Commercials may be here to stay on streamers like Amazon unless you open your wallet | CBC News

Ad-free entertainment used to be one of the big selling points of streaming services, but as more services including Amazon’s Prime Video add commercials, experts say the glory days of advertisement-free video content are gone. That is, unless you open up your wallet to higher prices and additional monthly charges to avoid the advertisements that used to be banished to the realm of traditional, linear television. Read full story here: Commercials may be here to stay on streamers like Amazon unless you open your wallet | CBC News

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Creeping price points: A look at the rising cost of Canada’s streaming TV services | CTV News

Streaming TV isn’t getting any cheaper. After it was once heralded as the cost-effective alternative to cable, the price of Canada’s streaming services is inching higher every year. And the story was no different in 2023 when inflation, production costs and efforts to turn a profit led many of the biggest names in the business to rework their subscription packages and jack up their rates. Read full story here: Creeping price points: A look at the rising cost of Canada’s streaming TV services | CTV News

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Are VPNs Legal In Canada? | Tom’s Guide

Virtual private networks, better known as VPNs, are one of the easiest ways for people to protect their data and identity, and keep their online activity hidden from the prying eyes of government agencies, internet service providers (ISPs), and hackers. That’s not all—because VPNs enable users to connect to servers around the world, they can also be used to unblock geo-specific content on streaming providers such as Netflix. So if you’re using a Canada VPN, you should be able to access content from US Netflix. Read full story here: Are…

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Independent Panel Report Calls For More Canadian Streaming Content And An Ad-Free CBC | CBC News

A sweeping new report on Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications sector is calling for widespread regulatory reform — including mandated Canadian content on streaming services and an ad-free CBC. The report, commissioned by the federal government and released today, was drafted by a seven-member panel led by Janet Yale, a broadcasting and telecommunications industry veteran. Read full story here: Independent Panel Report Calls For More Canadian Streaming Content And An Ad-Free CBC | CBC News

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Smart TVs Are Invading Privacy And Should Be Investigated, Senators Say | Ars Technica

Two Democratic US senators have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate privacy problems related to Internet-connected televisions. “Many Internet-connected smart TVs are equipped with sophisticated technologies that can track the content users are watching and then use that information to tailor and deliver targeted advertisements to consumers,” Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote in a letter yesterday to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons. “Regrettably, smart TV users may not be aware of the extent to which their televisions are collecting sensitive information about their viewing habits.” The…

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Canadians At Risk Of Being ‘Data Cows’ Absent Big Data Strategy, Documents Show | CBC News

Artificial intelligence could give internet giants like Facebook and Amazon even more power to reshape the Canadian economy, threatening the viability of domestic businesses, researchers warn. A December presentation to senior civil servants said that Canadian companies were losing ownership of — and access to — data to the likes of Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google, requiring a federal policy response. Artificial intelligence “will reinforce this trend,” presenters from the National Research Council warned top officials, adding that a national data strategy would be necessary to prevent Canada from becoming…

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