Is there decent Free to Air Digital TV in Canada?

August 16, 2009 5:05 AM

What's the state of Free to Air digital TV in Toronto?

I'm in the midst of moving back to Canada after a few years in the UK, and it's decision time: do I pack my digital indoor antenna or not?

I've gotten used to free (well, minus licence fee) digital television – Freeview. Living in Canada, I always had cable. This time around I'd rather not give any more money than necessary to the ghost of Ted Rogers.

Are there free digital TV channels available in Toronto? Am I in for a rude surprise when I scan for new channels?

If it makes a difference, the TV I'm shipping back is a Sharp Aquos with a built in digital tuner, hooked up to indoor amplified digital rabbit ears.

Thanks!

posted by generichuman to technology (7 comments total)

Yes there is free to air digital in T.O.
http://freetoronto.tv/dclist.htm
posted by defcom1 at 5:23 AM on August 16

That was fast, apparently my Google skills let me down.

Thanks!
posted by generichuman at 5:35 AM on August 16

go to digitalhome.ca forums. you'll find a lot of really good info about the state of digital OTA in Toronto there. yay antennae.(s?)
posted by jennyhead at 6:27 AM on August 16

While the stations do exist, be warned that you might not get much. I'm up near Keele & Steeles, and my indoor antenna doesn't get a single digital channel (and only one analog channel). Comparing notes on the digitalhome forums suggests to me that, absent line of sight to the CN Tower, the FTA situation is not good.
posted by Clandestine Outlawry at 8:09 AM on August 16

Get an outside antenna if you can. There are lots of fairly compact and inconspicuous ones available now. I'm line of sight for most of the channels here in Rochester but my indoor antennas were just not good enough for digital.
posted by tommasz at 8:23 AM on August 16

digitalhome.ca has also become "DIY antenna central", and having had good results in a somewhat marginal area of the US with one of their designs (for an outdoor model used indoors at attic-height) I'd suggest trying them out.
posted by holgate at 10:29 AM on August 16

Thanks all! Looks like I might have to pay my Rogers tithe afterall.
posted by generichuman at 11:08 AM on August 16