TVO has announced it will continue to transmit free broadcast signals across 8 over-the-air transmitters in Ottawa, Belleville, Thunder Bay, Chatham, Cloyne, Kitchener, London, and Windsor.

Based on feedback from these communities, from loyal TVO viewers and donors, and others, the announcement confirmed TVO will continue to maintain the transmitters. TVO had previously announced a plan to decommission the transmitters, which would have resulted in an annual savings of $1 million required by TVO to meet its current financial targets.

“We listened to the concerns of people who rely on over-the-air transmission to enjoy TVO programming and we consulted with our primary funding partner, the Government of Ontario, about the concerns we heard. That resulted in the government’s decision to flow an additional $1 million to TVO to ensure we can continue to operate the transmitters, while still meeting our commitments to strategic priorities of digital learning and high-quality current-affairs journalism,” said TVO Chief Executive Officer Lisa de Wilde.

“We heard that Ontarians value TVO’s dynamic educational programming and our government is pleased to take this step to ensure that TVO will continue to be accessible over-the-air in these communities,” said Education Minister Mitzie Hunter.