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439 channels
Canadian television is a study in duality. The country's 493 channels reflect two official languages, a powerful American neighbour, and a deliberate cultural defence policy called CanCon (Canadian content). Public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada operates both English and French networks, while private giants CTV and Global thrive on US imports mixed with homegrown hits like hockey broadcasts and reality franchises (The Amazing Race Canada, Canada's Got Talent). The French-language ecosystem in Quebec is a self-contained world: TVA and Radio-Canada's ICI Télé dominate with local dramas, talk shows, and dubbed versions of American series, dubbing is the norm here, while English Canada mostly subtitles. Sports coverage is dominated by hockey; Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights is a ritual as ingrained as the game itself. But the market also serves niche interests: the top categories include Music and Sports alongside General, Entertainment, and Movies. What truly sets Canada apart is its multicultural television. OMNI TV and ethnic specialty channels broadcast in over 20 languages, including Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bengali, and Greek, a direct reflection of the country's immigrant communities. News coverage splits between the measured tone of CBC News, the right-leaning Sun News (now rebranded), and local stations that follow the US-style 'live at 6' format. Primetime in English Canada often tracks US schedules, but the CBC schedules Canadian dramas and comedies in key slots. In Quebec, primetime runs earlier, with French-language game shows and variety programs that have no English equivalent. The result: a TV culture that's both defiantly its own and inextricably tied to the world's largest media market.