Per Media in Canada, the TV drama series Mad Men is set to forgo distribution by CTV, its previous broadcasters in Canada, for exclusive availability online through iTune. CTV has not yet commented on the circumstances surrounding the departure of Mad Men.
This is one of the first times a well known, no less a non Sci-Fi, television show has diverged from standard business model of broadcast first, online as supplementary revenue generator. Only time will tell if Maple Pictures, Mad Men’s distributor, might be starting a trend.
Season three of Mad Men began this past Sunday on AMC in the US. Canadian viewers can find the episodes on iTunes for $2.49 in standard definition or $3.49 in high definition.
The show will still be aired on AMC in the United States. In Canada AMC is carried by certain cable and satellite systems such as Rogers and Bell TV.