Star Trek 2017 in Canada

[Nerroth]

While there are threads which note this in passing, the details of the new series' Canadian broadcast should perhaps warrant its own discussion thread.

Space have already posted an article announcing their coverage of the series - which, combined with CTV's airing of the pilot episode, seemingly makes Canada the only country in the world where the new show will be broadcast in its entirety on some form of television station.

Which may be interesting, not least since the show is being made here...

 

[Kelthaz]

I'm glad it's airing on Space, but I don't have cable. I guess I'll have to subscribe to Crave. Hopefully they have a Playstation app.

 

[timtonruben359]

As a Canadian I'm unhappy with this arrangement!

1) Space is a specialty channel which means if you want watch the series first you've got to dish out the money for cable.
2) Crave TV has confirmed it will not upload the new Trek Series until AFTER the first season is completed.
3) It's like space will have to cut scenes in order to accommodate a 42 minute run time for commercials.

 

[Kelthaz]

As a Canadian I'm unhappy with this arrangement!

1) Space is a specialty channel which means if you want watch the series first you've got to dish out the money for cable.
2) Crave TV has confirmed it will not upload the new Trek Series until AFTER the first season is completed.
3) It's like space will have to cut scenes in order to accommodate a 42 minute run time for commercials.

Oh, well that sucks.

See folks, this is why I pirate stuff.

 

[trekfan_1]

Space *BETTER NOT* butcher the running time!!!! I will not stand for this and neither should other Canadian trek fans. I may actually contact them and ask them if they plan on doing this. If they did that it would be absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. You should NEVER do that for a first run show.

If they HAVE to fit in a certain amount of commercials, they should air the new show in a 90 minute slot. For Me, I will just PVR and skip the commercials anyway.

 

[Avro Arrow]

Space have already posted an article announcing their coverage of the series

Hey, that's great news, thanks for sharing!

which, combined with CTV's airing of the pilot episode, seemingly makes Canada the only country in the world where the new show will be broadcast in its entirety on some form of television station.

Well, between our highest-in-the-developped-world internet prices, our lowest-in-the-developped-world internet speeds, and our unreasonably low data caps, I guess we should be thankful for this!

It's like space will have to cut scenes in order to accommodate a 42 minute run time for commercials.

Hmm, well if that's true, that would be unfortunate. Has this been confirmed anywhere, or is it just speculation?

 

[The Habs Fan]

As a Canadian, I love that it will be on Space. And they shouldn't cut it for time, they don't cut down Doctor Who. It'll probably just air in a 90 minute block instead. (Like Outlander does on Showcase).

 

[JayTheTrekkie]

When I watched the reruns of TNG and VOY, Space normally shows about 3 or 4 commercials, they are pretty fast...like 2 or 3 mins.

On the other TV networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX), would show like 5 or 6 (sometimes 7 as if the network forgot to switch back to the current show in broadcast after the 6th commercial) commercials. About 5 mins for 5/6 commercials.

 

[timtonruben359]

Hey, that's great news, thanks for sharing!

Hmm, well if that's true, that would be unfortunate. Has this been confirmed anywhere, or is it just speculation?

The running time question is purely speculation on my part nothing has been confirmed by Space, however, I worked in the Canadian TV industry so I do have an insiders view of how the big players operate.

Space is a specialty channel so maybe they're hoping that an increase in subscriptions will make up for a couple minutes of advertising revenue they could lose in order to avoid cutting the episodes by 1 or 2 minutes.

I would be ok if the episodes air on Space and then are posted on Crave within 24 hours. I'd be willing to pay the $7.99 for a Crave subscription. The reason why this isn't going straight to Crave is because Bell (and Rogers) are very worried about the number of Canadians cutting the cord. A huge portion of Bell and Rogers' revenue comes from cable subscriptions and TV advertising.

BTW Shomi (Rogers online streaming site) will be gone within 24 months it is not profitable and Crave is in trouble as well. They continue to have trouble competing with Netflix.

 

[Warped9]

I remember Space airing TOS and other Trek series uncut so it's possible the first airings of the new episodes will also be uncut.

Not everyone has flipped over completely to the Internet for watching series and movies. Some of us still have cable. In our house that means I already have Space so catching the new series isn't a problem. I hope the episodes will also be available online after the initial broadcast for those who missed it. I do the same with Murdoch Mysteries--if I miss the initial broadcast I can catch the episode the next day online at CBC.ca. I can do the same with Supergirl on Global.ca.


Now it's up to those making the show. If they can't grab me within a reasonable sampling of episodes then it'll be a short honeymoon. This business of needing a season or two to gel is b.s.

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

Yay for being able to watch Star Trek - I was afraid it might only be on Crave or something.

As for Shomi, I think it would do okay if they upgraded it to enable such advanced features as to-watch lists. But that would be crazy. I mean, that's Trek-level technology. It certainly isn't something other streaming services have offered for years, is it? (Rant applies to Shomi through the PVR, which I use because that way it doesn't use up my bandwidth, not the website which may or may not have the same issues.)

 

[timtonruben359]

I remember Space airing TOS and other Trek series uncut so it's possible the first airings of the new episodes will also be uncut.

Not everyone has flipped over completely to the Internet for watching series and movies. Some of us still have cable. In our house that means I already have Space so catching the new series isn't a problem. I hope the episodes will also be available online after the initial broadcast for those who missed it. I do the same with Murdoch Mysteries--if I miss the initial broadcast I can catch the episode the next day online at CBC.ca. I can do the same with Supergirl on Global.ca.


Now it's up to those making the show. If they can't grab me within a reasonable sampling of episodes then it'll be a short honeymoon. This business of needing a season or two to gel is b.s.

I have no issues with the show being aired on TV. I would just wish there was a way to stream the new episodes within a reasonable amount of time. I'm like going to VPN and use UK netflix to watch the series.

 

[kguru]

Netflix no longer works with VPNs.

 

[timtonruben359]

Netflix no longer works with VPNs.

not always

 

[Tuskin38]

As someone else pointed out, Space airs Doctor Who in its full running length, so they might do it with Star Trek depending on how long it is.

 

[trekfan_1]

As someone else pointed out, Space airs Doctor Who in its full running length, so they might do it with Star Trek depending on how long it is.

I hope that's the case. Hearing about Doctor Who makes me feel more optimistic.

One other thing that may bit an issue for airing it on Space is since this will be a "made-for-streaming" show, I assume the show will not necessarily have "lead into commercial" fade to black scene enders. In fact, Canada will be the only country in the entire world that will air this show on an actual TV channel. I would hate to see it jumping to commercials in a middle of a scene (like they often do with theatrical movies played on TV). On the the other hand, since commercials will be inserted in regards to CBS All access, maybe that will not be an issue. It would however (slightly) affect the creative process as the writers would be compelled to write in time specific "mini cliffhangers" or "fade to back" spots into the episodes.

 

[Tuskin38]

I hope that's the case. Hearing about Doctor Who makes me feel more optimistic.

One other thing that may bit an issue for airing it on Space is since this will be a "made-for-streaming" show, I assume the show will not necessarily have "lead into commercial" fade to black scene enders. In fact, Canada will be the only country in the entire world that will air this show on an actual TV channel. I would hate to see it jumping to commercials in a middle of a scene (like they often do with theatrical movies played on TV). On the the other hand, since commercials will be inserted in regards to CBS All access, maybe that will not be an issue. It would however (slightly) affect the creative process as the writers would be compelled to write in time specific "mini cliffhangers" or "fade to back" spots into the episodes.

Doctor Who doesn't have clean commercial cuts either, and it feels awkward sometimes. They don't cut in the middle of sentences or anything, but the shown wasn't made that way so it feels sudden.

 

[timtonruben359]

I hope that's the case. Hearing about Doctor Who makes me feel more optimistic.

One other thing that may bit an issue for airing it on Space is since this will be a "made-for-streaming" show, I assume the show will not necessarily have "lead into commercial" fade to black scene enders. In fact, Canada will be the only country in the entire world that will air this show on an actual TV channel. I would hate to see it jumping to commercials in a middle of a scene (like they often do with theatrical movies played on TV). On the the other hand, since commercials will be inserted in regards to CBS All access, maybe that will not be an issue. It would however (slightly) affect the creative process as the writers would be compelled to write in time specific "mini cliffhangers" or "fade to back" spots into the episodes.

It will likely have odd commercial jumps like Dr. Who does. I'm disappointed by the decision with airing all the new Star Trek episodes on TV before they become available online in Canada. I would be fine if Space did what other channel (like it's parent company CTV) does and air the episode then stream it 24 hours later.

 

[The Wormhole]

I would be fine if Space did what other channel (like it's parent company CTV) does and air the episode then stream it 24 hours later.

Space does that. All their programs are available to watch online on their website/app the morning after it first airs.

 

[timtonruben359]

Space does that. All their programs are available to watch online on their website/app the morning after it first airs.

Only Killjoys and Dr. Who. Space confirmed on their FB that Star Trek Discovery will not be available online in Canada until the first season has been run on Space and then it will be posted on Crave as Crave has elusive streaming rights.