# Canadian Television

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 20, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119 "2002-10-20T18:22:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/1 "2002-10-20T18:22:58Z")

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There are laws governing how much time may be used by commmercials. When American programs are shown in Canada, what is used to take up the extra time?

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**Author:** ![hansel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@hansel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansel)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/2 "2002-10-20T19:39:02Z")

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Local commercials.

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**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/3 "2002-10-20T19:51:02Z")

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Can’t speak for Canadian TV, but when US programmes are shown on British television it depends what channel they’re on.

On the BBC there are no commercial breaks so the programme is just played straight through and last for less time than they would where you are. Watching US shows on the BBC it’s pretty obvious where the ad breaks would have occurred in the original format.

On commercial stations I believe there are shorter commercial breaks than you have but they break at the same point, so the overall length of the show is again a bit less than you would be used to.

The number and duration of commercial breaks _is_ controlled by broadcasting regulations (I could search for more information if you’re interested).

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/4 "2002-10-20T19:53:02Z")

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So do you have a blank screen, or does the next program start at say 7:45 instead of 8:00?

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**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/5 "2002-10-20T20:23:33Z")

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No blank screen, the next programme begins straight after (with maybe an announcement).

For instance (all BBC):  
_The Simpsons_ - starts 6.00, next show begins 6.20  
_Third Rock From The Sun_ - starts 11.50, next show starts 12.10  
_Star Trek: TNG_ - starts 6.45, next show starts 7.30  
_Fresh Prince…_ - starts 6.20, next show 6.45  
_Buffy…_ - starts 6.45, next show 7.30  
_The Firm_ (the Tom Cruise movie) - starts 10.35, next show 1.10  
etc.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-television/133119/6 "2002-10-20T20:27:10Z")

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Thanks, everton.