From James Bradshaw of The Globe and Mail:
Take U.S. networks off Canadian airwaves, Bell Media urges
The president of Bell Media fired a broadside at Canada’s broadcast regulator on Friday, saying its policies are hobbling the company’s profitability and suggesting that U.S. networks such as CBS, NBC and FOX should be kicked off the country’s airwaves.
In a speech to a TV industry audience in Ottawa, Kevin Crull argued the business model for traditional broadcasters is “fundamentally broken†and “unsustainable,†pointing a finger at Hollywood’s direct intrusion on Canadian TV dials. Continue reading.
I think it’s a good step albeit a late one to take. I think it would benefit some of the private networks’ Cancon shows because they might get scheduled better. Too often, Canadian networks are held hostage by the often topsy-turvy schedules of the American networks.
In fact I think this would hurt Cancon not help it.
Excuse Mr. Crull, while I aim my OTA antenna further south…
While a huge chunk of the Canadian population get their signals via an antenna verses cable and satellite, a large amount of them do not live close enough to the American border to get U.S. network signals. Places close to the border like Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe area, often have access to cheap cable options so the majority of households usually still have cable. It’s the people who live in rural, remote and northern areas who often are left with either free antenna/satellite tv (with few channels) or expensive satellite options and who can’t usually get signals from U.S. networks.
YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
first time I’ve agreed with Bell Media since they screwed up our phone 10 times and we left for Rogers.
This would mean far far more American content on Canadian channels and less cancon.