Of course, Canada Day reminds me of how utterly disturbing this continent can be. For whatever reason, I can watch TV programming from the United States of America, for free, at any time. Any time that I am near a TV that uses an antenna – such as my father’s home, where they live in a rural area of Ontario, but are relatively surrounded by Buffalo, Erie, Clevland, Toledo, Detroit. Of course, that means that CRTC rules are not followed (although, by many accounts, CRTC has almost completely destroyed the Canadian Broadcasting industry and we are losing a number of Global, CTV affiliates this year alone) and US of A advertising is presented, and no Canadian content is made available when the signal is received in this way.
Hulu is a perfect example of how much bull is put in place to make sure that some sort of ridiculous “law” – or more likely, someone simply isn’t getting their revenue stream – so Canadians can’t get Hulu.

Of course, Canadian GAP’ers already are familiar with this.
What I didn’t know, however, is that as a Canadian, I can go watch things like Canada’s Worst Driver, or Canada’s Worst Handyman – streaming online at Discovery Canada … but if you are in the US of A, you can’t stream this stuff. So, yes, it works both ways. One thing I do not understand, of course, is when Canadian content is webcast, even if it is coming from the US of A, why can’t we see it?
The general populous is ok with this exchange. I have friends all over, and that includes in the United States of America. But, on the global scale, it appears we have a very long way to go.
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 00:21
Holy hell! That CRTC, what a bunch of jackasses.
I honestly don’t know if it is simply Canadian law that prevents this or if some poor sap got suckered into it by the slick lobbyists below the 49th. I wonder given the ads I have seen if the U.S. is trying to take over our Commonwealth by taking over the communications first. You heard it here first. =)
Canadian Content is important and I guess it is up to the consumer to stop sucking up the fodder that Fox and the like are putting out these days. Sure some if it is good and most of it is just sensationalism at its purest but I do get tired of american television. I guess playing games or watching movies is one way but am I just letting this shit happen by not saying anything or watching Canadian content?
I honestly don’t think that we as Canadians should be supporting american television by having our local stations putting our money toward buying american tv shows. Still, it would be a quiet place if all we had was Rick Mercer on TV. =)
The laws that prevent companies like Sony Corporation of America and Hulu from providing content to Canadians is a stupid one and I wish I had more of an explanation as to why it even exists.
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 00:41
I admit, I like Corner Gas, Nothing Too Good For A Cowboy, and a few others – but I mostly watch movies, and when I do, either on premium (no adverts) channels, or on CBC, CTV, CITY or Global, mostly because they don’t censor. I personally think censorship is stupid, but that is just my humble opinion. I see, for example, a movie like the series Beverly Hills Cop (1, 2 and 3). ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX … etc … show that movie, and it is either looped, beeped, cut and re-edited. Canada doesn’t do that – save CITY, that seems to be following what is done down south – which, yes, the word FUCK is used excessively, but that is how the movies were made. If you can’t show them as they were made, don’t show them. I refuse to watch anything – even Family Guy – on stations like TBS. TBS cut the line “Forget it, I’m not gonna sit on your lap” from “Jingle All The Way” because it was a “gay joke”
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 00:41
BTW – what’s with your name? LOL
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 10:19
I agree completely NIAC, censorship is bullshit. Stupid puritanical laws being upheld in the name of “family values” by our hypocritical right ring nut-jobs.
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 11:40
LOL. It is good to just “unleash” from time to time, isn’t it?
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 11:51
Indeed it is Mike, indeed it is.
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009 at 22:05
Jerk
Its cause your Canadian? Or something…
anyways…HELLO. Been a while man.
Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009 at 05:54
Name? There’s nothing wrong with my name. =)