If You Like Fox News, You'll Hate Canada (And Canada will hate you in return)

The American Enterprise ^ | September 2, 2003 | Marni Soupcoff

[Dan(9698)]

>>>...Yeah, but our balls are bigger ;)

I bet not bigger than Hillary's

[Allan]

but the situation is hardly as draconian or all-encompassing as you make it out.

Thank you.

I'll remember that next time I hear about a program on Fox
that my masters do not allow me to see.

If it's all about Canadian content why is CNN allowed but FOX is not?

[doc30]

Oh, please, don't you guys ever get tired of spouting off about things you know nothing about?

I am Canadian and what I've posted is accurate. There is very limited access to the Canadian market for cable channels from the states. None of my friends or family have ever seen the Fox News Channel becasue it is not available in most Canadian markets and is not available on the mini satellite dish systems available in Canada.

We get lots of US channels on cable and sattelite here.

You do not get even a fraction of what is offered in the U.S. as basic service. A good friend of mine has a satellite dish in Canada and he has fewer stations than the typical services here.

Now, the Canadian gov't is cracking down on the distributors of grey market dishes in Canada, and will confiscate them from those who own them if they find them.

THat's my beef with the Canadian government. They are paranoid about American content in the Canadian market. They deliberately removed my choice on what I want to see on TV or hear on the radio. The Canadian alternatives, which only exist through the blessing of the federal government, are terrible. If "Canadian" culture is so marvelous, it should be allowed to compete with American entertainment. The government fears this because of anti-American bias and because the Canadian content is so much weaker than what is produced in the U.S. It also is protectionism at its worst. I'm glad I bought a satellite radio for the times I drive to Canada just so I can hear the music and news I like and not what I'm told to like. The Canadian government has never believed in freedom of choice.

ALso, there would be no need to crack down on U.S. satellite receivers if the government would permit their sale in Canada. They won't because they don't want Canadians to pollute their minds with things of American origin. The government stopped it, just like China and Cuba restrict what people can see on TV and hear on the radio. Don't you understand how intrusive and controlling the Canadian system is? THey'll let Al-jezeera on the satellite systems, but not Fox News. It's pure socialism and I'm happy to be away from it. Remember, if the government controls what you can see and hear in the media, they can manipulate your opinion by blocking contrary opinions. How else could the Liberal party maintain power for so long and so frequently?

Yes, our laws require that there is no reporting of election results in western regions where the polls close later than those in the east, for somewhat obvious reasons.

In other words, freedom of the press does not exist in Canada.

And yes, our gov't enforces publication bans (when there is one, which is not in all trials) on reporting of trials in Canada.

And how do Canadians know that the trials are fair if they are blacked out? Another example of government control of the media.

but the situation is hardly as draconian or all-encompassing as you make it out.

I disagree. When the government uses the force of law to enforce it's wishes, it means the government, through the police, is willing to use deadly force, if necessary, to take away your satellite dish if you can see TV shows that the government does not approve. What would happen if you did get a grey market (created by the government media control) dish, the police came to take it and you refused to comply? Then again it is Canada where you can marry your gay lover and get legally stoned on pot to pass the time because the TV is terrible.

[-YYZ-]

Well, I do get the Fox network on my cable (or on the air if I hook up the rabbit ears). As to Fox News, I'm not sure why it's not available here. I will readily admit the CRTC is a big pain in the keister and makes some really stupid decisions at times. Still, being denied Fox News is not exactly the equivalent of daily book burnings (IMHO only). I absolutely do not agree with the hate speech laws we now have in this country. While I don't much care for the "God hates fags" crowd, or the historical-revisionist holocaust deniers, I believe it should be their right to spew their hatred in the light of day so that all can see it and repudiate it.

[-YYZ-]

No, I don't like it either, but some of what you see as censorship I see as the legitimate function of our government and our laws. The CRTC sucks, no two ways about it.

I still think you're overreacting and seeing conspiracies where there are none, however. Apparently you already live in the US. If you find Canada so objectionable I suggest you stay there, take out US citizenship and disown your Canadian citizenship. Me, I'll stay here for now and try to bring others around to my way of thinking. Hey, I'm here reading this site with all these verbotten ideas, I'm surprised the Canadian gov't hasn't started to censor the web yet like red China (/sarcasm).

[-YYZ-]

"I am Canadian and what I've posted is accurate. There is very limited access to the Canadian market for cable channels from the states. None of my friends or family have ever seen the Fox News Channel becasue it is not available in most Canadian markets and is not available on the mini satellite dish systems available in Canada."

And btw, you say it's not avaialbe in most Canadian markets. So does that mean it is available in some? If so, then I guess there's no law keeping it out, just that most cable and satellite operators haven't chosen to carry it (yet)?

[Snowyman]

As for trials not being reported , the sitting judge decides if a ban should be in place, most are reported ,eventually all, and all court rooms are open to anyone who wishes to sit. And elections are not reported till the last voting station closes. Obviously who's winning in the east could influence more than one voter in the west.

Perhaps this will explain a bit about the CRTC, It's about money.

Fox News comes to Canada?
by Jonathan Williams
July 7th 2003

After nearly four years since the digital license for Fox News Canada had been granted there is a move afoot to get the channel into Canada. However after purchasing the license Global did little to invest in the channel therefore it did not go forth in any manner


Thu, June 19, 2003

Cdn cable eyes U.S. services

By JOHN MCKAY - Canadian Press

TORONTO (CP) -- Canada's major private broadcasters expressed shock and dismay Thursday after the cable companies applied to directly import and carry 17 U.S. TV channels, including such coveted services as HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Fox News.

The reasons given for the formal application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission were to combat satellite TV piracy and to give a boost to the struggling digital tier of cable services.

"Our research and customer feedback indicate that it's critical to respond to consumer expectations for more choice," says Janet Yale, president of the Canadian Cable Television Association. "We have 700,000 households that are watching them illegally.

But the move was described as a "cynical cash grab in disguise" that would not benefit consumers or the broadcast industry and a major fight was promised.

"We're not going to take this lying down," said Glen O'Farrell, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, who confirmed that a counter-submission would be filed soon with the CRTC.

The 17 U.S. premium movie, sports and kids' channels that Canadian cable companies want to carry on their digital tiers:


HBO (Home Box Office and its multiplexes) , Showtime (and its multiplexes) ,Starz (and multiplexes) ,The Sundance Channel (independent movies) ,Cinemax (HBO's movie service) ,The Movie Channel (Showtime's movie service) .,Lifetime Movies ,Flix , Fox Regional Sports Net channels , The NFL Channel ,ESPN ESPN2 , Fox News ,FamilyNet ,Noggin ,Nickelodeon Kids ,WAM

[doc30]

No, I don't like it either, but some of what you see as censorship I see as the legitimate function of our government and our laws. The CRTC sucks, no two ways about it.

THat sounds schizophrenic to me. You say, in the same sentence, that you don't like it and that it sucks, but you support the government for doing it. You give legitimacy to something you believe is wrong. If you truly don't like it, why don't you do something to change it? Have you ever tried or do you just accespt whatever the government decides is OK?

[doc30]

I say its not available in most Canadian markets becasue I haven't seen what's available in all Canadian markets. However, I do know it isn't available in Windsor Ont, ot Toronto.

[doc30]

THat is some interesting news. How do the broadcasters see it as a "cash grab?" Most of these are the channels that are popular with the grey market dishes.

[goldstategop]

More like the ruling Liberals don't want conservative views to compete with the taxpayer funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which is for practical intents and purposes, a Liberal Party mouthpiece. American ideas are dangerous stuff, too dangerous for Canadians to even adopt. God knows what it would do to socialism in Canada!

[-YYZ-]

"THat sounds schizophrenic to me. You say, in the same sentence, that you don't like it and that it sucks, but you support the government for doing it."

To be exact, what you quoted is two sentences. As to first, it was poorly constructed on my part. The CRTC's practices suck, as does our move towards hate speech laws (mostly promulgated by activist judges under the auspices of the constitution and the Human Rights act). The control over the broadcasting of election results until all the polls have closed, and the restrictions on the reporting of court cases where publication bans are in effect (although bans are overused IMO) are legitimate functions of our government IMO.

As to changing it, I vote, I write my representatives, and I discuss these issues with others in an attempt to make them understand. Maybe there's more I could do, but like most of us, I have a life to lead, too.

[-YYZ-]

They're afraid that if these big US channels are allowed into Canada it will kill the competing Canadian equivalents (ie Cinemax, MuchMusic, ShowCase, Bravo, etc, etc). I think the Canadian channels that provide something distinctive and valuable will survive, and those that don't might just as well die, anyway. The grey market dishes currently represent only a relatively small portion of the Canadian market, and recent efforts by the US satellite broadcasters are making these more and more difficult to use, anyway.

[Snowyman]

THat is some interesting news

Sorry , I don't have the appropriate links to the whole articles, (Google?) but Global has had access to Fox for over 4 years. CRTC approved it. Perhaps a simple , no market is the answer.

Which grey market ? The one where a Canadian subscribes and uses a US address ? Here's a weird thought. Could it be that it's the original US broadcaster that requires a US address and refuses to broadcast into other countries ? After all , how do you sell your signal to a Canadian broadcaster if you supply all the market . And there isn't anyone in Canada who will buy advertising from you . But they will buy from a broadcaster , in Canada , to whom your sell your signal . It's about money.

Or the grey market where the dish pirates the signal using a counterfeit card. And only the counterfeiters make the money.

[BraveMan]

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a little like that too.

Not much of a sportsman, I'm guessing . . .

[BraveMan]

If it's all about Canadian content why is CNN allowed but FOX is not?

That my FRiend, is the $60,000 ($82,200 Cdn) Question . . .

I saw plenty of American content on the tube during my two month stay west of Winnipeg recently. All the NASCAR races were televised on TSN, the various Hollyweird sitcoms, Discovery Channel, History Channel, CNN, etc. Most of it is just packaged differently. No Fox News Channel though. Not many conservative viewpoints found via the media . . .

Canada is a beautiful country, and it's citizens are among the nicest people I've had the good fortune to meet. Too bad their government is socialist to the core . . .

[exmarine]

I put Canada right up there with France - at the top of my "Feminized Nations List." I couldn't care less what those fems think of the United States.

[exmarine]

Canada is a beautiful country, and it's citizens are among the nicest people I've had the good fortune to meet. Too bad their government is socialist to the core . .

...as they take their legalized drugs and send out invitations to homosexual weddings... Canada is a doomed nation. No nation that chucks virtue can survive for long. History makes that clear. The U.S. is just a notch behind them. Simple formula: Chuck virtue = die

[doc30]

As silly as it sounds, if I ever had to move back to Canada, I would suffer Fox News withdrawls. I've heard it is the billing that poses a problem for the U.S. satellite companies. THey can't collect from unwilling subscribers in Canada, so they do require a U.S. address for billing purposes.

[BraveMan]

Canada is a doomed nation.

Just as you and I would loathe to be judged by some of the actions of our own government, we should be wary of painting all Canadien citizens with the same wide brush. The overwhelming majority of the Canadians I've known have the same conservative values as you and me. Maybe I've been lucky; I don't know . . .

Still, I can tell you quite unequivocally I won't be renouncing my U.S. citizenship anytime soon. Nor will I be leaving behind my American flag during my next foray into the Great White North!