TVO Wants Out of Broadcasting

... and why it's a bad move for everyone.

An editorial from your Average Joe

In a recent declaration, TVO (the public broadcaster of Ontario) seems to no longer be interested in, well,  … broadcasting … outside of Toronto. The publicly-funded organization has decided to close down eight transmitters, including the one in our nation’s capital Ottawa, leaving only it's only over-the-air broadcasting station operational in the 6ix.  What does this mean?

Well for starters, Ontarians are getting a raw deal as something that was available for free over-the-air to anyone with a TV and an antenna is now only available through a pay service (either TV or internet). So to get TVO, Ontarians outside Toronto are essentially being asked to pay a third party to provide them with something they already fund with their taxes.

The only good news here is the deal isn’t done: shutdown would be at the end of July and there is still time to intervene. In fact, here are a few reasons below on why you should pressure TVO, the Ontario government, the CRTC, consumer protection boards and anyone else who will listen to take a long hard look at this plan before it goes through and screens start going dark in ON: 

 

First of all, where did they get the numbers?

The aforementioned article states “this decision will impact less than 1% of Ontario households” with no citation or mention on how this number was derived. Does TVO actually know how many viewers watch their programming via an antenna? For example, a 2015 report shows about 8% of Canadians do not subscribe to a TV service (cable or streaming) and Ottawa as the 7^th largest TV market in Canada. I've combed whatever data I could find and could not reach this figure. Soooo TVO...  1%? Are you sure?

 

Also, what defines a “household” and why limit it only to that? How many cable households have secondary TVs attached to antennas on kitchen counters, kids’ playrooms? How about businesses like hair salons and waiting rooms at dentist offices? Daycares? Community centers?

 

Another question is whether any due diligence was done to assess the impact on the so-called “1%”? Did TVO survey or talk to any of the viewers that would be impacted? What about the elderly who aren’t technically savvy enough to use streaming internet options or those on fixed incomes that cannot afford a pay TV subscription?

The numbers just don’t add up. The 1% number is meaningless ... and faceless.

It sets a dangerous precedent for other broadcasting networks

Allowing TVO to close all but one transmitter (Toronto) and still allowing it to retain “must carry” status in cable packages has definitely raised eyebrows. If the CRTC allows this to go through (especially in a major urban area such as the Ottawa region) this could set jurisprudence that many Canadian broadcasters owned by cable / satellite parents may soon look to copy. What would prevent another broadcaster from closing all but one “symbolic” transmitter?

Sure TVO, it's big but I'm not sure the signal will reach the 7th largest TV market in Canada from there.

 

The shutdown hits the people who depend on it the most

With perhaps the exception of Ottawa, most of these transmitters serve areas like small communities and rural areas where there are actually little or few options for broadband internet. So you can understand the confusion when people see that “prevalent access to TVO’s high-quality educational video content either through … access to a broadband internet connection” is a reason for shutting down the transmitters.

Also, TV by antenna is free from recurring monthly charges and is most popular amongst people in socio-financial situations that do not allow them to pay a monthly cable bill full of service fees and equipment rental charges. The cost of cable has skyrocketed, whereas over-the-air TV programming has remained free of charge to the public.

TVO is leaving Canadians at the mercy of pay TV mega conglomerates to get their content

TVO states “TVO’s audiences overwhelmingly receive our content through cable, direct-to-home satellite … platforms”. Oh those guys. Yes, well that makes everything better.

 

So TVO is telling us to get their programming from the likes of corporate entities who just decided to raise prices on TV and broadband packages because ... you know ... that's life? The same companies who were mandated by the CRTC with the task of providing Canadians with a basic service at a reasonable price and instead decided to spit in the eye of the Canadian public? Well, I mean that’s when they weren’t trying to bamboozle potential customers out of picking said basic package ). So thank you TVO for leaving us in the capable, well-meaning hands of companies that garnered a thousand complaints in a six week period.

I can already hear the service rep at the Cable Co. now: “Yes sir, but if you cancel our service you won’t have access to our many channels of quality programming ... like TVO”  Oh, the irony.

So you say we can still get TVO from our friendly, reputable cable and satellite providers? Yeah, about that ...

 

Were any other options explored to maintain service?

Ok, so there is a budget crunch. Fine. Besides a complete shutdown of transmitters, were other options explored by TVO? How about joining forces with the federal government and using infrastructure funding to have TVO/CBC/SRC broadcast from the same transmitter using digital multicasting to serve communities that were already shunned by CBC and now TVO?  Again, very disappointing to see this lack of effort from a public broadcaster.

Why get out of broadcasting now?

The latest trends show that over-the-air TV is making a comeback. First of all, antenna-friendly devices have popped up everywhere in new tech from Xbox to Canada’s very own uber-hip antenna-friendly DVR TabloTV (which BTW is from a Canadian innovation company based in Ottawa employing many Ontarians … and ironically is also where TVO is shutting off its transmitter). In fact, TV antenna products were all the rage at CES last month.

Second, the future is bright with the advent of ATSC 3.0, the new over-the-air broadcasting standard that will allow OTA broadcasters to reach everything from rabbit ears to mobile phones and integrate content with the very same interactive platforms TVO is mentioning in its digital shift. If anything, why not hang on a bit longer and upgrade straight to ATSC3? Opportunity: missed.

Recent Canadian data shows traditional pay TV service is the medium in stagnation / decline. Graphic courtesy @MontrealOTA

Finally, the numbers show that pay TV is past its glory days: ratings for pay-only networks are tanking, cable companies are bleeding subscribers and conversely, over-the-air TV use is rising as antenna sales surge and a new generation of Canadians leaves pay TV to fade away with the era of baby boomers. Oh and those up-and-coming millennials? Well, they love antennas as can be seen from growing social media communities and on popular reddit threads.

 

So what can you do?

Well, for starters you can help TVO come to its senses by writing them directly via email at asktvo@tvo.org .

If you want to add your voice to the rest of the crowd, sign this online petition to ask for due diligence from the Ontario government (who funds TVO with your tax dollars) before this decision goes through in July 2017.

If you want to put your eggs in other baskets, contact the CRTC and file a complaint under TV accessibility if you will be losing TVO’s broadcast service. Feel free to ask some of the questions mentioned above.

Finally, you can also contact the Ontario Consumer Protection Board and file a complaint … but this one is a long shot.

Make your voice heard, and stay tuned…

Reaching for The Sky

Mohu's Sky outdoor antenna aims high.



North-Carolina based Mohu is arguably one of the more cutting-edge antenna manufacturers since the digital over-the-air TV revolution. Already popular or its paper-thin Leaf antenna and the recent indoor Mohu Curve 30 which we reviewed, Mohu has sets its sights high (literally) with the Sky: its first attempt at an outdoor model and the longest range antenna has to date in its product line.

While Mohu has proven it can design attractive antennas known mostly for their “cool” factor, how well does the Sky deliver on it advertised 60 mile reception range performance? We tested it out in our Canadian skies and here is what we found.

Model: Mohu SkyHDTV Attic/Outdoor Muti-directional HDTV Antenna

Size (main antenna element): 28cm H x 54.5cm W x 2.5cm D (11” x 21 1/2” x 1”)

Package includes: Mohu SkyHDTV antenna, J-Mount (unassembled), amplifier, USB power adapter, 30ft terminated coax cable with weather boot on one end, all assembly hardware, mounting hardware for 2 types of substrates, English / Spanish instructions

Output: One F-type connector (cable coax) on the antenna for RG-59 or RG-6 cable, amplifier is F-Type in-line with USB power input.

Pros: Compact aesthetic appearance, good performance when used outdoors, performs well within advertised range, versatile mounting positions, complete package for the consumer right down to the last little bits of hardware, extremely user friendly, clear instructions

Cons: Price point may seem elevated when compared to other antennas of this range, compact size is a trade-off in terms of performance when brought outside its advertised range, the antenna will not mount to larger diameter antenna masts / rotator without some sort of adapter

Build Quality

Mohu continues to provide the best product packaging in the business. Items are enclosed in a well thought-out custom-made box with each component held securely in place and smaller hardware items clearly labelled.  It would be difficult for items to arrive damaged or scratched from transit or handling.

 

The components themselves show the same level of professional build quality. The main antenna is made of two halves of a high quality thick-walled plastic that is sealed closed with a well-compressed rubber gasket. It is rigid, solid and appears very well sealed in terms of weatherproofing. With no exposed elements or wires, the Sky is definitely ready to withstand the snow and ice that Canada’s winters are ready to throw at it.

The included J-mount is of good quality as well and is covered in a shiny (sparkly?) silver powdercoat . The finish is of good quality, and does not scratch as easily as other commercial J-mounts when the hardware is adjusted and re-tightened. Please note the tube diameter is much smaller than standard J-mounts used for satellite dish installations.

The details of the other components were well engineered as well: the amplifier is compact and completely silent when operating, generating only very little heat even during prolonged use (absolutely no concerns on our part for its lifespan). The pre-terminated 30 ft cable makes this antenna ready to go right out of the box, and features a good quality weather boot (below) at one end for a safe and reliable outdoor installation.

 

Assembling the Antenna

The antenna comes with some assembly required when using the J-mount. (If desired, the antenna can be simply hung off two hooks if used indoors or in an attic, so in that case no assembly required)

The instructions are well-written and show detailed steps to install the J-mount base and attaching the arm and cable to the antenna body. The entire antenna can be assembled and ready for installation using a standard screwdriver and small wrench / pliers / key in about 5 minutes.

Appearance

The Sky is definitely a lot easier on the eyes than some other antennas within this reception range. The antenna is completely enclosed in its cosmetic cover and there are no exposed reflectors, elements or wires. Its grey colour and silver mount makes it easy to blend in on any roof or balcony, although some neighbours may ask you what’s up with the inverted Batman symbol hanging off your house. This antenna scores just as big in the size-to-power ratio as it does in the appearance (dare I say “wife”?) factor.

 Installation

The best part of the Sky is that it really comes as a complete kit, right down to two types of mounting hardware being provided in the box. Threadforming hardware is provided to install the J-mount securely into wood / aluminium siding or on a shingled roof. A nut and bolt combination is also given for other thru-hole applications, for example if installing in thin walled applications like a shed. The hardware appears anodized for weatherproofing, but also works inside. Installation is made easy by a lot of the hardware being captive in the mating parts through carriage bolt features and embossed hex counterbores. Everything you need is basically in the box; the only extra we recommend are UV-resistant ty-wraps for securing the cable run and caulking to seal any penetration points when installing the mount outdoors.

When you purchase the Mohu Sky you aren’t just getting an antenna; you’re getting a complete kit right down to the screws to bolt the mount into the wall.

Given its compact size, the Sky is perfect for attics. We’ve had issues where larger antennas need to be disassembled or brought up in pieces to fit through small attic openings; at the size of a laptop, the Sky is compact and lightweight enough to fit anywhere, even if your best reception spot in the house is inside the office closet.

Aiming the Antenna

The Mohu Sky can be pivoted on its mount for azimuth alignment as well the mount for elevation adjustments. The foot of the J-mount provides infinite adjustment points and once tightened the hardware locks the position of the antenna firmly in place.

 

We found the best orientation was having the flat face of the Sky antenna facing the transmitter. Although the reception angle is quite wide, we found the side reception lobes were a bit unpredictable and dependent on the vertical adjustment of the antenna. In any case, we were able to find a reception sweet spot for our test location, but be forewarned it may take time. We highly suggest taking your time in really finding the best spot for the antenna and to not only look at the signal strength but the sound-to-noise-ratio (SNR on most TV sets) since it is an amplified antenna.

 

Performance

The antenna was tested head-to-head against a baseline main brand outdoor VHF/UHF antenna with similar range characteristics. As the Sky is amplified, we added a standard amplifier (Antennas Direct CPA-19) as well to the baseline antenna and factored the cost of the cable and mount as well, rendering it essentially equivalent in cost. The antennas were tuned based on obtaining the most possible channels and were not rotated during testing.

Station (RF)	Distance (mi)	Baseline Antenna ($160) Strength / SNR	Mohu Sky ($160) Strength / SNR
10	12	100 / 68	98 / 78
13	81	99 / 71	90 / 52
14	81	100 / 100	100 / 84
21	12	100 / 100	100 / 91
22	81	100 / 92	99 / 81
29	10	81 / 60	90 / 69
32	81	100 / 96	88 / 67
35	12	100 / 100	100 / 93
38	52	92 / 77	88 / 65
43	81	89 / 75	78 / 52

Based on our test results, the Mohu Sky performed fairly well compared to the larger baseline antenna. In particular we were surprised by the respectable VHF performance given that the antenna is so compact. The beamwidth also allowed it to receive multiple signals from various incident angles without needing to be rotated. Our tests show that the antenna definitely maintains its advertised 60 mile range and can reasonably go further than that if the conditions are right (i.e. LOS to distant signals, etc)

Prices and Where to Buy

As mentioned in our other Mohu reviews, what’s somewhat prohibitive to Canadians is that Mohu products are not sold by the usual cast of retailers north of the border. Mohu will ship to Canada from their US website at extra cost, and duties are to be expected upon delivery. However, Mohu does recommend buying off amazon.ca.

Promotions are few and far in between, with most of the promos being around free shipping in continental US. If you are interested in the Sky are able to wait, we suggest to follow Mohu on Facebook and Twitter to know when sales or other promo are underway on their products.

Overall, prices in Canada are fairly offsetting. Canadian online retail prices will range over $200. If you live within driving distance of the US border, it may be more advantageous to buy directly form Mohu.com and drop-ship to a border holding point (like The UPS Store).

Although the cost may seem a bit steep at first, if you can get the Sky within the $160-170 ballpark, it is a fairly good deal. Consider the following: excluding junk clone antennas, most name brand antennas in that reception range will cost around $100, and you will have to add a mount, an amplifier and RG-6 cabling to get what the Sky antenna kit delivers.

Although it may seem like you're paying a premium price for the Sky, you have to realize you're not just getting an antenna in the box.

 

Conclusion

The Mohu Sky is a good quality, user-friendly (and neighbour friendly) antenna that can deliver the goods when mounted outdoors. We found it works well inside its advertised range and can yield some surprises with stations technically beyond its reach.

Although some sites citizen Mohu products as being gimmicks or overprices, the value is there when bought at the right price. It is an excellent antenna for the “condo crowd” or people that are willing to pay slightly more to have something that looks as sharp on their roof as what they see from uncompressed OTA HD on their TVs screens.

Final Score: 8.5/10

For more information and to purchase the Mohu Sky, please visit the Mohu Website

 

HD Frequency Aereowave Antenna

Good Things Come in Slightly Larger Packages


Newcomer antenna manufacturer HD Frequency introduced its first new antenna model of 2015, the Aerowave. The sophomore antenna is a mid-size follow up to the HDF lineup between the smaller CableCutter Mini and larger CableCutter, which we reviewed before.

We gave this newest entry a shakedown and here’s what we found:

Model: HD Frequency CableCutter Aereowave

Size: 9” wide by 11” high by ¼” thick (hardware) 

Package includes: Cable Cutter Aerowave antenna, one set adhesive mounting pads, instruction card

Output: One F-type connector (cable coax) on the antenna for RG-59 or RG-6 cable

Pros: Compact form factor, very lightweight, durable, solid construction and good weather resistance, can be used indoors or outdoors

Cons: Mounting options are somewhat awkward especially outdoors, regular price is a bit high for its performance

Build Quality

HD Frequency antennas are all made in the USA, and the build quality shows it. The main lattice is a thick gauge metal that is rigid, strong and nicely finished with beveled edges.

The HD Frequency Aerowave is the thinnest outdoor antenna that offers a die-hard rugged build quality. It can also be used indoors. 

 

The Aerowave features some upgrades over its predecessors that we reviewed: the balun mounting points are now countersunk screws which allows the antenna to be mounted perfectly flush to a window or wall using the included adhesive pads.

The antenna finish also seems to have been upgraded; it resembles more of a powder-coating and is extremely scratch resistant. The balun has a seat for placing a weather-sealed coax connection and the large gauge wires are well protected with heat-shrinked connections.   

 

With its industrial build quality and limited parts / connections, the whole thing looks like it can last maintenance-free for decades exposed to wind, snow and ice.

Assembling the antenna

The antenna comes fully assembled and is ready to go right out of the box.

Appearance

As with all HD Frequency antennas to date, the appearance of the Aereowave is very industrial with its visible balun and connection points. As mentioned above, the finish has been upgraded from previous models and there are no visible logos on the antenna’s matte black body. There are very few cosmetic features or plastic covers; it is apparent the antenna is definitely built for functionality, not appearance.

Installation

The installation instructions are similar to the rest of the CableCutter family. The antenna can be stuck to a wall or window or hung from a hook or loop.  It can be propped upright on a shelf or table using the heavy duty wire gauge for the balun as a leg.

As we reported in our previous CableCutter reviews, the outdoor mounting method for the Aerowave also remains somewhat amateurish: there is no provision or otherwise evident way to attach the antenna to a mast (OEM recommends using ty-wraps). Although the antenna is lightweight and its profile does not imply a large windshear, we typically recommend tywrapping for cables, not the antenna itself.

The Aerowave requires a bit of DIY know-how for outdoor mounting: we were able to attach it to a J-mount using ty-wraps (as recommended by the OEM) and a small piece of foam to isolate the antenna from the mast.

Aiming the antenna

The antenna has a beamwidth similar to the smaller CordCutter of about 120 degrees, and can receive signals from front or back with equal ease. Best results were obtained with the Aerowave in a portrait orientation and aimed with its front flat surface facing the transmission towers. Signals drop off quickly past the 120 degrees beamwidth.

Performance

The Aereowave was tested for several weeks in an indoor suburban area against local OTA TV reception on VHF-Hi and UHF bands.  The table below is a snapshot of tests taken against a baseline antenna of similar size and similar price range from another manufacturer, and as a reference, its smaller brother the CordCutter Mini. The tests were conducted at the same location with antenna aim optimized to receive most channels. All tests occurred over the span of about 15 minutes.

Station (RF)	Distance (mi)	Baseline Indoor Antenna ($50)	Cable Cutter Mini ($40)	Aereowave   ($60)
10	12	90%	No Signal	70%
12	12	73%	58%	71%
15	12	73%	64%	83%
21	12	90%	88%	91%
26	12	81%	80%	83%
35	12	61%	No Signal	56%

 Overall, we can conclude that the Aereowave is an upgrade over the CableCutter Mini and is strongest in the lower/central UHF band. VHF-Hi performance (which is always a sour spot for compact antennas of this size) was fair and a much needed improvement over the Mini. An amplifier can be added if need be to improve its performance with weaker channels.

Prices and Where to Buy

The HD Frequency Aereowave is available from the company’s website. The unit retails at $60 USD while it can go as low as $50 USD during promotions. On the positive side, this price includes shipping to Canada which is good as currently there is no local Canadian distribution.

Conclusion

The Aerowave is a good option for people looking at the CableCutter Mini but want extra performance without going to the full-size CableCutter. The antenna does have its limitations and is recommended for best performance in areas where most OTA TV stations are within the lower and central UHF DTV band. Mounting options continue to be somewhat limited if you’re not handy.

The Aerowave (right) is essentially the bigger brother of the CableCutter Mini (left) in the HD Frequency antenna lineup.

One thing that sets this antenna apart is its rugged versatility – the design isn’t very complex, there are no reflectors or rods to bend or break and it can be used indoors or outdoors, and is extremely portable. The antenna is thin, light and inconspicuous when mounted outside which makes it a great option for renters, areas where balcony space is limited or there are restrictions on placing outdoor aerials. To be honest, neighbours or city inspectors would probably not even know it’s a TV antenna given its look.

The regular price is a bit elevated for its performance, so we recommend buying it when on sale as it is more comparable to antennas in the $50 price range. Overall, a good addition to the HD Frequency CableCutter lineup.

Cable Cutter Aereowave: 7.5/10

More information on HD Frequency and its products can be found on the HD Frequency website