One of the most frustrating things of blogging about US TV series is the fact that I can't watch episodes or most of the webisodes on the official network sites because I live in Canada. I can't even have access to content on Hulu and the like because of International Internet laws (or lack thereof) and distribution rights issues. I don't know all the legalities behind this but I find it weird that on my basic cable set up I have access to US-based channels for all major networks (except The CW) and yet, I can't access the full content of US-based network websites.
Since I've started blogging here on TV Squad, I've read many comments from international readers saying that they can't watch episodes or videos we embedded in our posts. It's irritating to follow a link to a video and see "This episode is currently only available to viewers living in the United States." Therefore, I researched the web to find websites where Canadians could watch US TV series online and in all legality (of course, people in the US can watch episodes online at AOL TV, Hulu, etc.).
Here is a list of "Canadians welcomed" websites that stream US TV shows. You can thank me later.
watch.ctv.ca (Click on "Video Library")
- Desperate Housewives
- ER
- Fringe
- Gossip Girl
- Greek
- Grey's Anatomy
- Mad Men
- Private Practice
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- The Colbert Report
- The Daily Show
- Two and a Half Men
- TMZ
watch.thecomedynetwork.ca (Click on "Video Library")
- American Body Shop
- Celebrity Deathmatch
- Chapelle's Show
- Chocolate News
- Mind of Mencia
- Reno 911!
- South Park
- The Colbert Report
- The Daily Show
- The Sarah Silverman Program
- Tom Green's House Tonight
- comedy specials, etc.
spacecast.com
globaltv.com
- 90210
- Heroes
- House
- My Own Worst Enemy
- Prison Break
- Saturday Night Live
- The Office
citytv.com
Other links of interest:
- watch.tsn.ca
- watch.ctv.ca/news
- watch.bnn.ca
- watch.discoverychannel.ca
- video.discovery.com (you need to download the site's video player)
- watch.muchmusic.com (MTV)
- watch.star-tv.com
- watch.fashiontelevision.com
- pbs.org/video
- family.ca/video
Notes:
- This list was accurate as of November 10, 2008, at 7 p.m. EST. It is possible the shows have been added or removed on each website.
- If you know of other legal sites where Canadians can watch full episodes of US TV series, feel free to comment below. I'll update the list once I confirmed the links work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-11-2008 @ 12:29PM
Laura said...
I'm not sure why, but I live in Canada and yet I'm able to get SNL off of Hulu. I've tried this with many other shows, but none of them have worked...except the SNL clips. Again, I have no idea why...
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11-11-2008 @ 12:34PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
Are you able to watch the entire SNL episodes or just clips? Because on some of the network sites, we can watch clips, teasers or previews, just not full episodes.
11-11-2008 @ 12:47PM
Laura said...
Clips, but now it appears I can't watch those again either. For some reason, I was able to watch them the last couple days even though I couldn't before...and now I can't again. Strange...
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11-11-2008 @ 12:49PM
Brandon said...
http://www.anchorfree.com/ is your friend my fellow Canadians...
It's a free VPN service that's fast enough to use Hulu on high-def mode.
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11-11-2008 @ 6:36PM
sobrante said...
this is good news (for Canadians), but, what do you know about sites to watch the series in LATIN AMERICA? I would very much apreciate the fact that, the people from the north acknowledge that us, From down here, watch sitcoms and series just like a normal person..
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11-11-2008 @ 1:28PM
sid said...
This is awesome, Thanks. This whole copyright/region thing so asinine, I'm in Canada, but watch all these shows on the American channels. If they can broadcast tv here, we should be able to watch the shows on the internet from the American sites as well.
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11-11-2008 @ 2:25PM
fullbug said...
Was going to say what Brandon said, AnchorFree is the way to go, works really well.....
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11-11-2008 @ 2:36PM
Allen Mendelsohn said...
gros merci Isabelle! I'm never working again...
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11-11-2008 @ 2:55PM
KateGee said...
Merci Isabelle!!!
I had found the comedy network (just finally started watching Chapelle) and CTV but I didn't know about global or City. Thanks so much.
*******
Lest we forget
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11-11-2008 @ 2:53PM
Isabelle Carreau said...
My pleasure. Doing this research allowed me to find new places to watch shows online. Space really needs to embark on the trend and offer more than BSG for us to watch.
I'm gald this post is helping a few people out.
11-11-2008 @ 3:22PM
Laura said...
I'd like to try AnchorFree...but for some reason when I download it, it won't do anything (connect)...
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11-11-2008 @ 9:30PM
fullbug said...
Laura, after downloading it, do you run the program? When it starts it should open up a page on whatever browser you are using....
11-11-2008 @ 4:12PM
james said...
just so I could feel your pain. I clicked on http://watch.ctv.ca/ and it said that it was unavailable in my region. Woohoo!
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11-11-2008 @ 4:56PM
knight said...
Why thank you later? I'm definitely thanking you right now!
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11-11-2008 @ 6:11PM
Paul said...
Having used the American network websites (thanks AnchorFree!) and the ones in the CTV GlobeMedia family (CTV, Comedy Network, TSN), I have to say that the set-up for the CTV-owned networks is the best I've seen and used.
The only negative is the full-screen video that's a bit too small for my taste, but for catching old Daily Show interviews or watching CFL highlights, their set-up can't be beat. It's also the simplest to use.
Global and CityTV, meanwhile, have some work to do.
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11-11-2008 @ 7:07PM
Kaltensmom said...
Do you know of a way for Americans to watch BBC shows on-line? The BBC America line up has been crap the last few years, with the SciFi Channel showing Dr. Who a whole series ahead of BBC America. Would love to watch current BBC shows before waiting the requisite 5 years to never to watch them on American TV, but "Not available in my region".
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11-11-2008 @ 7:24PM
Riley Freeman said...
surfthechannel.com
i dont think its legal but it works. and it doesnt make any sense that i can watch it on american networks but not on their website.
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11-11-2008 @ 9:32PM
DMD said...
Most excellent Isabelle... Thank You Eh!!
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11-12-2008 @ 6:59AM
Dan German said...
Hulu sucks. Content owners need to think globally. Their IP blocking just encourages more bit torrent action and keep eyeballs (far more than the 300 million in the USA) off their own sites.
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11-12-2008 @ 7:26PM
Joe said...
I've created a comprehensive list to all TV shows currently available to Canadians, with links to each show at http://www.silversow.com. Check it out!
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