Satellite dishes bring 200 channels
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Tsiigehtchic (Feb 26/01) - This quiet community at the junction of the Arctic Red and Mackenzie Rivers has beamed itself into the 200 channel universe.
Almost every house in the community now sports a small grey Bell Expressview satellite dish.
The move to satellite television was prompted by the community corporation, which after two years is getting out of the cable television business.
The switch happened earlier this month. The last of 46 dishes went up Feb. 16. There are just over 50 homes in the community. But the switch in technology takes a little getting used to.
Elder Napoleon Norbert said 200 channels are a lot to keep track of. Norbert said it's difficult to figure out what shows are on and what times they will be on.
"There's a lot of shows. You press the button and there's another one, and another one...," Norbert said. "Cable TV was good. You knew what time the shows come on."
Norbert missed one of his favourites, The Price is Right, last Monday morning.
Apart from that show and the odd evening sporting shows, he prefers to listen to the radio.
Grade 9 student Bobbie Andre said 200 channels is definitely not too many.
"It's better (than cable)," said Andre. "There's more channels and more choices that you can pick from."
As far as figuring out what's on when, Andre said it's not a problem.
She memorizes her favourite channels, like MuchMusic, and can press the 'guide' button on her remote for a list of what shows are coming up.
Community co-ordinator James Cardinal is one of the driving forces behind the switch to cable.
He also helped put up most of the dishes in town. Cardinal said the community is too small to make a cable system viable when you take all the costs into account. At the same time the dishes were installed, wiring for the cable system was removed from the power poles in town.
"There's a lot more channels and a lot of them are educational," said Cardinal.
Though the community corporation ordered the satellite dishes and helped set them up, viewers will now deal directly with Bell Expressview.
Cardinal said the new dishes are a better deal for both sides.
Under a promotional offer, monthly fees are waived for the first three months and a $100 rebate is offered on the $299-$375 price of the satellite dishes.
Residents paid $50 per month for cable. Bell Expressview's silver, gold and platinum packages cost $28, $36 and $56 respectively.
