TVO Shuts Down Over-the-Air Broadcasting Outside Toronto

Published Feb 01, 2017

Ontario broadcaster TVO has announced it will be pulling the plug on eight over-the-air transmitters this summer in an effort to cut costs.The broadcaster will end transmission from the Ontario cities of Belleville, Chatham, Cloyne, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and Windsor on July 31. The decision does not impact viewers with basic cable or satellite service, or viewers who continue to use over-the-air service within the Greater Toronto Area."This announcement reflects the reality of today's media environment," CEO Lisa de Wilde said in a statement. "TVO has to make tough choices about where to allocate resources in order to move forward with the strategic priorities of digital learning and high-quality current-affairs journalism, as well as cover inflationary pressures. TVO's audiences overwhelmingly receive our content through cable, direct-to-home satellite or online platforms."One transmitter in Toronto will be retained for CRTC licensing purposes and to minimize distribution costs. The move is expected to generate $1 million in annual savings for the broadcaster.