If you read this Toronto Star article, they seem to want to lay the blame on you.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.
Even from Day One of Canadian broadcasting, during the planning stages, the Americans wanted in. They wanted in so they could expand their networks and audiences into Canada. The first network, the CBRC even started carrying programs from the NBC and CBS Radio Networks on the weekends.
Then when TV finally made it’s debut up here in the 1950’s, stations – which were required to become CBC affiliates – also wound up carrying programming from the Americans. What is now Global Calgary, CICT-TV – then CHCT-TV broadcast the Ed Sullivan Show from CBS when they launched. So we’ve always had American programming, in fact we are one of the few countries in the world that receives American programming on the same day and date.
Going back to a point I made above, the U.S. broadcasters wanting to expand into Canada, it’s always been an issue. In 1972, the CRTC introduced simultaneous-substitution for television stations which meant that if Global and ABC were airing the exact same episode of Brothers and Sisters at the exact same time, the cable and satellite companies are required to replace the signal of ABC with that of Global’s signal. That way you see Canadian advertising and other relevant messages.
And that has essentially become crack for the networks. Why spend the money on a Canadian show when the public wants what they’ve always gotten, American programming? And when you have a law that guarantees your commercials will air, you have more money for even more American programming which is what the viewers have always tuned into in droves. Want proof? Just look at how often CBC introduces a new Canadian produced drama and how many have gone onto second or third seasons? For a while, Canadian produced dramas did quite well especially in the 80’s but thanks to some loop holes, Global was able to air more and more American programming. Global has never been a television network, technically speaking that is. CTV wanted more and soon one station wound up controlling everything, the Toronto one of course. And in the late 90’s and 2000’s, they just kept buying and buying all the shows up.
And then, CTV and Global expanded and got in over their heads. Then the recession kicked in which meant fewer ad dollars coming in along with investment banks calling in their notes. Now CTV and Global need 50 cents from each viewer for their signal. But there’s no guarantee that it’s going to be used for Canadian programming. If it did, would you watch an all-Canadian schedule or start tuning into a border station for your fix of Grey’s Anatomy?
Exactly.
With no one watching, funds for Canadian television and film kept becoming smaller. Why produce if no one’s watching? There have been a few hits like Corner Gas, Flashpoint, The Border, The Guard, etc…but how many other shows have fallen to the waist side?
A lot. So unless we can go back in time and jam the signals from the States, Canada’s Top TV shows will likely be dominated by American imports. At least we can still get local news…oh no, wait we might lose that too.