The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / OTA Viewers In Buffalo & Toronto Losing A Channel This Month

**Posted by RadioActive** November 1, 2024 1:21 pm

Not sure if anyone in either area ever watched Scripps News, which for the moment, remains perched on ION TV's channel 51.6 from Buffalo. It comes in very well in the GTA, but has been centered heavily on U.S. politics and isn't all that popular.

Turns out, it wasn't a big draw anywhere in the States, either, which is why you won't be seeing it anymore as of Nov. 15th. Scripps, which owns the national channel, has been finding it difficult to attract advertisers and will turn off its OTA version, fire some 200 employees and continue on solely online and via connected TV services like Roku and Amazon Fire.

There's no word on what - if anything - will take its place on the WPXJ subcarrier, but it's worth keeping an eye on the empty channel after the middle of the month to see if something new is there.

It won't be the end of the company's influence in the OTA market, however. WKBW-TV is owned by Scripps and will remain on the air with its own local daily and evening newscasts.

Scripps News to focus coverage on streaming and connected TV

**Posted by mic'em** November 2, 2024 8:52 am

Somewhat related, we in the north, are losing an entire internet and TV provider. I received an email yesterday that Sunwire has been sold to East Link. When I moved up here last February , I went with Sunwire due to East Link not carrying some of the channels I wanted, like History . If they don't add those channels to the service, I am going to have to look into other options. The same thing is happening with my cell phone provider, Simply Connect, which has been taken over by Rogers. I have until Dec 31 to switch . Rogers is bombarding me with messages to change to them, I, again, am looking at other options. Update, after looking at Eastlinks channel guide, I see they have made a deal with Corrus and now offer those properties as a seperate tier . I recall hearing a few years back they had dropped Corrus channels. So, looks like I will just stay with the changeover. The Sunwire rep I spoke to said I won't have to change anything in my home, just my monthly bill will come from Eastlink.

Last edited by mic'em (November 3, 2024 8:05 am)

**Posted by The Weed** November 2, 2024 7:20 pm

Join CARP and try to get on RedWirelss.ca's CARP preferred program. Redwireless is just a "front". Once you sign up, you'll be dealing with Rogers directly. I'm paying $35 a month for 5G, 10 gb of data and all the other add ons of more expensive plans.

**Posted by mic'em** November 3, 2024 8:08 am

I was getting calls and texts from Red Wireless, and spoke with a rep. She demanded my drivers license number and a credit card number be given to her over the phone which I refused to do. I am planning to go to the mall in Sudbury and speak with the various services that have kiosks there and check the options.

**Posted by RadioActive** November 3, 2024 8:15 am

Good for you, mic 'em. I get why Rogers would need your credit card number, but to ask for your licence info is an extreme overreach, totally unnecessary and one step away from identity fraud.

As someone who once had his identity stolen (thanks to a bank glitch that was not my doing) I can tell you you don't want to take the chance. The hassles can go on for years. There's no need to ever give that out, unless you're buying or renting a car.

Typical Rogers. You did the right thing.

**Posted by Ale Ont** November 3, 2024 10:26 am

People impersonating Rogers reps have been phoning me for a year asking me to switch providers. When I ask specific questions regarding channels, they have no idea about their product. Scamming is everywhere.

**Posted by The Weed** November 3, 2024 2:21 pm

mic'em wrote:
I was getting calls and texts from Red Wireless, and spoke with a rep. She demanded my drivers license number and a credit card number be given to her over the phone which I refused to do. I am planning to go to the mall in Sudbury and speak with the various services that have kiosks there and check the options.

Sorry to hear that. That never happened to me, my partner or 3 other people I switched over from Zoomer Wireless to Red Wireless, only emails about making the switch when RW took over CityPhone/Zoomer and a few phone calls reminding us to switch, and the online application did require secondary ID. The CSR obviously should have explained why seconday ID was necessary. Without that, I'd have refused as you did.

Freedom Wireless has some good plans and supposedly have agreements with the big three to extend their coverage at no extra charge to a Freedom subscriber.

What I don't like now is most providers have a you choose a plan then a phone that you can get at a price on that plan. Used to be you got the phone and plan at a price instead of two separate prices, which, of course, are higher.

Last edited by The Weed (November 3, 2024 2:40 pm)

**Posted by The Weed** November 3, 2024 2:24 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Typical Rogers. You did the right thing.

It wasn't Rogers, it was a Red Wireless CSR. Still not the way to do business.

Last edited by The Weed (November 3, 2024 2:40 pm)

**Posted by mic'em** November 4, 2024 8:03 am

I saw yesterday that Eastlink also has cell service. Seeing as I am being changed to them for internet and TV by their purchase of Sunwire, I will likely just bundle it all to make one payment a month.

**Posted by Hansa** November 4, 2024 1:47 pm

A show like Dialing for Dollars (or later AM Buffalo) would not have been affected by simsub except that Canadian advertisers would not want to buy block advertising for packages that include simsubbed shows.

However, at a time when you were only able to get a handful of channels, even local Buffalo programming would have a significant viewership in the Golden Horseshoe. Everyone in Toronto knew who Irv Weinstein was in the 1970s - I doubt anyone here could name a Buffalo TV personality today.

**Posted by mace** November 4, 2024 6:37 pm

Jackie Walker recently retired from WIVB. Don Postles also at WIVB or maybe retired. Is Ed Kilgour still around at WGRZ?

**Posted by RadioActive** November 4, 2024 8:31 pm

mic'em wrote:
I saw yesterday that Eastlink also has cell service. Seeing as I am being changed to them for internet and TV by their purchase of Sunwire, I will likely just bundle it all to make one payment a month.

This may be of interest to you.

Eastlink Acquires Sunwire’s Home Internet, TV and Phone Services

**Posted by mic'em** November 5, 2024 8:04 am

Yes, thank you RA, I am planning to change my cell phone service to Eastlink next month when Simply Connect shuts down.