[GTALUG] ot: sort of, is it really impossible to get real cable anymore?

[Karen Lewellen]

Hi Evan,
A small correction.
the shift has not gone from platform to content at all.
That is because one must use the platform, and the tools connecting with 
that platform to reach existing content...and there is tons of it.
The ability to say turn on and off audio description via cable boxes, or 
for the content to be presented via  Fibe is a provider problem, bell, 
Rogers, Tellus etc.
The cRTc has not done enough to enforce, which is, in part, why there is 
an accessible Canada act now.
Nothing has to be extracted, audio description is incorporated in to the 
content fully, but the tool used for presentation  must allow that content 
to be experienced.
I could explain this  using say cineplex as an example compared to say 
tiff bell  lightbox, if not too much of a tangent?
Actually can use  streaming as an example too?
Kare



On Thu, 30 Nov 2023, Evan Leibovitch wrote:

> Hi again,
>
> On Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 12:40 PM Karen Lewellen via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
> wrote:
>
>
>> First, I am not 100% certain that all analog or standard definition channels
>> are gone, unless that has happened since 2022.
>>
>
> Looking at TV Fool data for postal code M1M, your closest analog signal is
> channel 22, (CHEX) Global in Peterborough. It's reported as one-third the
> signal strength of the CN Tower digital broadcasts. But I'm not sure if
> it's operational.
>
> The CRTC required TV stations to go digital from August 31, 2011. All major
> networks had shut down their analog signals by 2013.
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television_in_Canada#Transition_details
>
> Back in 2013 "DTV converter boxes" were common from a number of sources and
> I recall them being subsidized. Every TV made since then has had the
> digital tuner built in so demand for the boxes has shriveled, and there are
> only a few options remaining like the Mediasonic.
>
>
>> I say this because although bell does not in any way shape or form provide accessible
>> set top boxes at all, In fact David Lepofky has a federal human rights
>> case about this, they did provide  several standard definition channels
>> via satellite television, with things like audio description provided
>> automatically.
>>
>
> It seems that from a policy perspective, focus has shifted from platform to
> content. Having made a complete transition to digital, producers have been
> encouraged (with limited success) in making content with Described Audio.
> As you said, this is not so much a provision of Bell or Rogers but rather
> the ability of your TV or tuner to extract the DA alternate audio tracks
> from the digital signal.
>
> I have allot of holiday traditions built around local and u. s.
> broadcast channels,
>> that I might get Buffalo's classical radio station again?  that is just
>> icing on the frosting.
>>
>
> Confirmed. If you are able to receive the Buffalo PBS station (channel 17)
> on your digital setup, the classical broadcast (WNED-FM) will be available
> audio-only on channel 31.10 as a substation of WNED-DT
>
> - Evan
>