Q:
How do I apply for a job at your station? Q:
What is the station's main switchboard number?Q:
What is the station's mailing address?Q:
Where can I find 'A' British Columbia on my television?Q:
How do I send mail to my favourite on air personalities?Q:
Can I get a copy of a news story?Q:
Where do I send press releases and news tips?Q:
I want a copy of a music video, or I missed an episode of my favourite show. Can I get a copy?Q:
Why do the sounds of commercials seem louder than the program?Q:
How do I get your station to sponsor or promote a community event?Q:
I'm having trouble with my membership, (login, contests, newsletters, etc). Do you have a special guide for members?
Q: How do I apply for a job at your station?
A: Click HERE for current job opportunities.
Q: What is the station's main switchboard number?
A: Main Switchboard: 250-381-2484
Toll-free number for B.C. residents only 1-866-242-2484
Q: What is the station's mailing address?
A: 'A' British Columbia
1420 Broad St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 2B1
Q: Where can I find your station on my television?
A: Channel 53 - Cable 12
ExpressVU ch 256
Starchoice ch 389
Q: How do I send mail to my favourite on-air personalities?
A: You can mail them at:
'A' British Columbia
1420 Broad Street
Victoria, BC
V8W 2B1.
Q: Can I get a copy of a news story?
A: Please mail or email your request and include the date and time the piece aired and the subject matter. All requests are subject to approval by our News Director; tapes must be for personal viewing only; and there will be a fee for processing and shipping, if required.
Q: Where do I send press releases and news tips?
A: News tips and press releases can be emailed or faxed to 250-381-2485.
To contact our newsroom, call our main switchboard at 250-381-2484 or 1-866-244-2484.
Q: I missed an episode of my favourite show. Can I get a copy?
A: Due to copyright infringement, we cannot supply you with copies. To find out if a program will air again email our programming department.
Q: Why do the sounds of the commercials seem louder than the program?
A: This problem is not unique to any one station or company. The phenomenon has a lot to do with the varying sound levels of a television program as compared to the generally consistent sound level of commercials. Broadcasters like CTVglobemedia do not turn up the sound of commercials and in fact, we go to great lengths to minimize the sometimes-jarring effect when transitioning from a program to a commercial.
In an attempt to grab viewer's attention in only 15 or 30 seconds, most commercials are produced to be dynamic and exciting. To achieve this they make the sound at a constant maximum level for the duration of the commercial. In sharp contrast, many TV programs have a wider dynamic range or in other words, they can vary from sound passages as quiet as a kitten purring to loud music and bombs exploding. If the final scene before a commercial is a quieter, subtler scene, the transition to a commercial can make that commercial seem louder and sometimes even send you diving for the remote control to turn it down.
Most TV program producers attempt to "compress" the program sound to lessen the sound difference between the quite and loud scenes. In addition, CTVglobemedia and most broadcasters use sophisticated sound processors to further monitor and "even out" the volume levels. After all, it's in both the producer's and the broadcaster's interest to make the viewer's TV experience an enjoyable one. In spite of these efforts, challenges remain and occasionally the commercials still sound louder. This is particularly true for stations such as 'A' British Columbia, Bravo! and Space, whose broadcast schedules consist of movies. Most movies are made for a movie theatre and have a wide dynamic audio range. Films specifically designed for the theatre can have sound passages ranging from quiet whispers to extremely loud passages such as bombs or heavy metal music. This can sound fine in a controlled environment like a movie theatre but when the same film is played on TV, the viewer may find it necessary to raise the volume for the quieter passages and perhaps even turn down the volume on the louder passages. There are some producers who will mix the audio twice, once designed for TV and one designed for theater. At CTVglobemedia, when we receive a theatrical film release we process the sound so that it is more suitable to television's dynamic range. CTVglobemedia and some other broadcasters take the time to "compress" the sound levels of a film or TV program so that the quieter passages are a little bit louder and the louder passages aren't quite so loud. This minimizes, but does not always eliminate some of the jarring effect in the transition to a commercial.
This problem has been around since the beginning of television and at CTVglobemedia we go to great lengths to correct this as much as possible. We have installed equipment in our transfer suites and our editing bays to try to reduce and "even-out" the sound levels as much as possible. We have large amounts of on-air content going through our facility each day and great efforts are made to screen and check that content. It is always a battle between the purists who want to hear the audio as it was produced and the viewers who would like us to reduce the dynamic range of the audio so that the sound levels are more even. There is no magic fix. The reality is it we will not be able to fix all the content to suit all viewers. We make great efforts to find the balance to make the viewing experience as enjoyable as possible. What we cannot and do not do is raise the volume of commercials beyond that of the program because, to do so, would push the commercial sound into the distortion range and that would not make our clients very happy.
At CTVglobemedia we are always working hard to improve the viewing experience and we thank you for your comments. It is your comments and feedback that provide us the incentive to review our processes and try to make more improvements. When a viewer has raised concern over general volume or any technical issue, we ask for specific information of Channel, date, and time and show name so that we may go back and review the content to ensure that the process was as good as possible.
We are not the only broadcaster to constantly deal with the issue of commercial vs. program volume. Please visit this CRTC site for additional information: CRTC "Fact Sheet". It is called "It's a blast. Loudness of commercials." Click here for more information www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G3.HTM
Q: How do I get 'A' British Columbia to sponsor or promote a community event?
A: Email or Mail a proposal with all event details to:
On The Island
'A' British Columbia
1420 Broad St.
Victoria, BC
V8W 2B1
Q: I'm having trouble with my membership, (login, contests, newsletters, etc). Do you have a special guide for members?
A: For answers to all your membership-related questions, please see our Troubleshooting Guide.
