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A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
In the 50s and 60s, TV antennas were on every Canadian rooftop, mostly aimed at picking up signals from the U.S. Then came cable, where Canadian stations were given prime channel placement, but U.S. outlets were available in better than over-the-air quality.
But do Americans ever aim their gaze over the border? According to this article, there's at least one state where the CBC is not only carried on their systems, but often watched by those who live there. It's a bit simplistic, but I find it interesting that the point-of-view on all this is different from what we often think when it comes to Canuck TV over the border.
Is It Actually Possible To Watch Canadian TV In Michigan?
- mace
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
I don't know how old or accurate this information is, but according to Wikipedia here are some of the Canadian stations available to American viewers depending on location, proximity to the border and cable operator's decision. MAINE; CBC/SRC/TVA from Atlantic Canada or Quebec. BURLINGTON/PLATTSBURG: CTV/CBC Montreal and/or Ottawa. MASSENA: OTA Montreal. WATERTOWN: OTA CKWS. UTICA: Cable CKWS. BUFFALO: It says CBLT, CFTO and CHCH on cable, but I think just CBLT [SD] now. ERIE: OTA CFPL,CITY. TOLEDO; OTA and some cable CBET. DETROIT: OTA CBET, TVO, CKCO[Sarnia] Global [Chatham] PORT HURON: OTA Global/TVO Sarnia. BAY CITY/MIDLAND: Cable CBMT or CBET. GRAND FORKS: Cable CBWT [Areas further north also receive CKY] MINOT: CBC/CTV Regina SEATTLE; CBUT. Areas further north also have access to CIUT,CHEK and CHAN. It appears that CBC is the only Canadian network that is reasonably consistent in its availability to American viewers close to the border. I have no idea how accurate the OTA information is. It was probably done in the analog era.
- paterson1
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Over the years I have spoken to many Americans, both in and out of the industry that watch Canadian television. A lot of these people lived in NY state, Ohio or Michigan. They seemed familiar with the border television stations and Canadian programming. Many complimented CBC and their TV programming! I always assumed they were watching off air rather than on cable. I believe a lot of cable companies stateside black out the Canadian signal when a station here is running US programming or simsubing in prime time. Seems antiquated in 2025 to black out a signal rather than just carrying the originating US feed on both.
- mace
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
CTV simsubs a fair amount of U.S. programming. When CFTO was carried on Buffalo cable systems, instead of substituting the local feed over both channels, a simple notice was placed on the screen indicating that the channel was temporarily unavailable.
- paterson1
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
mace wrote:
CTV simsubs a fair amount of U.S. programming. When CFTO was carried on Buffalo cable systems, instead of substituting the local feed over both channels, a simple notice was placed on the screen indicating that the channel was temporarily unavailable.
Maybe some FCC rule that says they can't run the local feed over both channels? Anyway seems an outdated way to handle this. As a cable subscriber it would be annoying, so I can see if they just pulled the channel or put on the jewellery or kitten and puppy channel. 
- RadioAaron
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
From a protecting the local affiliate point-of-view, blacking out would be more effective than substitution, ensuring viewers are tuned to the right channel when the show ends.
Either way, it's far less obtrusive in the US as carrying anything Canadian other than CBC is pretty much redundant, and those that are carried are/were often buried in the lineup.
- Evuguy
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Blackouts in the US are known as FCC Syndex rules. Would seem the advent of Superstations (WGN, WOR, etc) created a problem for a number of local broadcasters. Canadian stations are also mentioned.
- canam2021
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Over the air here in Niagara Falls, NY I can receive CBLT, TVO, CBLFT, CJMT, Global and CITY. I used to get CHCH until they moved their antenna, As a kid I used to watch the morning kids programs on CBC and Uncle Bobby on CTV when I used to get it. I regularly watch Hockey Night in Canada and the Olympics on CBC. I understand that Spectrum cable only has CBLT. I dropped the TV service for Spectrum a couple of years ago. and use YouTube TV for the Buffalo channels.
- Evuguy
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Curious canam2021: Are you able to receive those Toronto UHF broadcasts with an indoor antenna? Interesting that you still can get CBLT-DT 20 with that Buffalo station on the same channel.
Last edited by Evuguy (May 12, 2025 7:13 pm)
- canam2021
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
I live close to Lewiston which is far enough north of Buffalo that the Buffalo station does not interfere with CBLT. There is a viewer in the LaSalle section of Niagara Falls, NY that can't receive CBLT because of the Buffalo station. I use an Antennas Direct antenna facing a second story window pointed at Toronto. Location location location. Toronto is only 40 miles across Lake Ontario from here.
Last edited by canam2021 (May 12, 2025 10:45 pm)
- Evuguy
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Nice. I'd expect at your location that both Toronto and Buffalo (Colden) signal strengths are about the same. I just wonder about the folks on the Canadian side, south of the Falls, as I suspect they no longer get CBLT either.
- mace
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Nice. I'd expect at your location that both Toronto and Buffalo (Colden) signal strengths are about the same. I just wonder about the folks on the Canadian side, south of the Falls, as I suspect they no longer get CBLT either.
If they had a rotor they might.
- canam2021
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Re: A State Where Americans May Regularly Watch Canadian TV
Nice. I'd expect at your location that both Toronto and Buffalo (Colden) signal strengths are about the same. I just wonder about the folks on the Canadian side, south of the Falls, as I suspect they no longer get CBLT either.
They probably don't receive CBLT in Fort Erie and I imagine they have problems with CHCH also due to Grand Island ch 15.