About CDTV

Michael McEwen President CDTV

CDTV Mission Canadian Digital Television is a not-for-profit Canadian television industry organization dedicated to providing expert information on HDTV implementation in Canada. Launched in May 1998, Canadian Digital Television (CDTV) was created to guide the orderly migration to advanced digital television services by directing research and testing, identifying and advising on policy, regulation and marketplace issues and developing and monitoring the DTV transition plan for the industry. Background A 1995 report of the Working Group on Canadian Programming and Private Television submitted to Government stated that the entire television production and distribution system is converting to digital technology. This report went on to identify the host of new service opportunities made possible by digitization and called on the Federal Government to set up a Digital Television Broadcasting Task Force to examine policy requirements and develop a master plan to facilitate the transition from analogue to digital.

The Government acted on the Consultative Committee’s recommendation and in October of that year, established the Task Force Committee on the Implementation of Digital Television. The overall mandate of the group was to provide advice to the Minister of Canadian Heritage on the policy framework required for the transition and to coordinate the implementation of Digital Television in Canada. The Task Force met extensively over a 21 month period and came up with a strategic framework needed to ensure that Canadians receive high quality digital television services in a competitive marketplace and outlined the specific implementation steps required to guarantee a successful transition.

A recommendation of the Task Force was to create a small organization to facilitate problem solving, oversee the various steps that need to be taken during the implementation process and, generally provide an on-going forum for all those affected by the process to come together to mutual advantage.
In May 1998, CDTV was launched and designated as the central coordinator for industry and government initiatives associated with the on-going processes of policy and technology development and the implementation of digital television in Canada.

Our Structure
CDTV is governed by a Board of Directors which is representative of each membership class to better reflect the views of our broad membership base.

Working groups and sub-committees consisting of CDTV members and government representatives were formed to identify and address the issues necessary to a successful DTV roll-out in Canada.

Our membership is the key driver behind the work accomplished by our committees and working groups. Our main Working Groups are: Technical Working Group, Policy & Regulation Working Group, Education and Communications Working Group and Production and Training.

A number of sub-committees were also formed such as the transmitter committees, HD Program Rights, Distribution Capacity Issues, Widescreen Issues, Website and consumer education, Picture Quality Assessment to name just a few.

The Association’s daily operations and activities are lead by the President, Mr. Michael McEwen, who was Chair of the Minister’s Task Force on the Implementation of Digital Television in Canada.

Our membership
CDTV members consist of broadcasters, pay & specialty networks, cable, satellite, manufacturers, educational institutions, industry-related associations and production companies. Government representatives as well as key retailers have also provided input and contributed to the work of the association.

Our members include:
Alliance/Atlantis
Bell ExpressVu
Broadcast Systems Equipment
CBC
CCTA
CFMT-TV
CHUM/Citytv
COGECO/TQS
Corus Entertainment
Craig Broadcast Systems
CSUA
CTV Television
Global Television Network
Larcan Inc.
LG Electronics
Look Communications
MSC Electronics
National Film Board
Pioneer Electronics of Canada, Inc.
Rohde & Schwarz
Ryerson Polytechnic University
Samsung
Sharp Electronics
Sony of Canada Ltd.
Stonehenge Inc.
Tele-Quebec
Telesat Canada
Thomson Consumer Electronics

Supporting members: CRC, CE BIZ, CAB, Industry Canada, Canadian Heritage, Over Canada and Advanced Media Group.

For more information on our association please visit the website, or if you qualify for CDTV membership, please contact cjack@cdtv.ca