[opendtv] Re: Channel approval process
- From: "John Golitsis" <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:28:49 -0400
John John John...this is something we could back-and-forth on for...years,
really. Just because you don't understand something doesn't make it wrong.
For example, your local-into-local thingy is mind bender for me. Based on what
you've said here, how is that not unconstitutional? But, I'm sure there are
good reasons for it and some that agree with it, and some that don't.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 1:56 PM
Subject: [opendtv] Re: Channel approval process
> How do you know that HBO doesn't own those rights?
>
> I can watch the Sopranos and any other programs on HBO/US simultaneously on
> CableMas in Tijuana (English with Spanish subtitles). I suspect that HBO
> has, without any real exertion, worldwide rights for their own product, and
> that of Warner Brothers/Morgan Creek, etc.
>
> There is little point in acquiring Canadian rights, is there not, if the
> channel is "not authorized for distribution in Canada" (which would be an
> unconstitutional matter were it to happen in the U.S.).
>
> Do you know from whom the "authorized (and sub-par) Canadian distributors
> buy Canadian rights? I suspect in more than a few cases, they get those
> rights from HBO or Showtime. Both also have (fewer now in the past) output
> deals where they get first grab at some or all of the content put out by
> particular studios.
>
> Here's a quirk that you may not be familiar with: Universal and Paramount
> compete fiercely in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., they have a combined
> distribution operation that would be illegal in the U.S. Not production:
> distribution. I think that WB has a similar operation, or is a partner in
> the U-P system.
>
> Canada CANNOT control these rights. The movies are not produced by Canadian
> companies. They have a choice: acquire the rights on the open market, or
> don't show them.
>
> The point here is that -- by government action -- Canadians are denied
> access to content that Americans consider their birthright. And, the
> average Canadian pirates the content anyway, using hacked DirecTV cards.
> Canadians appear to be happy with this disconnection of the government from
> their desires. Kinda like the renewed movement to permit private healthcare
> for those who Canadians who think that waiting three years for elective
> surgery is something that a homeless uninsured person in the U.S. does not
> need to endure, if they want to apply some elbow grease to "the system."
>
> The point is victimhood. Were U.S. citizens denied access to hot Canadian
> content (assuming such a thing existed, outside of PrideVision) they would
> be up in arms. "What about our rights?"
>
> John Willkie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of John Golitsis
> Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 9:46 AM
> To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [opendtv] Re: Channel approval process
>
>
> What do you mean by "illegal", exactly? It is not an authorised channel and
> therefore not available for distribution within Canada. Regardless, HBO
> doesn't
> own Canadian distribution rights for the movies they show anyway, so they
> can't
> sell their service up here anyway. Our TMN (The Movie Network) tends to buy
> Canadian rights for most of HBO's own productions, so we're really not
> missing
> any programming that HBO would offer.
>
> The cable companies recently banded together and asked to have HBO added to
> the
> list of eligible foreign services, but the request was denied by our CRTC.
> So
> much of their programming would have to be blacked out (rights issues)
> anyway so
> I'm not sure what the value would be. TMN and HBO would be trying to outbid
> each other for Canadian rights, driving prices higher, so again, I don't see
> the
> point.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Willkie" <johnwillkie@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> > And, isn't HBO illegal in Canada?
> >
>
>
>
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