Shaw pre-empting US Time Shifting Channels

[rileyparrish]

I have been watching all the major American networks in HD for 2 years now(east and west feeds), I live in Edmonton and there doesn't ever seem to be Canadian commercials on those channels. I watched the Superbowl this year on NBC Detroit & last year on FOX Seattle and all of the commercials were US based and 80% of them hilarious. This both between StarChoice and Shaw if that makes any difference which it shouldnt...

[Newb777]

I guess the lucky ones are those who live close the US Border and have an OTA HD antenna with decent reception to watch the true US feed. That's what a few did who lived in Chilliwack BC and were able to watch the Superbowl with the US commercials.

[CrazyInSane]

Originally Posted by rileyparrish

This both between StarChoice and Shaw if that makes any difference which it shouldnt...

Which provider you are with makes all the difference in the world, actually. In Edmonton currently, there are no OTA HD transmitters for either CTV or Global (Citytv, E! and A do not have any HD transmitters anywhere). This means that simsubs are not required by CRTC regulations in Edmonton (for HD feeds).

However, if you're with Bell ExpressVu, you will still get simsubs because Bell implements them nationwide, even though they are not required to do so. This is because of the limited flexibility of their current simsub-implementing software/machinery.

SharChoice, however, applies simsubs according to individual postal code, and since you're in Edmonton, their systems would determine that you do not require simsubs for HD channels (although you should be getting simsubs in SD).

Shaw would fall under the same category because they are a cable company, and also implement simsubs by distinct area. This is why you won't receive HD simsubs with them either (though, again, you should receive SD simsubs).

Bottom line: If you want to avoid HD simsubs, avoid Toronto, Vancouver, and Bell ExpressVu. Global and CTV have OTA HD transmitters in those cities, so they are the only places where cable providers will simsub HD US networks. StarChoice, however, does not carry Global Vancouver HD, Global Toronto HD, nor CTV Vancouver HD, so if you are a StarChoice subscriber, you will only ever see an HD simsub if you live in Toronto. And only CTV will be subbed.

If you want to avoid SD simsubs as well, avoid any distinctly populated area and subscribe to StarChoice (or cable, in the off-chance that it's available). Avoiding SD simsubs is more iffy, though, because it's hard to determine for sure whether StarChoice or your cable company will acknowledge that you live far away enough from the nearest CTV/Global/A/E! SD transmitter. In this case you can check your neighbors to see if they get simsubs before subscribing. You can also go OTA to avoid all simsubs if you live near the US border.

[rileyparrish]

Excellent post, very easy to understand. So the day when Regional CTV/Global feeds go HD(i.e. Edmonton), then simsubbing content on US networks will probably occur right? (On the ones that show the same content at a certain time)

I checked the SD Fox Spokane feed last night (Channel 16 in Edmonton on Shaw) and i noticed the Global Edmonton watermark in the bottom right corner...im so glad this is not occuring on HD feeds!

[Gord Lacey]

I guess that means we'll be free and clear if we watch Eastern feeds in HD, since the times would never match up in a non-Eastern timezone (unless it's the Superbowl).

Gord

[s40]

I am not quite sure if I follow this right. The Oscars were time shifted by three hours in Vancouver on the Detroit channels, but the Detroit signal was substituted by CTV (I am assuming Toronto feed) which is not available in the Vancouver area. When the Oscars came on in the west, I expected and got the simsub by CTV Vancouver.

[tablo]

Originally Posted by rileyparrish

Excellent post, very easy to understand. So the day when Regional CTV/Global feeds go HD(i.e. Edmonton), then simsubbing content on US networks will probably occur right? (On the ones that show the same content at a certain time)

I checked the SD Fox Spokane feed last night (Channel 16 in Edmonton on Shaw) and i noticed the Global Edmonton watermark in the bottom right corner...im so glad this is not occuring on HD feeds!

I think you'll know, but simsubbing for HD SHOULD NOT happen since there's no OTA transmitter(but will be a transmitter in spring 2009 as they said) for HD OTA.

[CrazyInSane]

Originally Posted by Gord Lacey

I guess that means we'll be free and clear if we watch Eastern feeds in HD, since the times would never match up in a non-Eastern timezone (unless it's the Superbowl).

Yes, you're right. If, in the future, CTV and/or Global decide to put up an HD transmitter in Edmonton, you will begin to see substitution on the US west feeds only, unless, like you mentioned, there is a show that is being played live on both east and west feeds (i.e. Super Bowl).

So if there's a CTV-HD transmitter in Edmonton by the 2010 Super Bowl and CTV is airing the game, you will see your local CTV-HD Edmonton overlayed onto both CBS-HD West and CBS-HD East.

BUT, if StarChoice decides not to carry the future CTV-HD Edmonton at all (they currently don't carry CTV-HD Vancouver), you will still be HD simsub-free with StarChoice. If StarChoice does carry it, your only option would be trying for the CBS-HD OTA signal.

Originally Posted by s40

I am not quite sure if I follow this right. The Oscars were time shifted by three hours in Vancouver on the Detroit channels, but the Detroit signal was substituted by CTV (I am assuming Toronto feed) which is not available in the Vancouver area. When the Oscars came on in the west, I expected and got the simsub by CTV Vancouver.

Living in Coquitlam, the only situation in which you would not have seen a substitution in HD for the Oscars is if you were subscribed to StarChoice. Since the Oscars aired simultaneously in PST and EST (5PM PST & 8PM EST), any local cable company would have likely substituted your local CTV Vancouver HD over both ABC West HD and ABC East HD.

But since StarChoice doesn't carry CTV Vancouver HD at all, you would not have seen substitution at all with them. So with whom were you subscribed while watching the Oscars?

Originally Posted by tablo

I think you'll know, but simsubbing for HD SHOULD NOT happen since there's no OTA transmitter(but will be a transmitter in spring 2009 as they said) for HD OTA.

Yes, I do believe CTV (or Global?) is planning to set up an HD transmitter in Edmonton this year. When they do, you will be able to evade HD substitution in Edmonton only by watching the time-shifted US feeds, or by subscribing to StarChoice if they decide not to carry CTV-HD/Global HD Edmonton. But do remember that if, let's say, CTV sets one up but Global doesn't, you won't get any HD simsubs for US shows that Global is airing, only the ones CTV are airing.

[tablo]

Originally Posted by CrazyInSane

Which provider you are with makes all the difference in the world, actually. In Edmonton currently, there are no OTA HD transmitters for either CTV or Global (Citytv, E! and A do not have any HD transmitters anywhere). This means that simsubs are not required by CRTC regulations in Edmonton (for HD feeds).

However, if you're with Bell ExpressVu, you will still get simsubs because Bell implements them nationwide, even though they are not required to do so. This is because of the limited flexibility of their current simsub-implementing software/machinery.

SharChoice, however, applies simsubs according to individual postal code, and since you're in Edmonton, their systems would determine that you do not require simsubs for HD channels (although you should be getting simsubs in SD).

Shaw would fall under the same category because they are a cable company, and also implement simsubs by distinct area. This is why you won't receive HD simsubs with them either (though, again, you should receive SD simsubs).

Bottom line: If you want to avoid HD simsubs, avoid Toronto, Vancouver, and Bell ExpressVu. Global and CTV have OTA HD transmitters in those cities, so they are the only places where cable providers will simsub HD US networks. StarChoice, however, does not carry Global Vancouver HD, Global Toronto HD, nor CTV Vancouver HD, so if you are a StarChoice subscriber, you will only ever see an HD simsub if you live in Toronto. And only CTV will be subbed.

If you want to avoid SD simsubs as well, avoid any distinctly populated area and subscribe to StarChoice (or cable, in the off-chance that it's available). Avoiding SD simsubs is more iffy, though, because it's hard to determine for sure whether StarChoice or your cable company will acknowledge that you live far away enough from the nearest CTV/Global/A/E! SD transmitter. In this case you can check your neighbors to see if they get simsubs before subscribing. You can also go OTA to avoid all simsubs if you live near the US border.

Actually, there IS HD transmitter for Citytv and E! in Toronto(CITY-TV) and Hamilton(CHCH-TV) if you said "anywhere" as in Canada.

[CrazyInSane]

Originally Posted by tablo

Actually, there IS HD transmitter for Citytv and E! in Toronto(CITY-TV) and Hamilton(CHCH-TV) if you said "anywhere" as in Canada.

Yes, you're right—I'm sorry that didn't come out right, I meant "anywhere" as in the Edmonton/Alberta region.

[hockeymancw]

We have CTV HD in Calgary now too, so lump us into the simsub club.

[s40]

I was pretty sure that the Oscars west did not start at the same time as Detroit. I tuned from the west to the east feed and they were at different times in the show, and I was surprised when the time shifted version was substituted as well with the eastern feed of CTV. This was Shaw.

[WopOnTour]

What does CTV want to be on EVERY channel?

Here's a link to a Facebook group that is determined to DO something about it!
If we can get enough interest, we'll deluge the CRTC and CTV's head-office in Scarbourough with complaints !!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=89262660728
WopOnTour