The continuing Americanization and devaluing of Canadian television

February 10, 2012

Later this spring Canadian viewers will have even more channels to select on their digital television packages, but if they are expecting anything new and original they are mistaken. That being said, if they like a certain show they can get more of it.

Most of the new wave of upcoming channels are repackaged versions of well known American brands whoes programing is already commonly seen on Canadian television. All we are getting is same American shows with the American brand name, and less Canadian content.

The first is ABC Spark which will launch March 26. This Corus-Disney partnership will estenially rebroadcast the ABC family channel's lineup of teen soap operas including The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Switched at Birth, which already air on Bell owned Much. In addition to the established shows Spark will air many new offerings from ABC Family which continues to expand its lineup of dramas aimed at young audiences.

An odd twist in this is Corus's involvement in the new station. As mentioned a lot of ABC Family's shows have been airing on Much, owned by Bell. The former 24 hour music station has been airing an increasing selection of dramas not only from ABC family, but from other American broadcasters such the CW and their own productions including Degrassi. It is a lucractive market but it surprising that Bell did not enter this market.

A more logical move was Astral owned Teletoon exporting the american channel Cartoon Network/Adult Swim to Canadian digitial broadcasting. For those unfamilar the once 24 hours Cartoon Network in the US converted their programing from 9pm to 6am to live action and animated subversive comedy. Most of it has been airing in on Teletoon under the heading of teletoon at night. However CRTC regulations prevented Teletoon from airing live action shows such as Childrens Hospital. That being said most live action Adult Swim shows have wound up on G4 television. No air date yet has been set for the launch of Cartoon Network/Adult Swim.

Both of these channels will be available on digitial platform, persumable free for a limited period of time before being offered in upper tier pacakages.