comments

In a surprise decision handed down today, the CRTC has allowed the CBC to continue broadcasting analog television signals in twenty-two markets until August 2012.

The move effectively guts the federal regulators original 2007 decision which would require Canadian television broadcasters to switch their broadcast over-the-air (OTA) television signals from analog to digital by August 31st of this year.

For the last four years, the CRTC says the conversion is necessary in order to free up television spectrum (from what is currently used for channels 52 to 69) which could then be used for other purposes like advanced wireless and public safety services, such as those used by police and fire departments.

The transmitters which will remain analog are primarily English language transmitters in Quebec and French Language transmitters outside of Quebec. A complete list of analog transmitters to be left in operation include:

English-language television

CBRT-6 Lethbridge, Alberta

CBAT-TV Saint John, New Brunswick

CBAT-TV-2 Moncton, New Brunswick

CBLN-TV London, Ontario

CBLN-TV-1 Paris, Ontario (serving Kitchener-Waterloo)

CBMT-3 Sherbrooke, Quebec

CBJET Chicoutimi, Quebec

CBVE-TV Québec, Quebec

CBMT-1 Trois-Rivières, Quebec

CBKST Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

French-language television

CBRFT Calgary, Alberta

CBXFT-3 Lethbridge, Alberta

CBAFT-1 Saint John, New Brunswick

CBAFT-10 Fredericton, New Brunswick

CBHFT Halifax, Nova Scotia

CBAFT-5 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

CBFJ-TV St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

CBLFT-9 London, Ontario

CBLFT-8 Kitchener, Ontario

CBLFT-18 Thunder Bay, Ontario

CBEFT Windsor, Ontario

CBKFT-1 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Discuss the decision in Digital Home’s Television Industry / Channels and Providers forum.