Just noticed that the only real Canadian subcarrier channel I’ve ever heard of appears to be no more. For several years, Global had been carrying an SD version of its High Def output on channel 41.2, for those who get their TV off an antenna. I’ve never been able to figure out why it was there, exactly, but it was.
 
Sometime in the last few weeks, though, it disappeared. Or at least the video and audio did. My set still reads a 100% signal and quality strength on the now black channel, but there’s nothing there.
 
It’s a shame Canadian stations aren’t allowed to have the same kind of digital extras that the U.S. has. WGRZ alone now has three additional channels piggybacked onto its main signal, a mostly sitcom rerun station, a crime and justice format and the latest, a sort of poor man’s Discovery network.
 
I’m not entirely sure if they’re not allowed here or the companies simply don’t care. Bell and Rogers are unlikely to ever take advantage of it in any case, preferring you subscribe and pay for any of their offerings as opposed to giving anything away for free. But I wonder if a TVO, a CHCH or even a CBC would be interested in launching a turnkey subcarrier if given the chance. Although given TVO's infamous attempt to shut down all but its Toronto OTA transmitters, I doubt they'd go for it, either
 
Although most cord-cutters are watching over the Internet these days, my friends in the antenna business tell me they can’t keep up with demand and that for the most part business is booming. So someone is watching OTA. And if you believe them, it’s a growing number.