All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.

Link: Forcing pick-and-pay TV was a bad move by the CRTC

From Kate Taylor of The Globe and Mail:

Forcing pick-and-pay TV was a bad move by the CRTC
Forcing pick-and-pay on the broadcasting distribution industry was a bad decision from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, a piece of ill-conceived populism that did not, in the end, make any difference to the election prospects of the departing Tories and won’t actually save consumers much money – but still has the potential to do damage to the Canadian television industry without ever addressing the hard decisions that need to be made about broadcasting regulation. Continue reading. 

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Link: A conversation with Slasher creator Aaron Martin

From Melissa Girimonte of The Televixen.com:

A conversation with Slasher creator Aaron Martin
“It’s like Broadchurch meets a slasher movie. There are a bunch of mysteries going on in Waterbury. The town’s a bit weird. Everyone has a secret, so they’re all dying because they’ve done something bad according to the executioner and his warped moral view. Everybody who dies has a reason for being killed. They’re not just killed indiscriminately.” Continue reading.

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Link: Nova Scotia offers $810,368 for new Trailer Park Boys TV show

From Jacob Boon of TheCoast.ca:

Nova Scotia offers $810,368 for new Trailer Park Boys TV show
Ricky, Julian and Bubbles just made an $800,000 score.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. announced Tuesday that it’s offering $810,368 in production funding for Trailer Park Boys Out of the Park: Europe, the newest television show chronicling the escapades of actors/executive producers Mike Smith, Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay. Continue reading. 

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Link: Take Five: Creator-showrunner Aaron Martin on Slasher

From Andrew Greene of Promaxbda.org:

Take Five: Creator-showrunner Aaron Martin on Slasher
On Friday, Chiller unveils its first original scripted series, Slasher, a horror anthology that will feature a new killer every season. Season one stars Dracula’s Katie McGrath as a woman returning to the same house and small town where her parents were brutally murdered when she was just a baby. Things don’t go smoothly. Continue reading. 

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Comments and queries for the week of March 4

Highway Thru Hell on DVD?
I would love to order all seasons of Highway Thru Hell on DVD. Can you help me on how I can? I live in the States and I have friends who live in Canada. I just love this show and would like to get all seasons of this show. —Gail

There’s good news and bad news. First, the bad news: at this time no seasons of Highway Thru Hell are available for purchase on Blu-ray or DVD. The good news? Four seasons of Highway Thru Hell are available for purchase via the iTunes store.


Let’s talk skinny basic

In December, don’t they have to completely unbundle? So what, $40 a month for FX, $5 a month for OLN? $80 for HBO, $2 for Comedy Gold? In theory, this was a good idea but so was eliminating three-year cell phone contracts. Did the consumers actually save money? No. Did Bell, Rogers and Telus recently raise their cell phone prices-again? Yes, but not everywhere. Where didn’t they? Manitoba, Quebec and Saskatchewan. What’s different about them? MTS Mobility, Videotron and SaskTel. I wonder why a lot of people want telecom competition? Anyone else see a lot of brands all linked to a few of the same names? Doesn’t that look like a problem? —Dan

Great article! I really liked it. I’m 33 and I’ve always been a cord cutter (or cord never had it). I watch Netflix, but that’s basically it. I’ve actually been watching YouTube more and more and I was curious what your thoughts are on that trend? 18-25 watches more YouTube than TV or Netflix combined. And 26-35 isn’t far behind I think. YouTube made $8B in ad revenue last year and with YouTube Red being the biggest app in the app store at the end of the year, it’s likely to continue. Thanks for the great article. I’ll be back on the site soon and have followed on Twitter. Definitely want to see more of your thoughts. —Somnia

These offers from the cable companies are not surprising, they are tailored to fit the flawed CRTC new rule which explicitly excludes equipment. If you get only a few OTA channels, it could be that your antenna is not up to the job. Before even looking at those cable packages, see if you can upgrade your setup. A new/better antenna, with installation (if required) may cost you a few hundreds, but it will quickly pay for itself. We cut the cord two years ago and switched to high-speed unlimited internet with VoIP landline phone and to a rooftop antenna connected to a Roku and a Tablo DVR. With 23 American and Canadian over the air TV channels, we never looked back. Our own setup was not cheap ($800) but was paid back in eight months. Not having any kind of cable package is by far the best way to respond to any cable company offer! —Jerome


Life imitates art for X Company‘s Sandra Chwialkowska

This show is the best show on television. These articles help bring it more and more into the light. Waiting for each new episode with anticipation is one thing but the ante is upped with each new insight, interview, and article that comes out. Yes, I await each glimpse into this masterpiece with almost the same excitement with which I await each new episode. With great pride I have nudged, nieces, nephews and friends toward this show, and with great joy share in their addiction of same. Thank you for this quality gift called X Company. —Linda

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? greg@tv-eh.com or @tv_eh.

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