Letter to the Editor: Shame on you, CBC

Dear Editor:

One year ago, Canada switched over to digital television broadcasting from analogue transmissions in order to free up room on the airwaves for expanding cell phone and emergency communications. Digital signals take up less bandwidth than analogue, and more content can be broadcast through sub-channels.

All you need to receive these FREE transmissions is to have a TV with a digital tuner (if your TV is less than five years old, ATSC tuners are built in) and an antenna (you can even make one yourself with coat hangers and a piece of wood.)

But that's not what I'm here to talk about — you need to know about the CBC and the people at the helm that are making all of the wrong decisions recently. First off, in October of last year, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation decided to reduce the quality of its transmissions to 720p from 1080i. For those of you who do not understand these numbers, it is simply the resolution of the picture. Most new TVs are capable of 1080i (think of Blu-ray or PS3) but the cable and satellite companies are only putting out 720p. That was the reason the CBC gave to us for downgrading its signal. Since most Canadians watch their TV through cable or satellite — that was their first misconception.

Now in London, at the end of July 2012, the CBC (in its infinite wisdom) finally ceased their analogue TV transmissions in London, and will not be replacing the transmitter with a new digital transmitter. Do you understand what this means? In the 10th largest city in Canada (and area), you will no longer be able to watch Hockey Night in Canada or Dragon's Den or The National with Peter Mansbridge (the only three programs really worth watching, in my humble opinion), unless, of course, you subscribe to Mr. Cable or Ma Satellite and pay them hundreds of dollars per year for all of the other fluff you don't want.

I'm trying to wrap my brain around the concept: the CBC is supposed to be our national broadcaster — but not in London!! Their position is that no one watches with an antenna anymore. Hello, McFly!!! There are over 10,000 TV watchers in the London area who watch their TV with an antenna — and the number is growing.

Unless I am completely mistaken, it seems the CBC is in bed with the Big Three (Rogers, Bell and Shaw; first they change their transmissions to line up with them, and now they refuse to broadcast television any more in SW Ontario, forcing people to pay to watch TV).

When did that happen, by the way? I remember having an antenna to watch TV and then the cable company came along and said, “Here, have all of these channels and pay us $5 a month.” Now all of these years later, we are paying through the nose to watch signals that they get for free (or real cheap). Most households in Canada are paying $40 to $120/month for their TV fix, but some don't even know the exact amount because everything is ‘bundled.' Bruce Springsteen was right when he sang, “57 Channels and Nothing's On.” If there is nothing worth watching, why are we paying $500 to $1,000 per year? Some smart consumers have realized that they can get all of the TV stations they need (including American broadcasts) with a coathanger or an antenna. But soon we will be ‘deprived' of the CBC (unless you live closer to the centre of the universe: Toronto).

We as individual people can't do much except complain to our MP or write a letter to the editor, but I'm here to tell you there is something you can do. Revolt!

We can do the same thing with the CBC. Leave sneaker prints on their foreheads as you go over their heads. Remember that the Canadian Broadcast Corporation belongs to the people of Canada (we pay for it with our taxes) and WE have the final say about what goes on through our watchdog — the CRTC. If the top brass at the CBC have their heads so far up their arses that they cannot see the writing on the wall, perhaps it is time to replace them with someone who is not blind to reality.

We will fight for the right to watch CBC for free in London. There will be a petition that you can sign this fall and I will be posting the names and phone numbers of our local MPs, as well as the top brass at the CBC. Let them know you are pissed off and willing to help them lose their jobs (MPs as well as CBC execs) if they do not listen. Somebody is getting paid WAY too much at the top if they cannot see what is right in front of their eyes, and that can be changed. What — did they think they have a job for life? Get real!

But the biggest thing you can do is talk amongst yourselves. Discuss the problem and possible solutions. Run for office and get the rules changed, write letters and emails to CBC execs and CRTC and your MP. Let them know that we will not take this lying down.

Geoff Tebbutt
Former Interrobang staff

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.