The Burns Lake and District Rebroadcasting Society expects that Burns Lake residents who do not have satellite or cable TV will have access to three more channels within the next month.
The new channels include BBC World News, Discovery Channel and APTN. These new channels will not be available for Southside residents.
Channels currently available for both Burns Lake and Southside residents include CBC (Vancouver), the Knowledge Network, CTV, Global (Vancouver) and CHEK (Victoria).
In order for local residents to have access to these free channels, an antenna suitable for high-band VHF is required. However, different areas of the Lakes District such as the Southside might require an antenna that’s suitable for low-band VHF.
The society’s directors are currently considering the possibility of compiling an information package that would include which type of antenna should be used in different areas of the Lakes District. They are also discussing the possibility of providing information about local radio and television services during the Lakes District Fall Fair.
The Burns Lake and District Rebroadcasting Society has operated as a small group of dedicated volunteers since 1977. The society currently has five directors and maintains two rebroadcasting stations - located at Boer Mountain near Burns Lake and at the Verdun Mountain on the Southside.
The Boer Mountain station is expected to be upgraded within the next six months. The society currently does not have enough funds to upgrade the Verdun Mountain station. The society is funded by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako; in 2016, they received about $30,000.
After being off the air for approximately five months due to technological upgrades, CBC Radio 2 is back on air again for Lakes District residents.
The society held its annual general meeting last month and will hold a directors’ meeting on July 20, 2017. Residents who would like to join the society or request more information can contact Fred Gruen at 250-694-3409, or Doug Campbell at 250-692-7300.
