August 2011 deadline for digital switch not realistic for all broadcasters, warns Rogers and Corus

Television broadcasters operating in major markets may be given some flexibility in meeting a August 2011 deadline for converting their over-the-air signals to digital, if Rogers Broadcasting Ltd and Corus Entertainment Inc. succeed in convincing the CRTC to be flexible. Released in July, the Aug. 31, 2011 digital deadline applies to all national capital and provincial and territorial capital cities, as well as major markets served by at least two stations (including CBC) or with populations greater than 30,000. But Rogers and Corus warn broadcasters might face challenges in shutting down their analog operations or encounter “unavoidable” delays in installing digital transmitters after the Aug. 31 2011 deadline. The companies were responding to a CRTC call for comment in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2009-615, on a revised licensing framework for DTV television services, issued on Oct. 5. The deadline for comments was Nov. 2. “While we do not advocate that the 2011 digital conversion date be changed or delayed, it must be recognized that in some cases broadcasters may need additional time to complete the post-transition implementation of their transmitters. It may be impractical, for example, to engineer and implement the post-transition digital transmitter within an abbreviated timeframe, especially when the station will ultimately return to the existing analog channel in post-transition,” writes Susan Wheeler, VP, regulatory affairs, Rogers Media Inc. If an extension provision is worked into the revised policy now, the companies say it will save everyone the trouble of later having to file for an extension, and waiting for processing and approval from the CRTC. “RBL submits that it is appropriate to provide a degree of flexibility with respect to the requirement to cease transition DTV operations on August 31, 2011,” states Wheeler. Rogers and Corus also raised other technical and financial issues in their interventions. One concern is a provision that would require broadcasters to provide digital coverage that replicates current analog coverage after the switch to digital. Both companies argue that technical limitations will make it impossible for DTV channels to match analog coverage. “This is especially true when a broadcaster implements a UHF DTV transmitter to replace a VHF analog transmitter, but the UHF coverage at maximum permissible operating parameters is smaller than the existing analog VHF coverage,” writes Sylvie Courtemanche, VP, government relations at Corus. As well, both companies say reception of digital signals can be undermined by the digital cliff effect if digital transmitters are relocated to a different site other than that for the analog transmitter. Rogers also notes that economic factors may not make the stipulation to replicate analog coverage feasible. Wheeler stresses that towers may not have the capacity to carry DTH services and this may compel broadcasters to relocate and to cut costs by sharing towers with other broadcasters. “In these and similar situations, it is impractical to expect that the digital coverage will be the same as the existing analog coverage,” she states. Rogers and Corus also note that officially designated coverage areas are not always accurate indicators of where a station’s signal can be received, adding that topography and other factors affect reception of both digital and analog signals. In the current transition period, DTV transmitters operate side by side with analog transmitters. However, DTV transmitters function on an interim channel and at reduced strength, thus offering limited coverage. Once analog transmitters shutdown in 2011, DTV transmitters will run at their full strength and offer wider coverage. Under the CRTC’s revised framework, licences for transition DTV services will not be renewed beyond Aug. 31 2011. Amending analog licences to facilitate operation of DTV services will also not be allowed. So far, the commission has approved 25 applications for transitional DTV licences.

August 2011 deadline for digital switch not realistic for all broadcasters, warns Rogers and Corus

Broadcast | November 4, 2009

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