Canadian television signals turn digital beginning September 1st

CALGARY – The countdown is on for Canadian television viewers.

Those who use rabbit ears or an outdoor antenna to watch local television will need to make some changes over the summer.

Beginning September 1st, television stations across Canada will begin broadcasting their over the air signals in digital.

Those who have an older television will have to buy a small converter box and a suitable antenna to continue to receive a television signal.

“We can get you into a digital box and hook up an HD antenna to it,” says Chris Chow, video manager at London Drugs.

“That will allow you to catch the over the air signal again or you can buy a digital TV with a tuner built into it and hook up an antenna again and you’ll get it that way.”

Most new TV’s have the digital tuner built in.

To find out if your TV has a built in tuner, look for the term “˜digital tuner’, “˜ATSC tuner’ or “˜integrated tuner’ on your TV or it’s manual.

If your TV does have a digital tuner, follow the steps in your manual to receive digital signals. However, you may still need to purchase a new antenna.

The CRTC says there are approximately 850,000 homes which still watch TV with an outdoor antenna or rabbit ears.

“We’re looking at around $50 or $60 for the digital box but the over the air signal is free,” says Chow.

Antenna’s range in price from $30 to $90.

Cable and satellite subscribers will not need to make a change as the switch will only affect over-the-air television subscribers.

In areas where an over the air signal will no longer be available, some cable and satellite providers will offer free satellite dishes for every home with the stations they would normally receive over the air free of charge.

For more details on the Canadian digital transition, visit shaw.ca/dtv or www.digitaltelevision.info.gc.ca.