Canada's transition to digital television: from policy to reality

Abstract

The implementation of digital technology in Canada has been an inevitable reality for over ten years. Although the industry recognizes the need for the transition, not all broadcasters have yet digested the attached price tag. Instead of investing money on infrastructure early on to prepare, many focused on mergers and acquisitions. This, along with the current economic crisis, has exacerbated the implementation of the new technology. Government has also held back by not providing a relevant policy framework in which the industry and society as a whole can work to move the project along. This lack of leadership has left the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to fend for itself. This article summarizes the debates at hand and details the technological and financial challenges facing the industry by providing results of a thorough analysis of interview data and documentation from the press and government.