06 Aug How to alienate customers, Canada edition

Posted at 19:02h in That's life by

The folk music-comedy duo  Garfunkle and Oates, whose charming and funny singing videos you may have seen on YouTube, launch a comedy TV series tonight, and IFC has put a sneak preview on line. Here’s what happens when you try to watch it from Canada:

G&O-bad

And here’s what happens after you install a free unblocker extension on your Internet browser:

G&O-good

I haven’t owned a working TV for almost 10 years. I stream lots of television on my external monitor, my iPhone, and when it’s working, my Android tablet. I have no intention of policing myself to protect some middleman corporation that wants to extract unearned value while passing through someone else’s creation—and offering crappy service in the bargain. Are you listening, Comedy Network?

Canadian telecom giants, arts organizations, legislators, and regulators have to wrap their heads around the reality that treating consumers the way North Korea, China, and Iran treat citizens is not a smart business strategy in the Internet Age.

Here is Lifehacker’s always up-to-date guide to free unblocking software.

How was the G&O pilot, you ask? Not bad. I agree with Salon reviewer Daniel D’Addario that the spoken material was stronger and funnier than the musical numbers. The YouTube videos are still great. Check out this one and this one.