So, I’m Canadian. This apparently means something in the online world. I guess some companies can’t afford to pay the taxes or duty on packets crossing the border. I guess they figure our dollar, which by the way is currently sitting at 1.15965 (as of 10:59pm EST, December 21), the highest it’s been in quite some time, isn’t worthy of buying their products. I remember once, a while back, I called up a company that sold some really cool stuff (don’t ask, I don’t remember). I begged them to take my money in exchange for goods and/or services. “Sorry sir, we can’t take your money, your Canadian.” Well fuck you too.
Apple has been touting this TV show download thing from iTunes the past while. I hadn’t paid much attention to it, just another Apple thing. Well, I realized I’ve been missing How I Met Your Mother, with the delightful Alyson Hannigan. I figured now was a good time to see if they offered that on iTunes, since I finally got signed up there. Some digging around revealed nothing. Even downloaded the new version of iTunes, but still nothing. Over to Google I go and it turns out, they don’t offer that service in Canada. The hell?! It’s data jackass, just route that shit over here and charge me for it.
If I ever get filthy rich, I’m going to start up a company that specializes in selling all the goods and services that Canadians can’t get, at rates half what the Americans get it for, and I’m going to wiggle my bottom at the corporate fuckwits (and Canadian agencies putting the hold on things) when they try to complain. “Screw you!” I’ll say. “You had a nice idea. Too bad you didn’t have the testicular fortitude to go through with it!”. Jerks.
They showed me though. They got me to buy an XM Radio. Aren’t I a fool.
I realize that I use iTunes and own a Powerbook and iPod, so I’ll come across as an Apple sympathizer, but I think the problem is not Apple’s.
I catch Apple news every now and then and the gist I get from these sources is that Apple wants to sell stuff to other countries. With Canada, you can almost rest assured that the issue with distributing the content that would be available on the iTunes Music Store (iTMS) has something to do with the CRTC. Apparently, they were the issue when it came to getting the iTMS available in Canada in the first place and they also made it difficult to get satellite radio in Canada using the XM and Sirius services. Anyone see the ads in the Globe and Mail by Future Shop pleading with the CRTC to allow satellite radio in Canada?
Anyway, I would love for the iTMS to offer TV downloads so I could get some content while ditching my cable. I’m tired of paying through the wazoo for crap I don’t want.
Your right, it’s Apple’s “fault”. The CRTC most certainly get’s in the way of me spending money on a regular basis. Though I did sort of hint to that while wiggling my buttox.
Reminds me. XM Radio Canada called me the other day for a quick survey. I told them they didn’t have enough Canadian content, and they replied that it was the CRTC getting in the way there too. That sort of confused me a bit. How is the CRTC stopped them from having Canadian content?
“It’s data jackass, just route that shit over here and charge me for it.”
Ahh, I know your pain all too well. Just found your blog when I tried googling “Why No iTunes TV Shows in Canada?”. I realize this is from January, but I just have to add my comments!
The CRTC, if it’s their fault, needs to just get out of the way and let the technology win. The days of us all gathered ’round the family TV and watching The Tommy Hunter Show are long gone…
I would also suspect it’s because of the distribution deals that CTV and Global, etc, have with American content creators. If anyone sells “Lost” on iTunes, it’ll be ABC, not CTV…so perhaps they’ll have to work that out between them. Does anyone in Canada actually believe CTV could produce a show like Lost?!
Looking forward to the iTunes Movie Store launch this Tuesday, but I assume Canada will once again be left out in the cold. But perhaps iTunes TV Canada will launch, and only offer content from CBC? Lame.