Comment: CRTC policy hinders HD adoption

If the CRTC is looking for ways to spur the conversion to high-definition television, it should look no further than its own policies, which discourage actual HD adoption by allowing BDUs to pass off up-converted standard definition programming as true HD. As would-be broadcaster HDTV Networks Inc. pointed out last week, surveys still report that 40% of people with HD-capable television sets are unaware they require a separate set-top box to receive HD signals. This fact is prompting BDUs to take action; ads are running letting consumers know the $1200 television they just bought is useless without an HD box. But what BDUs aren't telling consumers is that what they're paying extra for is not true HD - it's inferior quality, up-converted standard definition (SD) programming. The CRTC does not require a minimum level of true HD content to be delivered over a broadcaster's HD channel. It never has. The policy was put in place to encourage broadcasters to offer HD channels, but it forsakes true HD programming and devalues the technology in the eyes of viewers. Anyone who's seen true HD programming knows it is well above comparison with up-converted SD. If you haven't, find someone with an HD package and switch back and forth between a sporting event in HD and an up-converted re-run of Law & Order and see for yourself. In fact, up-converted SD is barely better quality television than regular SD - sometimes it's actually worse. But it's been passed off to consumers as high-definition with no explanation of the truth. In a practice that propagates the confusion, BDUs compete for subscribers for their premium-priced HD service by boasting of how many HD channels they offer. But none talk in terms of true HD content because there isn't much around. Canadian Communications Reports frequently notes that Toronto-based broadcaster High Fidelity HDTV (HIFI) is Canada's all-HD leader with four 24/7 HD channels. Even if HIFI only offered the two channels it launched with almost two years ago it would still be the all-HD leader. From a listing standpoint, HIFI is lumped in with all of the other mass up-converters. "We told the commission that it's outrageous for their rules to permit someone that programs 10% of their schedule in HD to call themselves an HD channel," HIFI co-founder John Panikkar told CCR last month. He's right. By giving away the carrot for free the CRTC has removed any regulatory incentive for broadcasters to increase their levels of true HD programming. It may be time for the stick. The CRTC needs to revisit its HD channel policy and institute minimum content thresholds for broadcasters to be able to claim stake to a HD channel. Or, if the commission would prefer to let market forces dictate, it should let HD channels only be live when they are displaying true-HD (otherwise, have an on-screen message telling viewers to tune to that channel's SD slot on the dial). When broadcasters have to operate in a regime where their HD channel is only live for a few hours a week, and BDUs can't pass off up-converted SD as part of their HD package, maybe then will be some incentive for more people to drive the conversion. Last week's hearing into HDTV Networks' licence application put the spotlight back on Canada's slow conversion to an all-HD universe. Regardless of how the commission rules, lets hope the process prompts the regulator to re-examine its role in prolonging HD adoption.

Comment: CRTC policy hinders HD adoption

Broadcast | February 19, 2008

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