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What You Need to Know About the Analog-to-Digital Television Transition in Canada
Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA)
THE TRANSITION
WHAT IS THE AUGUST 31, 2011 DEADLINE?

The Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) set a final deadline for digital (DTV) transition of August 31, 2011. All over-the-air television stations will continue broadcasting in analog (present television) until that deadline, at which time, analog emissions have to switch to digital (DTV). Conventional (analog) television sets (sets that don't have a digital tuner) receiving over-the-air television will require a set-top converter box to change the digital signal to analog.

WHY ARE WE SWITCHING TO DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)?

DTV is a more flexible and *spectrum-efficient technology than analog television. DTV also allows a broadcaster to provide a "high definition" (HDTV) program or multiple "standard definition" DTV programs instead of a single analog program. The number of programs a station can transmit on one digital channel depends on the resolution of the picture of each program. Most developed countries are switching to DTV between 2009 and 2012.

Since digital television is more spectrum-efficient than analog television, conversion to digital will free up parts of valuable airwaves for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (police, fire departments, etc.) that will benefit Canadians.

* Spectrum refers to the Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum, which is the entire range of electromagnetic communications frequencies, including those used for radio broadcasting, cellular telephone, radar, and television.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANALOG TELEVISION AND DIGITAL TELEVISION (DTV)?

Compared to analog, digital broadcasting is capable of significantly increased resolution of images, and provides for better quality multi-channel sound. For viewers, this means sharper pictures and improved sound. DTV also allows for more channels to be delivered, and supports HDTV.

WILL THE UNITED STATES TRANSITION, SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2009, AFFECT CANADIANS?

Canadians using a conventional (analog) television to receive over-the-air broadcast signals from the United States will require a set-top converter box to continue to do so after February 17, 2009. However, all Canadians will continue to receive Canadian over-the-air broadcast signals with a conventional (analog) television until the Canadian transition date of August 31, 2011.

MY TELEVISION
WILL MY TELEVISION SET STILL WORK?

Once the transition takes place, Canadians with analog televisions using over-the-air signals will have to add a set-top converter box, or use a television with a built-in (integrated) digital tuner, to continue to view over-the-air broadcasts.

Canadians who already have televisions with a digital tuner or who subscribe to digital cable or satellite services should see no change. *If you have analog cable, please refer to the response for the question, "I have analog cable. What do I need to do?" below.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN ANALOG OR DIGITAL TELEVISION?

To find out if you have an analog or digital television, you need to check your television set to identify whether you have an analog or a digital tuner.

To do so, start with your owner's manual. If it is not listed in the manual, contact the retailer where you originally purchased the television. Note that your manual may not use the terms "digital tuner" or "analog tuner". A digital tuner could also be listed as "ATSC tuner". An analog tuner could also be listed as "NTSC tuner".

* Sets with integrated digital or digital/analog tuners will continue to receive over-the-air digital television once the transition has taken place.
* Sets with an analog tuner will no longer receive over-the-air television once the transition takes place without the addition of a set-top converter box.
* If your set does not have a tuner at all, then you have a monitor rather than a television.

Monitors may be labelled as "Digital or DTV Monitor", "High-Definition or HDTV Monitor", "Digital or DTV Ready" or "High-Definition or HDTV Ready". These sets can receive and display digital signals if they are attached to an external tuner, such as a cable box or satellite receiver or an over-the-air digital set-top box (see DTV Tuner box below). Some of the newer, flat-screen computer monitors may also be capable of working with an external tuner. If you plan to use an external tuner with a monitor, ensure that it is a digital tuner. (Note: this box is different than a set-top converter box, used to convert digital over-the-air broadcast signals for viewing on an analog television set.)

I HAVE ANALOG CABLE. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

You will not have to do anything when the transition happens in 2011. Cable TV service providers may eventually stop providing analog TV channels to their clients by converting their cable service to an all-digital service. If analog TV channels are no longer provided by cable, cable subscribers who currently have televisions connected to analog cable service (coaxial cable connected to cable input terminal of the television set) will have to purchase or rent a digital cable box from their cable service provider to continue to receive the cable channels. Both analog and digital television sets can receive digital cable with the addition of a digital cable box.

SET-TOP BOXES
WHAT IS A SET-TOP CONVERTER BOX AND ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF SET-TOP-BOXES?

A "Set-Top-Box" is an external device that can process or convert a received signal that is not compatible with the television receiver. In the context of over-the-air digital television, there are two types of set-top boxes:

* Converter Boxes: A basic converter box that receives and converts an over-the-air digital TV signal to analog for display on a standard analog television.
* DTV Tuner Boxes: A set top box that receives an over-the-air digital TV signal for display on a Digital/HD-Ready or a Digital/HD-Compatible screen.

WHERE CAN I FIND A SET-TOP CONVERTER BOX AND HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?

The set-top converter boxes should be available starting in 2009 and should be in most retail stores by 2011. By the 2011 deadline, set-top converter boxes are expected to cost less than $100.

CAN I USE A CONVERTER BOX FROM THE UNITED STATES?

As the digital transition is approaching sooner in the United States than in Canada, some Canadians may also be thinking about purchasing an digital-to-analog converter box in the US.

All Canadian consumers obtaining a box from outside of Canada should note that all converter boxes need to be compatible with, and labelled according to the BETS-7 - Technical Standards and Requirements for Radio Apparatus Capable of Receiving Television Broadcasting before they are imported, sold or offered in Canada.

According to Section 3.3(c) of these standards, Canadians obtaining an digital-to-analog set-top converter box from outside Canada should look for the following label to ensure the box is suitable for use in Canada: “Supplementary Television Receiving Apparatus - Appareil supplémentaire de réception de télévision, Canada BETS-7 / NTMR-7”.

It is to be noted that the technical requirements of BETS-7 relating to digital-to-analog converter boxes are harmonized with the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) requirements, therefore converter boxes that meet the US NTIA requirements should function properly in Canada.

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