CTV & Global ask for US Channels to be blocked

[Bobblehead]

One issue that was not raised - indeed it has not received any real public attention - was noted earlier today by Alan Sawyer. He notes that CTV and Canwest have quietly asked the CRTC to order cable and satellite companies to establish a new policy of "program deletion." The new policy (which is supported in a Toronto Star piece today) would mean that when a Canadian broadcaster buys the Canadian rights to a U.S. program, the U.S. broadcast would be blocked in Canada for a seven-day window.

In other words, rather than the current simultaneous substitution policy, which allows for the programs to air at the same time and for the substitution of the Canadian broadcast on the U.S. channel (thereby leading to the annual complaints about Super Bowl commercials), the U.S. broadcast would be blocked altogether. That would allow Canadian broadcasters to air the U.S. program whenever they like and block the U.S. version altogether.

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4536/125/

Wow - the CRTC better not allow this. I can't see how CTV and Global can think there will be no backlash in this, unless they expect people to blame the CRTC.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4536/125/

Wow - the CRTC better not allow this. I can't see how CTV and Global can think there will be no backlash in this, unless they expect people to blame the CRTC.

Increase in the grey-market US satellites in 3...2...

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Increase in the grey-market US satellites in 3...2...

I would most definitely go to that if this happens.

I already have a issue with the Super Bowl commercials, don't eff with my US channels to the point I can't even watch it. Or else I will find a way to avoid watching CTV and Global at all costs possible.

[Rathji]

I am confused what they hope to gain from this arrangement over the the sim sub deal.

[OilKiller]

I will go grey so fast if this happens. Canadian broadcasters can kiss my a**.

Create something I want to watch and quit riding on the U.S. coat tails and I might think about watching your channel. Otherwise, pi** off...

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I am confused what they hope to gain from this arrangement over the the sim sub deal.

I would think time-shifting is a big factor. Even though they sim-sub the Calgary feed of shows, I record mostly the eastern feeds, which aren't at the same time as the Calgary airings, so they don't get sim-subbed.

Screw "local" tv. Put Buck Shot and Spelling Bee back on the air, and then we'll talk about "local" tv.

[Antithesis]

I admit I am not familiar 100% with the ins and outs of this stuff, but I'd assume there's little chance the CRTC actually goes along with this, isn't there? Aren't they generally moving from more regulation to less?

As for Save Local TV ... I couldn't care less if I never watch another local broadcast again.

[Russic]

It's stuff like this that really makes me hope apple can convince the networks to allow them a tv subscription service. I'd drop my cable without blinking.

[Titan]

On this topic... when I paid for bell I thought I was getting all of the sportsnet channels. I get one, and I never know which one. If it was not for Flames hockey I would dust that shat. I am so close to the grey market now. The only hesitation is the lack of reliability. but man I am close and crap like this pushes me closer.

[SteveToms]

Global and CTV can blow me.

[ken0042]

I can't find any application like this on the CRTC's website, and the Star article also doesn't mention deletion of programs.

When/ if this comes up for review; what we need to do is oppose it. ~5 years ago many of us (Oilkiller included) blocked Global's application to have Spike TV removed. (Spike was around due to the previous application as "The Nashville Network", and Global said their new programming would hurt their "Men TV" subsciptions.)

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by ken0042

~5 years ago many of us (Oilkiller included) blocked Global's application to have Spike TV removed.

Yes...Global should die.

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

Global and CTV can blow me.

THIS! Piss off, if you can't operate on your own then you should go out of business.

[csnarpy]

Unreal.....i''m sitting here just shaking my head and my wife is yelling WTF!!

Seriously, if this was to happen, my dish alignment would go from 82/91 to 110/119 so fast you wouldn't have time to say "Bye bye Bell, hello Dish!"

..........head still shaking....

[sclitheroe]

These are the death throes of companies that can't adapt and shift their thinking to the way things are now with the internet, media, and content distribution. Don't get angry that they can't figure out a better way of adapting other than a futile attempt to artificially restrict distribution, rejoice in it - it indicates very clearly that they are doomed. This is the best they can come up with, and its going to fail.

[Kipper is King]

The amount of idiocy is staggering with that proposal.

[PsYcNeT]

Wait wait wait, this is in the tech forum. You mean to tell me people still watch live broadcast TV with commercials?

Stunning.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Wait wait wait, this is in the tech forum. You mean to tell me people still watch live broadcast TV with commercials?

Stunning.

No. That's why the industry is dying, and rather than adapt to the new realities of the world, the Canadian broadcast networks want the CRTC to change reality.

[mikey_the_redneck]

I don't understand how this affects my day to day viewing......can someone give an example?

[PsYcNeT]

I'm just really shocked that people would be upset to have to wait a week for the next episode of '24' or whatever people watch, instead of just downloading it in HD immediately after it airs on the East Coast and watching it with the full benefits of 5.1 surround, proper 720p/1080p, without commercials, AND 1-2 hours before its MST airtime to boot.