system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How can BBC, Sky, Channel 4 etc. show programmes and ads on my TV but say their content isn't available in my region when I try to view it on their respective web players? 

To clarify: I live in Ireland. These are British TV networks.

Ive heard similar situations of people in Canada having American networks on their TV and are told that the content also isn't available to their region. What is the reasoning behind this? Is it a smart move in terms of business and ad revenue ?

Thanks.
gpt
It's worth pointing out that the BBC doesn't show ads. 

As for the other channels, it's a licensing issue. They pay for programmes to be shown at a certain time, and then to be hosted online to be available for X amount of time. For example, BBC3 shows Family Guy late at night, but is **not** allowed to put it on iPlayer.

Hope this helps a little.