1 of 1- RadioActive
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Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
This almost certainly won't affect anyone around here - and judging from the reaction, no one in the markets where they exist will care much, either.
The CRTC has granted permission for CHCH to shut down two rebroadcasting transmitters, one in Sudbury and the other in Sault Ste. Marie. The station says it did not receive a single complaint about the request.
CHCH's plea to the regulator contains some familiar material:
"Both transmitters are analog, at the end of their operating lives, need significant and costly maintenance, and generate no incremental revenue for CHCH-TV. Indeed, when transmitter failures occurred in the last two years, CHCH-TV received no complaints or calls from viewers. Updating the transmitters to digital would entail significant cost, for which there would be no return on investment..."
"The evidence suggests that very few viewers have availed themselves of analog over the air reception of CHCH-TV in Sudbury & Sault Ste. Marie. This is evidently because CHCH-TV is readily available online (free on Parrot TV) and through broadcasting distribution undertakings."
But perhaps this is the most interesting - and worrying - part of their filing:
"In the 2025 and 2026 broadcast years, for only the second time since Channel Zero Inc. acquired the station in 2009, CHCH-TV will have lost money. Both times are largely the result of unexpected losses in news funding...This all occurring, of course, over a period of steady declines in broadcast television advertising."
Owner Channel Zero says loss of funding from the online streaming act is another factor.
The CRTC granted the requests.
- markow202
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
It then looks like the repeater in Muskoka for CHCH (67) which is suspended on the Global tower between Port Severn and Bala will stay on as this one is digital.
- Radiowiz
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
Understand this:
When Channel zero first took over CHCH they were making good money with their Adult Entertainment sources.
In 2026, there is no shortage of free porn sites on the internet. I mean, I honestly don't know if this comes with free malware, but it is there for those who desire it at no cost.
Therefore, it is quite possible that Channel Zero is not making nearly as much money all around as it once did.
- ig
- Iain Grant
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
That was my first thought also. It's no secret porn moved online.
I can't imagine there are enough ATSC tv's out there to justify the rebroadcasters anyway.
Odds are most people are using legal or illegal IPTV boxes and not even putting a paper clip in the F connector to see what's out there. I also can't think of a show that would generate that RF hunger anyway. If it was a hockey or baseball channel then maybe but.. umm... Hogan's Heroes maybe?
Radiowiz wrote:
Understand this:
When Channel zero first took over CHCH they were making good money with their Adult Entertainment sources.
In 2026, there is no shortage of free porn sites on the internet. I mean, I honestly don't know if this comes with free malware, but it is there for those who desire it at no cost.
Therefore, it is quite possible that Channel Zero is not making nearly as much money all around as it once did.
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
- andysradio
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
In actual fact, I think these two transmitter have been off the air for some time. They still run stations in North Bay and Timmins. Who is watching though?
- RadioActive
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
Which would explain why they needed to pass one final regulatory hoop from the CRTC to make it official.
And you gotta love this other explanation given by the regulator.
"The Commission notes that licences...are authorizations to broadcast, not obligations to do so. In other words, while the Commission has the discretion to refuse to revoke such authority, it cannot generally direct a licensee to continue to operate transmitters."
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Thread Starter- mace
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
I guess this will mean CHCH will lose simsub rights in Sudbury and the Sault. Not really a big deal. The only shows I can think of that were simsubbed are the new CBS sudser Beyond The Gates and 20/20.
- BringBackFreeFormFM
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
In actual fact, I think these two transmitter have been off the air for some time. They still run stations in North Bay and Timmins. Who is watching though?
You're correct - as far as their re-broadcaster in Sudbury goes. We don't subscribe to any TV service but we've been watching CTV North (for local news) on analog Ch 5, and Global (for T.O. news and their national news only) on digital Ch 20 for the last 5 years so CHCH has been absent in this area for at least that long.
- markow202
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
So basically the only re-broadcaster CHCH converted back in 2012 or so, was CHCH-67 Muskoka.
- RadioActive
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Re: Two CHCH TV Transmitters Shut Down, As Stn. Pleads Losses
I have to say I'm surprised there are any analogue TV stations (or repeaters) left in Canada.
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