"...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."

[Link: michaelgeist.ca]

Althought deletion is not new, I do not think they meant deletion. I say it is not new since for instance with this past 2009 F1 Season , TSN ordered the deletion of every F1 race coverage on Speed TV and at least it was enforced by Bell TV. I used to record both coverages because sometimes TSN cut the drivers interview at the end, that is why I know. After 4 races this year I cancelled my TSN subscription and went basic.

On last friday's The Star article, there is no mention of deletion but rather non simultaneous substitution, in other words they would be able to substitute the US shows even if the canadian station broadcast it on a different schedule. Which in theory could allow canadian stations to re-schedule the US shows and then use the prime time for Canadian Content but in reality to beleive that you would have to be even more naive than me , and that would be almost impossible , lol.

I think it is just the same old same, some manipulating the masses. Like I have said before I have no other choice but to blame the masses and none but the masses for electing such kind of officials. Please do not elect someone like me, it could be even worst, lol.

I like the aproach by someone at mc'leans though(as seen on the TVO The agenda programm) because it helps the consumer and as a consumer I am therefore biased. Let us choose and pay for what we want to watch , implement the fee but do not make it mandatory for OTA to be carried on BDU but even that it is not the ideal solution. I do not think anyone has offered it yet but it is a good thing we have hearings and the right to dissent so eventually someone will come up with it.

The funny thing it is all supposed to be about saving the local stations and the local content yet from 8 pm to 10 pm weekdays I see nothing local on my EPG, they must be broadcasting canadian content while I sleep I guess, lol. BTW , if you want to watch canadian programming, get yourself a Satellite FTA system and watch the Cuban TV, they probably even have more that CTV and Global!!!. Even some US shows have the Global logo but without the canadian commercials!!!

But these programs that they supposedly want to black out will still be available on OTA seeing as this is mostly beef with the Satellite/cable companies?

All of these threats/fees and so forth work on the assumption that OTA doesn't exist. Or at least that no one knows about it. :-)

Can't wait for someone to suggest to the CRTC that they be allowed to start jamming "straying" OTA TV signals coming up from the US. Of course because there's no redeeming Canadian content and it's undermining local TV!

What, Sheila Copps is involved with this? ;)

I don't think it is based on them not existing, don't know about you guys but most f not all the people I know have cable or sat. You probably cover most Canadians by looking at that, also from an ad point of view (which is what they care about), I am sure the assumption is that people that don't have it can't afford it so less interesting (i.e. if the guy is poor and can't afford it then who cares if you don't advertise to them).

These corporations are nothing but money hungry. Bell Express Vu & Rogers Digital Cable charge too much and the product they are forcing people to buy is not all that good in terms of picture quality.

LOL .. I cancelled mine after 2 races and got rid of any cable period. Had enough with these guys. Its great though, otherwise I would never have found that you can get the full BBC pre/post/race show off the internet..

Oh!, I thought the BBC online stream service was not available to us living in NA?. Thanks for the heads up for the next season. If there is an F1 season next year!, lol. I wonder, if as announced , next year coverage by BBC will finally be in HD though?.

Welcome to the forum BTW. Hope you enjoy it.

Well there are ways, some not legit and some even less legit than that lol. There is an app that lets you watch a ton of British channels, try google 'British tv p2p'. Its streaming so definitely not HD quality, so I usually get the recordings afterwards, Darmeth F1 is your friend ! There is for sure racing next year Schumacher is back, can't wait !!