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.