Why Canadians Can't Watch TV Shows on Hulu, etc.
Who’s Behind the Geo-Blocking of ABC.com, CBS.com May Surprise You
May 6, 2009
While US neighbours to the south are happily gorging themselves at an online buffet of current and classic TV shows (full seasons’ worth in many cases), Canadians must make do with the crumbs on offer from a limited number of domestics websites.
Anyone north of 44º hoping to catch a missed episode of Better Off Ted on ABC.com or a the behind-the-scenes extras for Medium on NBC.com can “fuhgeddaboudit.” Or, forget about doing it legally, at any rate. Same goes for trying to watch American shows posted on Hulu – where viewers can feast on everything from full seasons of Nanny and the Professor to last night’s episode of the Colbert Report. For free! The new “Shows” feature on YouTube promises to bypass Canadians as well.
Geo-Blocking
This restriction of content within certain geographical boundaries is called “geo-blocking.” And because of it, Canadian viewers trying to access content on most US network sites will see messages like: “We’re sorry, but the video you selected isn’t available from your location.”
The geo-blocked message on the Hulu website stands out in that it offers a little encouragement:
“Hulu is committed to making its content available worldwide. To do so, we must work through a number of legal and business issues, including obtaining international streaming rights. Know that we are working to make this happen and will continue to do so…”
As noted below, the message may sound a tad optimistic.
Blame Canada
One might assume that the US networks are restricting Canadians’ access to their online episodes. In fact it’s most often the Canadian networks that are behind it. Here’s why.
When Canadian viewers watch American shows on US network websites, they’re not watching them on CTV or on Global. The resulting decline in the Canadian networks’ viewership and ad revenues could threaten the networks’ viability. So, as part of the Canadian majors’ licensing agreements with the originating US networks, they agree to air a particular show in Canada, provided that the American network prohibit Canadian viewers from watching the show anywhere but on the Canadian network or its website.
So much for the “borderlessness” of the Internet. It can be a challenge sometimes trying to reconcile one’s support for measures protecting domestic industry with the mounting frustrations of repeatedly denied viewership.
Hulu in Canada? Don’t Hold Your Breath
Hulu’s online message sounds promising. But a request for more information about when they might be planning on expanding into Canada elicited a more tempered response.
Hulu Media advises that:
“Hulu is a U.S. service only and will remain so for the time being. While we have every intention to make Hulu's growing content lineup available worldwide sometime in the future, we don't have any timetable or any news regarding possible international expansion at this time.”
The company went on to explain that expanding into Canada will require clearing the rights for each and every show they intend to broadcast in this region. Sounds like a lengthy process. They did note, though, that a lot of the producers want to bring their programming to an international audience, and are already working in this regard.
Hulu’s tagline is pretty enticing: “Watch your favorites. Anytime. For free.” Digital-age, TV-watching Canadians might be happier if it read: “Anytime. Anywhere. For free.”
For now, though, no such luck.
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