Many Canadian viewers are already enjoying high definition (HD) and other digital services from VPT and other U.S. border channels over the air by antenna. But Canadian broadcasters do not have the same mandate to end analog broadcasting in February 2009. Traditional analog channels will continue to broadcast until August 2011.

Canadian viewers, if you haven’t made the switch to digital yet, here’s what you need to know, so you don’t lose VPT and other U.S. channels after Feb. 17, 2009.

First, it’s important to know how you receive VPT and other local channels now.
Cable
If you get your TV from a cable provider, your cable company will handle the change for you. No additional equipment will be needed to view VPT and other U.S. stations. Videotron, Cogeco, VDN and Persona cable have confirmed that the transition will be "seamless" to their subscribers, even those who subscribe to Classic (analog) cable.

Satellite
The two Canadian satellite services, Bell ExpressVu and Star Choice, do not carry Vermont Public Television or other local U.S. channels from Vermont and New York now. They carry PBS channels and commercial network channels from outside the local area. We expect they will continue to provide access to those U.S. channels they already carry.

Antenna
If you receive over-the-air television programming by rabbit ears or other kind of antenna on any TV set you own, you will need either a newer digital TV set or a digital converter box connected to an older analog television set so that you can continue to receive U.S. television stations after Feb. 17, 2009. Here’s more information for antenna viewers. Converter boxes are not yet widely available in electronics stores in Canada. When we find vendors, we will list them on this page. (The coupons that defray part of the cost of converter boxes are not available to Canadian households.)

Many Canadian TV stations like CBC already have their digital channels on, and you can receive them via a digital converter box just as you can U.S. stations. But there are channels like CFCF in Montreal that are still analog-only. If you want to receive an analog channel via your converter box, we suggest you ask the vendor for a box that passes both digital and analog signals. There are several models available.

These retailers carry at least one model of converter box that will pass both digital and analog signals. They will ship to Canada:

Solid Signal
1-866-374-4625

EP Vision
(714) 630-6839

Other questions? Give us a call at 1-800-639-7811 or email us.