Zip.ca CEO 'would love' to bring new streaming service to Canadian console owners
by Xav de Matos 
{ Jun 30th 2009 at 5:40PM } 
"Our whole strategy on this is to be available on every platform that we can be available on," Millar said. "We believe for consumer adoption to be high, you need to have it so that the consumer doesn't have to worry about how it works. It should just work on everything." According to Millar, partnering with an American company -- such as Sonic Solutions -- allows Zip.ca to put forth "a better presentation" when looking to secure agreements with partners, like the major console makers.
Streaming content to consoles isn't exactly new to Zip.ca's partner. Sonic Solutions recently announced it would begin offering movies from its catalog to Fujisoft's streaming Wii video service, Minna no Theater Wii, in Japan through its Roxio CinemaNow platform.
[Photo Credit: greenlivingottawa]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cold Canuck @ Jun 30th 2009 8:37PM
Mail based rental systems are so 2008....we want digital delivery NOW! Why does Canada always have to be behind?
Nick @ Jun 30th 2009 8:45PM
Because we like anal sex? ;)
themanSonara @ Jun 30th 2009 8:51PM
well it is gay pride week....
Q-Kid-Kyle @ Jul 1st 2009 8:56AM
its cuz we like to let other people do stuff first, find out the problems and perfect it. then we take it so no problems arise.
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 5:59PM
Hey, Canada, go back to Africa!
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 6:19PM
? wow that was lame
Jerk Face @ Jun 30th 2009 6:30PM
I don't... I don't even know what that means.
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 6:57PM
I seemed funny when I was typing it, but yeah sorry everyone. Gunther's comment was much better.
scrawledinwax @ Jun 30th 2009 6:08PM
So, basically they're open to the idea then? I think it's up to Zip to pitch to MS and Sony - Canada is too small a market for them to go searching for a deal.
Saria the Cat @ Jun 30th 2009 6:19PM
Well, for Canada's sake, I hope they're able to figure something out. Having Netflix stream to my 360 = pure win. This magic needs to happen for more people.
Jerk Face @ Jun 30th 2009 6:29PM
Word!
John Z @ Jul 1st 2009 10:40AM
Indeed. Canada is too awesome to not have this.
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 6:21PM
I'm in Canada and i've had digital delevery now for almost 10yrs,. it's called Digital Piracy!
I use an online based Mail Rental service for PS3 games though gameaccess.ca way better then renting in store, and I'm just to cheap to buy anymore.
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 6:25PM
Mind you I can't wait to buy Transformers2 :ROTF on Blu-ray, Transformers was the last DVD I bought(never felt the need to pick up the Blu-ray version when it came out so late)
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 7:20PM
Well there's no accounting for taste.
Lieutenant Gunther (PSN: helghast102) @ Jun 30th 2009 6:22PM
What's a Canada?
Shmil @ Jun 30th 2009 6:33PM
Its America's Hat.
NewJohnny @ Jun 30th 2009 8:11PM
Hey, you're the one with permanent hathead. Anyways, who has time to watch movies anymore? I'm too busy trying to keep my igloo from melting from global warming.
Q-Kid-Kyle @ Jul 1st 2009 8:52AM
dont forget our parkas - we gotta make sure the polar bears dont take them, thinking its a baby polar bear. lol. if you think this is how we canadians live, it is partially wrong. partially because it is winter year round in parts of nunavut, yukon, and northwest territories. im in ontario. we are just ike you, but with free healthcare.
alienterrorist @ Jul 2nd 2009 8:33AM
Agreed with Q-Kid-Kyle, you guys, I'm guessing, have never been to Canada. FREE HEALTH CARE FTW!!!(shmil we're bigger, its more like your our socks!)
On topic, I hope this would come to xbox because I really want to use Netflix or something similar on my xbox.
Jordan Coates @ Jun 30th 2009 10:19PM
Yeah they definitely should pitch it to MS. I would be on that like white on rice. I've been wishing we had Netflix since it came to 360. Please Zip convince MS to do this.
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 6:28PM
it's that white frosted topping on the US
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 6:40PM
It should be noted that this Streaming service hasn't even been approved by the CRTC yet. And With many Canadian ISP's Bell especially throttling Bandwidth during peak hours just how does this service stand a chance. Do American or other countries ISP's throttle bandwidth ?
Thunderbuck @ Jun 30th 2009 7:46PM
This is not a "broadcast" service, so is not regulated by the CRTC the same way as other distribution methods.
I don't even really care about "bandwidth throttling" so much as the 20 GB/month bandwidth CAP my (Bell-affiliate) ISP places on me. A couple of high-def movies and this is blown out of the water.
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 8:33PM
Then why does Zip.ca have a hearing before the CRTC for this very matter on July 7th ?
"Zip.ca to bring legal movie streaming to Canada this fall; internet throttling remains an issue
June 28, 2009 - 12:00pm — Brian Adeba
An Ottawa company has unveiled plans to bring the first large-scale movie download service to Canada. Its announcement on Friday comes just days before a CRTC hearing begins into internet throttling and other bandwidth management practices. Company executives are preparing to make their case before the commission July 7.
"
taken from http://www.techmediareports.ca/reports/content/9703-zipca_to_bring_legal_movie_streaming_to_canada_this_fall_internet_throttling_remains_an
Nick @ Jun 30th 2009 8:45PM
Timmy, you don't read your own posts very well, do you?
The CRTC issue is due to bandwidth and internet throttling, nothing to do with the "access" of streaming content.
Tim Parsons @ Jun 30th 2009 9:02PM
@ Nick
was adding "my" to the end of my name supposed to mean something?
I guess you missed the part where it says the company(Zip.ca) will present its case on July 7th.
either way this would be nice , my Satellite provider Shaw Direct doesnt evne offer any on demand channels or anything(do any Satellite providers offer that?)
Evan @ Jun 30th 2009 6:45PM
Canada has more rampant piracy than the U.S.A., partly because there is currently no streaming video service with a *full* selection of movies and television shows. A legal alternative could do well in Canada, it might even take a bite out of Canada's piracy problem just on the strength of faster downloads than bittorrent - if and *only* if they offer all American television shows in HD quality equivalent or better than the quality of bittorrents. If they try to push Canadian content over American shows, it will be game over for the service.
Darlaten @ Jun 30th 2009 6:49PM
All Canadians should be writing their MLA's, MP's, the Conservative Goverment, and so forth to complain about what Bell is doing. For that matter, we should also be campaigning for a complete abolishment of the antiquated, out-dated, and frankly out-of-touch CRTC. What a joke that is. Seriously though, Canadians shouldn't get their hopes up - the CRTC will make some rule that says some crap about failure to promote Canadian content that will bar this from coming into the Country. Let's face, we still dont have any video streaming service as what is available on the PS3 in the States or Xbox 360 in the States.
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 7:30PM
That is more of a content provider issue, not the CRTC. Read my comment below.
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 7:28PM
The CRTC regulations came up in my discussion with Curt and from what he told me the CRTC has recently decided to stop regulating online video content the same way it does broadcast content. That in mind, this service stands a chance of doing well if they can get the right content providers on board.
Darlaten @ Jun 30th 2009 8:41PM
Can you provide any links to the CRTC website that says this? The last time I looked, the CRTC was still indicating its attention to regulate online video content, streaming content, and so forth. There was even a suggestion that came out of the CRTC 6 or 7 months ago, that all Internet users should pay a tax/charge to surf the Internet in order to provide funds for the promotion of Canadian content as Internet users were primarily going to non-Canadian content sites. This was reported in the Vancouver Sun, Global TV, and CKNW radio stations approximatley 6 months ago. I also think Shaw had this up on their website and asked people to email petition letters into the CRTC over it.
I am not doubting you on your point; but given past decisions by this regulatory body, I would be quite suprised that it doesnt have, or least want, a say in providing digital content in Canada.
Off topic perhaps, but somewhat related, wasn't the CRTC regulations behind the slow adoption of accessing the Apple Store/Itunes in Canada when the Iphones were first released?
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 10:14PM
Like I said, this is based on a conversation I had with the CEO of the company. Since no sources are available to conversations he has with organizations or his partners it was not included in this story.
Evan @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:54PM
Online video content is excepted, see here:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/06/canadian-isps-avoid-canadian-content-levies.ars
izikavazo @ Jun 30th 2009 7:48PM
AMEN! Hopefully this guy isn't prone to outrageous optimism.
skfireboy @ Jun 30th 2009 11:59PM
Yeah unfortunately us Canucks often get the shaft
Jerkamie @ Jun 30th 2009 10:24PM
Zip.ca sux I had them years ago and canceled.
JasonM @ Jul 1st 2009 12:07PM
I've been using Zip since November when my local blockbuster closed down, and its been nothing but great. They don't charge extra for Blu-ray either, which is just extra win in my books. I'd prefer if they went with the PS3, but I'd pick up the 360 if it came to that..
Jessie @ Jul 18th 2009 12:01AM
Quite honestly, Microsoft doesn't need Sonic's technology to stream videos through Xbox - Silverlight is doing a good job in itself. Microsoft has got to realize the need for a Canadian content provider for streaming service - sooner or later Sony or Wii are going to offer something... if I had to guess Wii may be first as Sony's protecting it's bluray business and other media business.
Either Netflix needs to buy out Zip.ca, Netflix needs to expand it's Canadian foot print through the Xbox 360 community with online streaming options and build the necessary distribution partnerships to stream content, Zip.ca needs to get partnered up with Microsoft - this kind of crap is just a big MUST for the Canadian community - we are tired of not having the offering.