The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Why All Radio & TV In Ontario Will Be Interrupted On Wednesday

**Posted by RadioActive** May 5, 2025 7:13 am

They're doing another Emergency Alert test, which will take over the audio on radio and video on almost all Canadian TV stations on Wednesday. The scheduled time in Ontario is 12:55 PM.

It will happen in every province across the country at different times, but for some reason not Quebec, which is not conducting any test at all.

And here's something I didn't know - these tests have a very specific schedule.

"The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission requires wireless service providers and broadcasters to send at least one test alert per year, either in May during Emergency Preparedness Week and/or in November."

Which means the next one could come in the fall.

Testing Of Canada's Public Alerting System Coming May 7th

**Posted by newsguy1** May 5, 2025 11:27 am

Even when I was a kid and I saw that Emergency Broadcasting Centre PSA on the TV, I knew "If it had been a real emergency." in other words an atomic bomb attack, we'd all be dead no matter what frequency we turned to.

**Posted by turkeytop** May 5, 2025 8:21 pm

While we were in Florida we were facing the possibility of a real emergency. There were severe thunderstorms with tornados popping up around the area. We were glued to the local news channel waiting for the latest word.

Then came a scheduled test of the emergency system. It blanked out coverage of the real emergency for about three minutes.

**Posted by RadioActive** May 7, 2025 7:01 am

Just a reminder that this happens across the province at 12:55 PM, if you're listening or watching anything. And even if you're not, you'll probably still hear it - most phones carry the test.

**Posted by Easily Amused** May 7, 2025 7:11 am

Far be it from me 😇 to point out the fact, but wasn't there a province wide test a few years back that failed miserably? What was supposed to be a single alert at a specific time turned into a patchwork of failed tests in various regions. I do not recall the specific date, but I recall discussing this with relatives around the province. 😈
*
Besides, all a Canadian needs to do is follow US invasion plans on that dolt Hegseth's 🥴 SIGNAL account. 🤨

**Posted by RadioActive** May 7, 2025 12:50 pm

Well, here's an irony. The Emergency Alert test in Alberta has been cancelled.

Why?

Because there's the possibility of an actual emergency.

The danger of a wildfire spread has forced officials to put the kibosh on the test, in case people don't take the real thing seriously.

Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

Emergency test alert for Alberta cancelled due to raging wildfires

**Posted by The Weed** May 7, 2025 12:58 pm

My phone just lit up with the Emergency Alert. When I clicked to go to the EA website, it came up with "Bad Gateway".

Good thing it's only a "Test".

**Posted by Easily Amused** May 7, 2025 12:58 pm

They were late. 🤨
12:56 instead of 12:55.
I know, kwitcherbitchin. 😁

**Posted by betaylored** May 7, 2025 5:00 pm

It blared on my radio first then my cellphone. 🥱

At the rock radio station I worked at we had an assistant production manager who'd always say "Be a-lert, the world needs more lerts." during emergency tests. Needless to say Ken never made it to production manager.

**Posted by In Phase** May 7, 2025 8:14 pm

Easily Amused wrote:
Far be it from me to point out the fact, but wasn't there a province wide test a few years back that failed miserably? What was supposed to be a single alert at a specific time turned into a patchwork of failed tests in various regions

This is why they test

**Posted by mace** May 7, 2025 9:57 pm

I was having a Fish & Chip lunch with a friend when the alert happened. It was weird hearing 40 phones all going off simultaneously.

**Posted by Radiowiz** May 7, 2025 10:06 pm

CTV had it all timed out well.
Their news @ noon went to ads just before the test, so there's no loss...except maybe to the advertiser who didn't get to be heard.

**Posted by haydenmatthews14** May 8, 2025 3:07 pm

Easily Amused wrote:
They were late. 🤨
12:56 instead of 12:55.
I know, kwitcherbitchin. 😁

Mine on my iPhone came up at 12:54 yesterday.