The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Free Streamer Gets Exclusive Canadian Access To OTA Broadcast Show

**Posted by RadioActive** February 20, 2025 10:40 am

I don't think I've heard of anything like this before for a free streaming service.

The Roku Channel has made a deal to stream ABC's American Idol live, as it airs on the U.S. network. After that, it will be available for viewers on an on-demand basis. And yes, this does apply to Canada.

"Idol" no longer airs on a mainstream broadcaster in this country, having rotated in the past between CTV, CityTV and even YesTV.

I'm not a fan of the show, but the fact an online freebie is getting the rights to an American show as it airs live is, to me, a very interesting development. (And no simsub!)

Could more such deals be in the works?

Roku strikes first single-territory live and simulcast deal for American Idol

**Posted by paterson1** February 20, 2025 11:24 am

Idol really fell out of the ratings in Canada quite a while ago. I remember a few years back when Numeris was still releasing the weekly top 30, Idol didn't show up in Canada, and this was with simsub. Meantime it was still top 10 in the US.

Makes you wonder why Roku would be doing this south of the border where Idol is still popular and OTA on ABC. What is the point?

**Posted by RadioAaron** February 20, 2025 11:31 am

To give cord-cutters an easy way to watch it.

**Posted by paterson1** February 20, 2025 11:44 am

In the US everyone can get ABC off air so cord cutting or cable doesn't enter into it.

**Posted by RadioAaron** February 20, 2025 11:48 am

paterson1 wrote:
In the US everyone can get ABC off air so cord cutting or cable doesn't enter into it.

Streaming is way easier for many people. Over half the people I know under 50 are streaming-only. I'm in a condo building with a view of the CN tower, and there's no practical place to position an antenna.

**Posted by RadioActive** February 20, 2025 12:00 pm

I think the point is that this is the first time a network show is being made available live on a free streaming service, regardless of ratings. Most of these so-call FAST services offer fairly old sitcoms, dramas or movies.

This is a live simulcast of ABC. If it can happen once, could it become something that happens with a more popular show in the future? Worth keeping an eye on to see if this is a one-off or a blueprint for the future.

**Posted by torontostan** February 20, 2025 1:18 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
Streaming is way easier for many people. Over half the people I know under 50 are streaming-only. I'm in a condo building with a view of the CN tower, and there's no practical place to position an antenna.

If you have line-of-sight of the tower then you don't need an outdoor antenna, you can have a small indoor one on your TV stand do the trick.

**Posted by RadioAaron** February 20, 2025 3:33 pm

Yes, and it needs to be positioned in a very inconvenient way to get everything. Same with FM, antenna position needing constant adjustment. It's just too noisy in dense areas.

**Posted by RadioAaron** February 20, 2025 3:36 pm

RadioActive wrote:
I think the point is that this is the first time a network show is being made available live on a free streaming service, regardless of ratings. Most of these so-call FAST services offer fairly old sitcoms, dramas or movies.

This is a live simulcast of ABC. If it can happen once, could it become something that happens with a more popular show in the future? Worth keeping an eye on to see if this is a one-off or a blueprint for the future.

I'd assume the same commercials will be simulcast. It makes a lot of sense, especially for any programming targeting the under-45 crowd.