Real Time with Bill Maher CNN Blocked in Canada

[JoeSchmo]

Why was the latest episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher" on CNN (August 24, 2024) blocked and an episode of "Forensic Files" played instead?  Is Bell blocking "Real Time with Bill Maher" on CNN?

[JoeSchmo]

Thank you for making my point.  This press release was issued on March 13, 2024.  You state: "...the press release tells readers where you can watch the show, live on HBO and steamed on Crave, not where the show is not broadcast."  Please note:  you stated clearly "where you can watch the show... not where the show is not broadcast."  At the time of this press release, "Real Time with Bill Maher" was available to view on CNN and continued to be viewable until the show went on hiatus July 19, 2024.  Therefore, your argument that the press release from Bell did not announce where the show is not broadcast, is an empty argument.

I will agree with one of your previous statements: "The simplest explanation always works" and in this case, the simplest explanation is one of the oldest - money & greed.  This is NOT a licensing matter.

[dks]

Truth is, everyone loves to hate their telecom service provider. In that way, Bell is no different from others. The solutions to this issue are available, if users wish to make use of them.  

[Stevierudolph]

Videotron is blocking it  as well

[Jacques LaBella]

Exactly.  But now it appears that the Unfettered Capitalist Bell is doing, once again, what they do best  --  gouging their customers and then trying to milk even more money out of them by forcing them to buy 'additional services' if they want to watch a show like Bill Maher which CNN recently started offering 'for free' (just on a 'day delay' basis).  Despicable ! 

[Cameleon]

My guess is that there is a premium to pay for Bell if they take Bill Maher and they prefer not to spend it and rather show this boring Forensic whatever. Too bad. Maher's show is great on cnn.com.

[Cookies]

I notice this week they have finally changed their TV guide listings and it no longer shows Bill Maher on Sat. nights on CNN but says Forensic Files.  

[Stevierudolph]

Yup. So it must be a licensing issue. I got 2 years of crave buying my phone from bell. So I’m watching it from crave now. Bell I think has a good price for crave. 

[Cookies]

I noticed that Bell is supposedly airing Bill Maher on CNN tonight - April 12, 2025 (listed in the TV guide and also on the Bell satellite screen guide).  Have they decided to unblock it after blocking it since last year?  

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day.

Real Time with Bill Maher show has not been blocked by Bell TV.

CNN decides on what is listed & shown on their network feed. Real Time with Bill Maher show has been pre-empted by CNN do to Breaking News coverage on a number of occasions.

I cannot speak for last year's programming, but I do know that my wife watches or records this show every Saturday evening at 8:00 pm on Fibe TV - Channel 1500.

CNN does rebroadcast this show once again at 11:00pm on Fibe TV Channell 1500. (It is also available for viewing on the Fibe TV app.)

Take care.

[JoeSchmo]

You're a bit late to the discussion.  This thread was started last year and "Real Time with Bill Maher" was being blocked by Bell TV at that time.  I noticed, as did Cookies, that Bell just recently stopped blocking this program.  Curious how long this will last.

As you stated, "I cannot speak for last year's programming...", yet you decide to comment on a subject that is 8 months old.  

Just curious, has your wife been watching/recording "Real Time with Bill Maher" on CNN for the past 8 months?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Thank you for your feedback & insight! Just doing my best to help answer a question & a concern.

CNN decides on what is listed & shown on their network feed.

We may choose to disagree with CNN's schedule programming choices, but it is what it is & there is little we can do to change this.

Take care.

[JoeSchmo]

As you stated, "CNN decides on what is listed & shown on their network feed."  This is partially true.  Since Bell TV owns the Canadian rights to broadcast CNN in Canada, Bell TV has the final say in what is available to their Canadian customers.  As such, Bell TV decided to stop broadcasting "Real Time with Bill Maher" on CNN for the past 8 months and replaced this program with past episodes of "Forensic Files".  This substitution was made by Bell TV and Bell TV alone.

curious if your wife been watching/recording "Real Time with Bill Maher" on CNN for the past 8 months?

[Cookies]

I tape it on Fri. nights on HBO so no problem with that.  However I brought it up last year on this forum because my sister is with Rogers and doesn't have HBO/Crave so her only option was to watch it on CNN on Sat. nights. It was fine for a few months and then suddenly it stopped on Bell and Rogers so I wondered why as couldn't find anything online that explained it.  At the time I didn't know that Bell owns Crave/HBO Canada and Rogers pays them for access but that had nothing to do with it as it turns out.  Even Bill Maher joked that he was surprised his show was being shown on CNN because of his profanity.  So now it is back on Bell and Rogers so guess we will see if it continues for the whole season this year.         

[Genie]

There may have been complaints to the CRTC about Bell blocking Real Time with Bill Maher when their Fibe TV customers pay for CNN Channel and should be able to watch what CNN are streaming on their channel 1500. It shouldn't be blocked because Bell owns Crave and wants to charge for it. Not good customer relations for Bell. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Just the facts!

Bell is not blocking Real Time with Bill Maher. It did broadcast on Bell TV on Saturday evening at 08:00pm on CNN. It normally rebroadcasts once again at 11:00pm on CNN.

Real Time with Bill Maher is produced by Warner Bros Television and airs on HBO, with new episodes debuting on Fridays at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. CNN also broadcasts the show on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., a day after the original HBO airing. 

Last night CNN substituted Real Time with bill Maher with The Nineties in the 11:00pm time slot.

Real Time with Bill Maher is currently scheduled for broadcast & rebroadcast next Saturday evening in the 8:00pm and 11:00pm time slot on Bell TV.

CNN has also scheduled a Special Report in the same 8:00pm time slot. Real Time with Bill Maher is scheduled to broadcast in the 11:00pm time slot on CNN 1500.

Is RealTime with Bill Maher or the Special Report going to be shown at 8:00pm next Saturday? May I suggest that you redirect your question to Warner Bros. & CNN? They are in a far better position to answer your question when it comes to scheduling and rescheduling programs.

It is not unusual for CNN to preempt a scheduled program for Breaking News or a Special Report.

Just the facts.

Take care.