Andrew Bell

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“ Before a thing can be marketed to the masses, it must be made practically fool-proof. Its operation must be made extremely simple. That is one reason, I think, why the phonograph has been so universally adopted. Even a child can operate it. … Another reason is that people are far more willing to pay for being amused than for anything else” -- Thomas Edison

On this day in 1877, the inventor recorded and then played back the sound of himself singing “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The phonograph had been created. The original machine used foil wrapped around a cylinder; a needle picked up  sound  and its vibrations cut grooves in the foil. 

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO TO HIT CANADA 'ANY DAY'

Entertainment storage has virtually transcended the physical world since then, with movies and music increasingly stored in electronic snippets of information. That includes streaming of films over the Internet: producer Robert Lantos told our own Jon Erlichman last week that  Amazon.com (AMZN.O) is poised to launch its Prime Video service in Canada “any day… I think we are next.” Two sources familiar with Amazon’s plans confirmed the imminent arrival, which means more competition for services such as  Netflix (NFLX.O) and Crave TV (owned by Bell Media parent BCE).

One theme we’re tracking on BNN: How does this complicate Heritage Minister Melanie Joly’s efforts to figure out how Canadian content can be supported in a digital entertainment world?

Lantos told BNN that he and other Canadian film and television producers face unfair competition from U.S. streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon. “Netflix right now… takes out somewhere between $500-$600-million a year from Canada.”

He said the streamers don’t have employees in Canada and “don’t have a footprint… They don’t have any money invested in our economy and they have a huge advantage over their Canadian competitors. Either everyone plays on the same basis or we might as well throw all the rules out the window.”

OTTAWA'S PLAN TO PHASE OUT COAL-FIRED POWER

Our Top Line on BNN this morning is the federal government’s plan to phase out coal-fired electricity in Canada by 2030.  Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna made the announcement  this morning, driving a wedge between Ottawa and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the process. 

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OIL RALLIES ON OPEC CUT HOPES

Edison may have liked to keep things simple but Saudi Arabia and other oil producers have been confusing oil markets with mixed signals as to whether they’re actually serious about cutting production to end the market surplus that has held down prices since 2014. Crude has rallied to about US$47 a barrel after Russia’s Vladimir Putin told reporters he sees few obstacles blocking a deal to reduce supply. Iran also says it’s optimistic about an agreement.

TRUMP AND TRADE 

The impending presidency of Donald Trump has also caused head scratching as investors and exporters try to figure out how aggressive he’ll be in appointing “tough and smart trade negotiators to fight on behalf of American workers.” At 10:10 a.m. ET, we’ll be joined by David  Emerson, former federal Minister of Industry and Minister of International Trade. And then at 12:20 p.m. ET, we’ll get analysis from CIBC economist  Royce Mendes, who reckons “trade barriers aimed at Mexico could see Canadian companies regain U.S. market share. But there are still risks that the tide of U.S. protectionism turns against Canada.”

Finally, those bored with the same old yoga routine (aren’t we all?) will be relieved to see innovation in the form of yoga classes in Albany, Oregon, surrounded by goats. Yes, goats.

“The goats are in their element amid the hummocky, fragrant tufts of grass,” the New York Times says. “As you smell that grass on a yoga mat, you realize that you have entered the goats’ world, not the other way around.”

We’re amazed that no one thought of it before.

Every morning Commodities host Andrew Bell writes a ‘chase note’ to BNN's editorial staff listing the stories and events that will be in the spotlight that day. Have it delivered to your inbox before the trading day begins by heading to www.bnn.ca/subscribe.