Canadian Television Networks need to build a YouTube

If Canadian Television networks have any desire to survive the next decade they have to do something very radical – join together.

If CTV, CBC and Global want to survive they need to create one website Canadians can visit to watch anything they can normally get on cable – or else sites like YouTube will bury them alive.

Why?

Because I, joe consumer have zero patients to learn 5 different url’s, interfaces, etc.  I want all video content from all television networks laid you 100% the same from site to site to site.

I want to visit one site, and be able to view, search and browse content regardless of network host as equally easy as I can on YouTube.  I don’t want to visit micro-site after micro-site to chase down (try to remember) what shows I want to watch.  Don’t make me visit Comedy Network to watch John Stewart, CBC.ca to watch the National or CTV to see an episode of the Amazing Race.

And if I don’t want to do it, I’m not going to do it.  I’m going to exclude and bypass Canadian networks outright finding the path of least resistance.

Oh the networks won’t go for this.  But all it takes is to set up a Beer Store style consortium where all parties are represented.  Revenue sharing models are created.  And in show commercials are still owned and managed by the host network.

Now go to various Canadian network sites and see how easy it is to quickly find and watch TV shows you’d watch on TV.

Here go try to watch:  John Stewart,  Survivor, The National, CTV Toronto local news.  GO!

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