Shut-Off: The Digital Television Transition in the United States and Canada

Abstract

This article offers a comparative analysis exploring early developments in digital television broadcasting in the United States and Canada. The U.S. transition is now complete (2009) but the Canadian analogue shut-off remains a site of controversy. Through the examination of primary documents—official reports, policy announcements, statistics, and speeches from key political and industrial figures—this article challenges traditional conceptions of broadcasting governance in the two countries.