http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/ Engadget HD Comments for Bell TV launches HBO Canada (yes, in HD) http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/
The only way HBO was allowed into Canada this time was by making a deal with The Movie Network and Movie Central that would be considered monopolistic in most countries:
- HBO conceded to take over the ailing MMore station (which is also owned by The Movie Network's parent company).
- HBO conceded to devote 25% of it's airtime to Canadian shows (which will no doubt be purchased from The Movie Network and Movie Central's parent companies - Astral Media and Corus Entertainment).
- HBO conceded to be bundled with The Movie Network and Movie Central, so that consumers are not allowed to choose HBO *instead* of the existing channels.

This is a disgusting state of affairs! Competition is good - it promotes businesses to improve and offers consumers choice - but the CRTC doesn't see it this way.]]>Sep 27th 2008 10:25AMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/
All HBO and Showtime content has been available on The Movie Network for years and so there was no reason to approve a seperate HBO channel that would be American owned and not produce Canadian content like TMN.

Without canadian content restrictions, not only would thousands of professionals like myself be out of a job, but millions and millions of dollars would be lost from the Canadian economy as all programing would be bought from abroad and nothing would be produced in the country.

The CRTC is not perfect, but it's NOT anti-competitive or anti-consumer!

]]>Oct 2nd 2008 9:41PMhttp://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/http://enghddev.weblogsinc.com/2008/09/27/bell-tv-launches-hbo-canada-yes-in-hd/Oct 2nd 2008 7:27PM