Contradictions

The whole entertainment industry is myriad of contradictions in Canada. Although we are forced to buy "packages" with all sorts of channels we don't want, and at outrageous prices, we still can't watch half the content we want. Channels like Sundance, TVLand, the CW and many others great channels aren't available. I worked at a Bell Satellite TV third party call centre and customers who wintered in the US were really upset that they couldn't watch their favorite programs at home. The internet is rapidly becoming the source for TV programs. Why? Because we are sick and tired of being told to bow to the broadcasters' schedules, especially when they change all over the place at random. We want to watch what we want to watch, when we want to watch it and on any device. Only the internet can satisfy that need. Netflix is as close to subscription TV as we have right now. Yes, their programming is older, but with series like House of Cards and Arrested Development they are going to be the content provider of choice soon. Big Media is shooting itself in the foot by insulting their customers with as many as eighteen ads in a given commercial break, many of them back to back duplicates, plus these new overlay ads running on what little program minutes we have left. They bounce programs all over the schedule, then wonder why they can't garner an audience. Case in point - Rookie Blue. It comes back with a big fan fair, then suddenly isn't on for three weeks! Look at the much anticipated and hyped "live" Hot In Cleveland episode. Not available to Canadians. How about "this video is not available in your country". Why not? Are we second class citizens or what? We're good enough to stomach their broadcast programming with all the ads, but not over the internet. If the CRTC wants to stifle what content we can watch in Canada, in response to their buddies in Big Media who love their license to print money, that what about American made movies showing in our theaters? Are we only going to get Canadian movies now? Why is everyone so hell bent on isolating Canada from the rest of the world? If it's to support Canadian programming, then make good programs that people will watch, like Flashpoint. All kinds of movies are made in Canada with Canadian crews. Why doesn't this qualify as Canadian content? And, lastly, why is the government so anxious to destroy the only public broadcaster we have left? The CBC has long been a bastion of decent programming with limited advertising. Now the government is slashing their budget and forcing them to run as many commercials as Ma Bell. Who is this serving? Big Media has had it good for too long. They want to force out any competitors like Netflix so that we are stuck with their price gouging and total control over what we see. As that famous line in the movie says, "we're mad as hell and we aren't going to take it anymore". It's high time for change in the interest of consumers. - Gary Jones