I recently nodded off while watching a documentary on PBS (the US public broadcaster), so I went looking for it online so I could see the bit I missed. I was very pleased to find that the whole thing was available for watching on the PBS website, but then I was unpleasantly surprised to discover that PBS videos can't be watched outside the US.
This surprised me because my PBS station actively embraces its Canadian audience. It brands itself as WNED Buffalo-Toronto, has a combination of the Canadian and US flags in its logo, includes some Canadian landmarks in the photos of local landmarks on its station identifiers between shows, and actively solicits Canadian donors, even allowing them to donate in Canadian dollars. This does make sense, because there are 10 times as many people in Toronto as in Buffalo, not to mention all the people between Toronto and the US border (off the top of my head, I know that Mississauga, Brampton, and Hamilton all have more people than Buffalo). It's quite possible that its signals actually reach more Canadians that USians.
But imagine how irritating it would be to have donated to this PBS station only to find that you're not allowed to watch online!
Proposal: PBS should allow donors from outside the US to view its videos online. Perhaps smaller donors could view a limited number of videos, and larger donors could view more videos.
I know the geographical restrictions have something to do with international broadcasting rights. But it seems that if it were a gift or incentive for donation, that wouldn't really count as broadcasting as much. PBS sometimes gives away DVD sets as gifts for donations, and it seems that they'd be able to do this without regard for whether the DVD is commercially available in Canada. Giving away (limited, if necessary) access to online videos as a gift should be morally equivalent.
7 comments:
Great Catch!
I had been under the impression that PBS Buffalo is also one of that network's larger receivers of viewership donations. It makes sense when you consider that one individual station gets cable coverage far across our GTA region plus national Satellite system carriage.
Sorry for any bubble burst: I enjoy watching channel 17.3 which is a PBS subchannel called 'The World'. It airs PBS documentary styled shows 24/7. PBS from Rochester, NY and Erie, PA also carry a Create subchannel dedicated to PBS's DIY and Cooking chows. These are all broadcast in widescreen HD, as letterboxed on my older TV. Channel 17.2 is only a cropped 4/3 standard format of the main PBS Buffalo channel.
Those two other locations only get received occasionally, however.
Does PBS have a choice? I thought those things depended on Canadian broadcast rights. I think the producers of the individual shows would have to get the Canadian licensing cleared, and they haven't bothered.
I don't know if giving it away as a gift counts as broadcasting, but it shouldn't, morally speaking. In any case, there's definitely something wrong when you can watch it on TV, buy the DVDs from any country, but can't watch it online legally. (Normally you can watch it online illegally, but the pirating community doesn't seem to promptly upload PBS documentaries.)
In any case, there's definitely something wrong when you can watch it on TV, buy the DVDs from any country, but can't watch it online legally.
That's for sure. It's completely ridiculous.
We've downloaded a lot of PBS shows, but not necessarily documentaries. All the Masterpiece Mysteries and Masterpiece Classics are always illegally downloadable, it seems. Which doc are you most interested in?
I've actually just found an unofficial source. It seems it just took more time than usual to get online.
Dear PBS: you've missed an opportunity to get a donation out of me!
The usual time to get online appears to be no time at all. It amazes me.
PBS sometimes gives away DVD sets as gifts for donations, and it seems that they'd be able to do this without regard for whether the DVD is commercially available in Canada. Giving away (limited, if necessary) access to online videos as a gift should be morally equivalent.
Should be, but the world is crazy. DVD's and streams are two different animals. Seems the former are affected by something called the first sale doctrine. This will make your head spin.
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