Coming This Fall

Be part of the reorganization of SOCK.  General meeting to be held in the Fall.

Meeting time and place to be announced.

Stay tuned!

Save Our CBC (not just Kamloops)

CBC and Radio-Canada lost nearly 800 jobs this spring.   Although the government likes to blame the recession, the real reason is that public funding for CBC has not kept up with inflation.

The simple fact is that the CBC only receives $34 per year per Canadian,  less than half of what public broadcasters in other industrialized countries receive.

Join thousands of Canadians who have already asked Parliament to  restore the CBC

 

SOCK  Newsletter July, 2009


 POP QUIZ
(Answers below)

1.  The way things are going, Kamloops will loose free over-the-air TV.  As an alternative, Bell Canada has proposed Freesat -- a satellite service that would carry 5 channels.

Question:  How much would Freesat cost viewers? 

a) Nothing, the name says "free."
b) Five dollars per month.
c) Viewers would have to buy the satellite dish but they would be partially refunded with government coupons.
d) One hundred dollars. 
e) Five hundred dollars. 
 

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Our only TV station, CFJC, will go dark after their old analogue transmitter dies.   They have made it clear that they do not intend to replace their transmitter with a new digital one.   That means thousands of Kamloopsians will no longer receive free over-the-air TV.

Cable and satellite providers will be happy because they will be the only game in town.

There is an alternative.  A digital transmitter would not only restore CBC but provide competition for cable and satellite.  The six-channel digital package would be enough for many viewers who would drop pay TV and tune into free quality channels.

We don't think it's fair that Kamloops should be left out of the digital revolution when 29 cities across Canada will be getting more free TV with clearer digital pictures.

Watch for an email in the next few weeks with details on how you can help.

The Friends of Canadian Broadcasting estimates that the initial cost for  FreeSat will be about $500.  Why would Canada's three million over-the-air viewers of free TV would be satisfied with television that is free in name only?

Answer to above Question  Some viewers in small centers like Kamloops might not have any choice.  If we loose free TV, schemes like FreeSat might be the only alternative to TV darkness

Read brief from Friends of Canadian Broadcasting 

 YOUR SOCK EXECUTIVE

President: Pam Astbury Email Pam
Vice President: Hugh Jordan Email Hugh
Secretary Treasurer/ Editor: David Charbonneau Email David

Donations may be made by purchasing Alternative Gift Certificates for $20 at The Smorgasbord Deli, 225-7th Ave, Kamloops, or by sending a cheque made out to S.O.C.K. to 830 Rue Chez Nous, Kamloops, V2B 6E9. Because we are a lobby group, we can't issue receipts for tax purposes but we will acknowledge donations in subsequent  newsletters unless requested not to.

Additions and Deletions. If you know of someone who might want to receive this email, forward it to them and ask them to email David Charbonneau.  If you don't want to receive this email, please let us know.

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