Pay-per-view log burning. I'm serious.

[teambates]

So in Canada, Shaw customers (and where I lived growing up, everyone got Shaw) get a funny treat around the holiday season since 1989. One of the upper channels turns into just a continuous loop feed of a Yule log burning on a fireplace. It's pretty much the video version of Desert Bus--every once in a while, if you pay attention, a hand breaks into the frame and jostles the log with a poker. And that's it.

It was kind of funny because it was there, but pretty worthless! It felt like you could think of it as a satire on cheap, formulaic programming, or the ridiculousness of trying to simulate idyllic warmth with a TV screen, but a silly enough novelty thrown on for no extra charge.

In its registration information package, Shaw announced that the Yule Log Channel will be moving to digital cable paid content. And not only that, but video-on-demand! Your purchase of 99 cents will get you 1 hour and 55 minutes of sweet sweet log burning action. You better get all the value for money you can out of that.

It goes to charity, so that is pretty cool. But it wasn't made clear until they hastily corrected the CBC report I'm quoting (fun fact: the correction was published as I was writing this post) that it will still coming in for free. All of this combines to show that maybe Shaw are taking their ludicrous feed a little too seriously.

Laugh at them for it, and then buy the program--Shaw will match and donate proceeds to a local charity. But you better watch all 1 hour and 55 minutes. You might miss something.

[Shaw offers yule log TV on VoD] (CBC.ca)
[Shaw's yule log now pay TV] (Vancouver Sun)

[TheRocket]

I just want to say, I love the Yule Log.

I have a whole backstory in my mind on the guy who pokes the fire.

[Bananafish]

still better than the vast majority of television

[Matt]

Amusingly, you can also buy the yule log on DVD and blu-ray.

-m

[sdhonda]

They have tapes and DVDs of these things. My grandma probably has one somewhere.

EDIT: Matt, you sunava

[Jillers]

Oh Christmas Day, I think it's channel 11 where I am... has the Yule Log. It shows the log burning and plays Christmas music all day long... or at least until 8pm. As we all know, Christmas i over by then.

[Ottoman]

Er, guys. . .

[Master Gunner]

You get the same thing here, Yule Log + Music. My family used to turn it on for the music. I've never found it odd or ridiculous, though DVDs of it are a different story.

[goat]

True story: my mother just brought home a DVD with bad christmas cartoons on it. Included in the "special features"? A yule log loop.

[Vanguard]

Amusingly, you can also buy the yule log on DVD and blu-ray.

-m

Well, I know what I'm going to be buying everyone for Christmas this year.

[Echi]

I thought everyone watched the Yule Log channel on christmas.

Seriously though, a few years ago when my dad got his new flat screen tv. He decided to mount it above our electric fireplace. So we had the yule log above the "lit" fireplace. My family fakes burning logs x2.

[Evil Jim]

Er, guys. . .

Thank you. I was going to post this if no one else had yet.

I'd only buy a burning log video if it had story involved, like someone also throwing in secret documents & other evidence, or perhaps something like odds & ends & some photographs of a woman. Nothing too distracting, but subtle & interesting.

[Echi]

I'd only buy a burning log video if it had story involved, like someone also throwing in secret documents & other evidence, or perhaps something like odds & ends & some photographs of a woman. Nothing too distracting, but subtle & interesting

All that stuff happens when you leave the room or aren't looking. It's like Desert Bus, all the good stuff happens when you aren't around.

[Evil Jim]

Figures.

[JustAName]

I'd only buy a burning log video if it had story involved, like someone also throwing in secret documents & other evidence

This was in that one LRR vid, right? With the switching back and forth and the bad Christmas specials?

[Ottoman]

Er, guys. . .

Actually, no. I give up. I'm going to sleep now.

[Digital Dolphin]

For the record, I actually own the Yule Log on Blu-Ray. I don't know if this makes me sad, or awesome.

[Lorithad]

Amusingly, you can also buy the yule log on DVD and blu-ray.

-m

One of my friends got the dvd for me for christmas last year. I was offended it wasn't the blu-ray. Seriously. Low resolution log burning? What the hell?

My favorite part was when the log was on fire.

[CommanderKeen]

It's funny. If you don't have access to a real fireplace and wood to burn, this actually is pretty cheap. when a bundle of wood from the gas station costs 15-20 bucks that 99 cents starts looking pretty cheap. I wonder what the cost of gas for that same amount of time for gas fireplace to burn is.

But good for Shaw for stepping up and matching donations. It's a service that they can provide for PENNIES and do some good.

[GaProgMan]

I must be one of the few people who doesn't turn the TV on a Christmas then. (Partly because I'm still in bed until late in the day, and partly because I don't watch a lot of TV)

This does, in some situations, make sense. I mean, imagine that you can't get out of the house to buy wood for your fire. Round these parts - North East of the UK - the snow is 3 feet deep in places, and some places are 10 feet deep.

Plus, for those who want - or need it - this'll provide some atmosphere without the complications of violating fire codes (which we all know is manly)

[Unlucky]

Canada, you're the greatest.

Never change, 'kay?

[Metcarfre]

I believe the Yule Log was originally featured on New York TV.

[the_lone_bard]

All that stuff happens when you leave the room or aren't looking. It's like Desert Bus, all the good stuff happens when you aren't around.

or whenever someone plays dire-straits or summons cthulhu.

I must be one of the few people who doesn't turn the TV on a Christmas then. (Partly because I'm still in bed until late in the day, and partly because I don't watch a lot of TV)

i stop watching tv at all for prettymuch all of xmas week.
and the few weeks surrounding it to new years eve i only turn it on if i know theres something on i like.

seeing xmas day movies xmas family primetime movies xmas news storys xmas this xmas that xmas xmas xmas! annoys the crap outa me.

[aonomus]

This is totally not in the spirit of Christmas. I guess some cable provider execs are very 'bah, humbug'.

[Metcarfre]