Canada…the True North Strong and Free, home of hockey, maple syrup, Canadian geese and the most positive people on earth. But why are Canadians so happy? It could be in part to watching TV for a quarter of their life times. Adult Canadians spend up to 28.8 hours a week and 1,500 hours every year watching TV. And half of Canadians have a TV in their main bedroom and 128,000 households have them in the bathroom. But, in a little over a year Canadians will be going through the same digital TV transition the United States and much of Europe has gone through.
While digital TV will deliver much better picture and sound quality, The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission will not be subsidizing the transition like the U.S., instead “industry-led solutions will ensure a smooth transition for consumers.”
That means coupons will not be available for digital converter boxes, possibly leaving up to 857,000 households in large markets without over-the-air television, that’s an estimated one million Canadians. After the digital transition in the United States and Europe many made the switch to over-the-air television, leading to unprecedented growth and estimates that 1.6 million Americans will cancel their cable or satellite provider by the end of 2011.
It seems our “friendly” neighbors to the north could become just a little less friendly, if they are left with a blank TV screen. There is still a year left until broadcasters make the switch, but Canadians overall are left with fewer resources than their American or European cousins. To help our Canadian neighbors keep their slight lead over Japan as the most positive country, we can answer questions about digital TV, over-the-air television antennas and general product information. Give us a call at 877-825-5572.