After August 31, 2011, most Canadians will no longer be able to receive analog television transmissions over the air. Are we ready? Is the transition worth it? Who stands to win: consumers, or industry?
To discuss these questions, Nora talked to Michael Geist and Bill St. Arnaud. Michael is a law professor at the University of Ottawa, and the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law. Bill is a Green IT consultant who works on next generation internet, cyber-infrastructure, and innovation.
A shorter version of this interview will air on an upcoming episode of Spark, but you can hear the full, uncut interview below, or download the MP3. [runs 15:42]
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If you're an over-the-air television viewer living in Canada I would like to interview you for my blog, http://dudewhereismytv.wordpress.com/
In the olden days all one needed was a radio / TV and "rabbit ears" to be entertained via an unquantifiable, time limited signal for free.
In return, the viewer was asked to put up with commercials that provided the economic viability.
Today, the digital subscriber is urged to save the planet by replacing monthly paper invoices with monthly automatic premium monthly fee bank transfers arguably said to support technology that transmits the likes of Fox News Network in High Definition
Yet, commercials designed since antiquity remain, and seemingly more pervasive than ever.
As service providers become more skilled at quantifying and billing for every ounce of data that comes down the pike, perhaps the financial and mental costs of digital entertainment will reach "critical mass" for some at the end of the tunnel.
In fact, if "The Big Bang Theory" is cancelled, I know of one viewer who might opt out of their digital subscription, go for a walk instead and ponder their new found wealth.