Amazon Canada has pushed back on comparisons to traditional cable providers during a regulatory hearing, telling the CRTC that Prime Video and Amazon Music are helping Canadian creators—not operating like legacy broadcasters.
The company spoke today at the ongoing CRTC hearing titled, The Path Forward – Working Towards a Sustainable Canadian Broadcasting System.
“Now, we understand that some other parties in this hearing have suggested that this service makes us similar to a [Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking] BDU. We are not,” said Magda Grace, Head of Prime Video for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. “BDUs have their own closed-network system, whereas we offer access to subscribers through open internet networks.”
Grace said Amazon helps viewers discover Canadian programming and supports local talent with original productions and partnerships.
“Since its launch on Prime Video, 1.5 million Canadian households streamed The Sticky; and, on a global basis, that number is 5x,” she said, referring to a drama about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist filmed largely in St-Eustache, Quebec. Grace added, “We’ve produced more French language series in Quebec than any international streamer.”
Amazon also highlighted its partnerships with traditional broadcasters. “Since the launch of this model in 2019, we now offer 39 subscriptions, including 15 services from independent Canadian undertakings like OUTtv, Hollywood Suite, among others, and major Canadian broadcasters Bell, Rogers, and Corus.”
Grace pointed to Amazon’s investment in sports content as another benefit to Canadians. “With hockey on Prime, more Canadians have access to Monday Night hockey than ever before.”
John Murphy, Head of Amazon Music Canada, said music streaming has helped reverse industry decline. “Streaming services like Amazon Music revitalized the music industry by providing legal, accessible alternatives to piracy.” He noted that “approximately 70% of our revenue goes to music rights holders – far more than commercial radio’s 8%.”
Closing out the hearing, Grace said: “We believe in a fair and competitive system, and a sustainable and scalable approach that puts the customer first.”
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I dunno – if the only way some subscribers can access content provided by Rogers' CityTV+ or via Corus' StackTV is by first having an Amazon Prime account, that looks a lot like a BDU.
I'm not sure about Chorus, you can also subscribe to Crave for Bell content, and you can also subscribe to CityTV+ without without going through Amazon. Amazon Prime just makes it a more convenient all in one stop.
Stackyv is on it which all your cable tv content
StackTV is also available to stream for subscribers of Fubo Canada.
Should fubotv be regulated by CRTC l
Should Crave or CityTV+? They all offer streaming services.
You think wildest streaming service shouldn't regulate but regulate cable instesd
Depending on the regulations, it is more difficult to regulate streaming than cable. When we talk about streaming, where does it end? Yes, there is Crave, Amazon Prime, CBC Gem, Fubo etc., but then there are others such as YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion etc. that you can also stream shows on. The other thing to consider is that the non Canadian streaming sites can do what Facebook did when the CRTC implemented the news tax, and stop offering that service in Canada. How do you think that would go over?
I’ll ask.sgsin who regulate steaming you think wild wild west right
Who should regulate satellite radio right
Isn't HBO a cable also part of crave on amazon
StackTV won’t exist once Corus is bankrupt once and for all (especially at $13.99 a month). The rest are available as a standalone.
Corus is owned by rogers
Corus is owned by Global – not Rogers. Corus failed in a bid to hold onto networks like Discovery, HGTV, Food, etc – these going to Rogers at the beginning of this year. Which is why most of these stations are not part of StackTV.
Rogers owns CityTV – which explains the lineup in their CityTV+ product.
While many of these stations are available for streaming outside of these bundled apps, they almost all require that you sign in with your 'cablevision' provider's credentials before access is given. So if you choose not to have cable / traditional provider is not already listed / you are in place that doesn't have cable, then you don't have access to the streamed product – so you're back to looking at being an Amazon Prime member before you can access the bundles.
Ka-ching, ka-ching…
Still need subscription cable no matter what happens.
Bell owned all those networks
Shaw owned by rogers
How about we stop paying socialist assholes to tell us what we are allowed to watch?
Amazon is not wrong here.
Amazon is right.
also the CRTC has not helped Canadians at all with its policies. Canadians would be much better off without the CRTC.
Why have Canadian chsnnels
That is the problem. The CRTC forces a ratio of Canadian content, and not enough Canadian content exists. So we just get less non-Canadian content to enforce the absurd ration required by the CRTC.
Protecting Canadian content only hurts Canadians by forcing us to get VPNs to find the content we want.
Stacked city plus and sports and tsn aren't those cable tv channels
Cable TV channels are irrelevant. It is streaming services that are the issue. Canadians miss out on a lot of content because streaming services need a ratio of Canadian content. Not enough Canadian content exists l, so we are limited on what we can see online.
Who should regstecsble vs steaming right.ykur pro streaming anti cable right and anti CRTC live free market right
Not sure what you were trying to say. I am not anti-cable. I just don’t care about cable, and wouldn’t pay for it.
I am anti-CRTC because their regulations only hurt Canadians with their regulations. They provide nothing useful to Canadians, and no real protections.
You rather YOUR money Amazon right
I’m guessing you don’t speak English. You are not making any sense.
You think only bout yourself nobofy else always think your win the debate how English is that.yiu can't stay onntopic
Very bad English. You didn’t make a coherent statement.
I am thinking about all Canadians. There is no debate to win. I’m just stating the facts about how the CRTC hurts Canadians.
You tell like toriesdo all lies
You use ai type right
Are you saying I use an AI typewriter, or that I use an AI to type correctly?
You sound like someone from one of those troll farms. Your lack of English came through when you ran out of pre made copy and paste statements
Yudibg chstgpt seem like it rightou
Itrue true crave tv is cable tvsn't
CRTC exists as a funnel directly to CBC.
Poliverefsn
CRTC regulations affect CBC just as much CTV, CityTV, Global and every other cable and Canadian streaming service.
A whole unit of a production shouldn't be referred to as "content."
Rogers and crous which owned by rogers.stacked tv sportsnet city plus aren't cable tv
Sounds like a distinction without a difference to me.
They want to force ads on everyone at every true tier like a legacy broadcaster then they can follow the rules. NGL whatever position a company like Amazon has, the opposite is what's good for consumers.
Stacked TV crave cutytv plus all cable tv on Amazon
Theyre saying that cable TV operates on a closed network therefore they're not cable TV. Then they've made the argument that Rogers isn't cable TV either since my Rogers Xfinity box with all the channels also works just fine over telus Internet.
What is bell
I also brought it to California last year and it worked over whatever provider the hotel had.