CRTC: Canada sets deadline for OTA digital, plus more commercials

[azumanga]

Earlier thsi week, the CRTC has set a deadline for the transition of over-the-air terrestrial channels from analog to digital -- August 31, 2011, roughly 2.5 years after the US cutoff date. There will, however, be exemptions in remote areas of Canada where no digital transmitters are available.

And in other news, the CRTC has greenlighted a loosening of commercial limits, expanding to 14 minutes per hour in prime-time this fall, and 15 minutes per hour anytime starting in Fall 2008.

More here:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2007/i070517.htm

 

[Yikr]

Earlier thsi week, the CRTC has set a deadline for the transition of over-the-air terrestrial channels from analog to digital -- August 31, 2011, roughly 2.5 years after the US cutoff date. There will, however, be exemptions in remote areas of Canada where no digital transmitters are available.
And in other news, the CRTC has greenlighted a loosening of commercial limits, expanding to 14 minutes per hour in prime-time this fall, and 15 minutes per hour anytime starting in Fall 2008.
More here:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2007/i070517.htm

Is the CRTC asleep at the wheel?
What they should have done instead, is maintain that the 12 minute rule remain in place, and that for every minute less of advertising, a cable company can add a few dollars to the traditional analog channels.
(or something like that)

The reason why I've established such an opinion is because I just don't understand how adding more commercials is going to be more profitable in a time day and age where many people are just going to record the shows they love (on PVR or whatever) and watch them later anyway, fast forwarding through the ads.
(...and not noticing any of them...?)