American channels keep switching to Canadian

[StegoRex]

Anyone else with the American channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) bothered by the broadcast continually switching to the Canadian stations? Usually it would do this during commercials, but not it's frequently happening during programs. Which is annoying because if it's the same program there is a time delay or the Canadian station is broadcasting something else. So what you are watching keeps cutting out or time skipping forward and back.

[dks · Accepted solution]

This is normal and is a requirement of the CRTC. The practice, called “sim sub” or simultaneous substitution, requires Canadian Broadcast Distribution Units or BDUs like Bell and other providers, to substitute Canadian broadcast signals, including commercials, into their non-Canadian programming. It has been in place for decades. That you see it being out of synch is not unusual. There is a good Wikipedia article on the practice if you want a deeper dive. And no, it can’t be fixed or changed. 

[StegoRex]

yes normally that happens during the commercial breaks which is fine, but it started this week happening during the programming, which makes it feel like something is wrong.

[dks]

If you check the Wiki, it is explained. I have not noticed it on Bell Satellite TV. Is this on Fibe TV? 

[StegoRex]

It's on Fibe, and it switches for like 2 second intervals during program broadcast so it makes watching programs on the American networks unwatchable. I called Bell this morning and I was not the only one with the issue, especially after a broadcast like SNL last night. They are apparently working on it.

[dks]

Good to hear. With multiple TV services, being specific always helps.