Imagine if Desperate Housewives and American Idol were on the same network. Imagine if My Name Is Earl and ER were on different networks. That's what it's like for each of Canada's major networks. Although by law they are required to show a specific amount of Canadian content, accounting for such series as Corner Gas, Trailer Park Boys, and Canadian Idol to be seen in prime time, they make their money from the US imports which are usually watched by a larger audience. The only network that refuses to do this is CBC, which takes pride in the fact that 100% of their shows are Canadian-based. They like to conveniently ignore the fact that this means they get their butts kicked in the ratings every night except Saturday, and so naturally they blame the taxpayers. But their competitors could care less, allowing for an interesting battle to take place each night.

What I would like you to do is take a look at the series that are offered here in Canada and then tell me which network you feel has done the best job of recruiting:


CTV

Alias
Amazing Race
American (and Canadian) Idol
All of the CSI series
Cold Case
Desperate Housewives
ER
Ghost Whisperer
Grey's Anatomy
All of the Law & Order series
Lost
Medium
Nip/Tuck
The O.C.
The Sopranos
Veronica Mars


Global/CH

24
American Dad
The Apprentice (both Donald and Martha)
Arrested Development
The Biggest Loser
Bones
Boston Legal
Crossing Jordan
Deal or No Deal
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Family Guy
Gilmore Girls
House
How I Met Your Mother
Joey
King Of Queens
King Of The Hill
Malcolm In The Middle
My Name Is Earl
Numb3rs
The Office
Point Break
The Simpsons
Surface
Survivor
Skating With Celebrities
That 70s Show
The War At Home
Two and a Half Men
Will & Grace


CITY-TV/CHUM/A-CHANNEL


7th Heaven
America's Most Wanted
America's Next Top Model
The Bachelor
Cops
Everwood
Everybody Hates Chris
Hope & Faith
Monk
Smallville
All of the Star Trek Series
Supernanny
Supernatural



Notice that CTV has most of the best drama series while Global has most of the best sitcoms. Personally, I would give the edge to CTV.

The only network that refuses to do this is CBC, which takes pride in the fact that 100% of their shows are Canadian-based. They like to conveniently ignore the fact that this means they get their butts kicked in the ratings every night except Saturday, and so naturally they blame the taxpayers. But their competitors could care less, allowing for an interesting battle to take place each night.
CBC now airs Jeopardy!. CTV wins the overall ratings game throughout the year with their US TV shows.

Even though US TV shows are the most popular in English Canada, I still watch more CBC.

Some US shows I watched:

CTV

American Idol
Dancing with the Stars

Global/CH

The Shield (Season 1 on Global, other seasons on CH)
SNL

CITY-TV/CHUM/A-CHANNEL

America's Got Talent
Dancing with the Stars