Outside of city centres, they are exactly that.
Ever spent any time in Yukon or Northwest Territories? The CBC is all that is there. Without it, a huge gap in culture, public forum and entertainment would be there. And it simply would not be filled by for-profit business. No one is clamouring to have the CBC removed in the North so they can swoop in and make buckets of money from being a public broadcaster.
I suppose if we only care about where the most people live, and national cohesion isn’t important, then getting rid of all things CBC seems like a great idea.