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An overwhelming majority - 84% - of residents in one of the Canadian cities that risks losing over-the-air television after 2011, says it is unfair that they will be deprived access to free TV signals.
The poll was conducted in Kamloops, a city that is representative of the hundreds of communities across Canada that are excluded from a recent CRTC ruling requiring broadcasters to provide over-the-air signals in only 29 major cities after the transition to digital TV.
That CRTC ruling stands to take away the option of watching TV for free, over the air, from 11 million Canadians - about 30% of the population - who live outside the biggest cities.
" 'This poll confirms that people don't think the two-tier approach to television service is fair,' " says Lise Lareau, national president of the Canadian Media Guild. " 'How can we simply accept a plan that hands free TV service to big-city Canadians and cuts off everyone else?' "
The poll also shows that people reject the alternative being proposed by the industry - to force those who rely on free, over-the-air TV in those communities to start paying for cable or satellite. None of those who currently watch the three available free channels in Kamloops exclusively using rabbit ears or an antenna say they would pay for cable or satellite if those free signals disappear in 2011. Nearly half of this group says they would simply live without TV while 42% say they'd watch TV shows on the internet.
Right now, 6% of people in Kamloops watch TV over the air. The poll revealed that these viewers are committed to free TV viewing. In addition, there is significant interest among those who subscribe to cable and satellite for a modestly improved menu of free TV channels.
In fact, one-third of Kamloops residents say they would rather watch six free TV stations than pay for cable or satellite if the stations included the three that are currently available. Younger people are even more interested in the free TV option, with 42% of people aged 18 to 34 saying they would rather watch six free stations than pay for cable or satellite.
Vector Research + Development conducted the poll in mid-July. The CMG, which represents employees at Canadian broadcasters, commissioned the poll.
More than three-quarters of people in Kamloops know only a little (50%) or nothing (26%) about the transition to digital TV scheduled for 2011.
" 'Canadians need to know there is a viable way to save, and even improve, free TV and no one is telling them about it,' " Lareau says. " 'The CRTC and the government should rethink the way they are handling the transition to digital TV.' "
Source: Broadcaster, 07/29/2009
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