The CBC -What to do

[Michael Hardner]

And... no surprise... the Canadian Government website doesn't appear to have CBC budget information in a

web search.

The CBC has this:

http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/annualreports/2008-2009/pdf/AR0809_e.pdf

Rather long, but around p48 there's some financial stuff.

[g_bambino]

The CBC, in my opinion, is one of the most useless wastes of money I can think of.

And what do you think of the BBC? Or ABC? Or TVNZ?

[g_bambino]

if the northern resoidents want Toronto culturem let them pay for it out of their own pockets...

They don't already? Since when were there no taxes north of James Bay?

[Michael Hardner]

I'd love to see what sort of demographic CBC radio is pulling in. We're paying taxes to support the idealogy and entertainment of a select few. The CBC, in my opinion, is one of the most useless wastes of money I can think of.

I would say that CBC Radio should be run as a loss - as public radio is everywhere.

But it's mind boggling that CBC television would cost $1B / year, when the private equivalents are (I assume) profitable.

Can anybody illuminate us as to what costs so much money ?

[segnosaur]

And what about ABC Dancer?....and the UK still has TV licensing.

So? Just because one or 2 countries do things that are foolish, why should Canada follow suit? Lets debate the value of the CBC on its own merits, and not just support it because other countries throw money at their public broadcasters.

Believe it or not, there are still many rural areas where CBC Radio is pretty much it.

Ummm... so?

Last time I checked, we had no law that forced individuals to move to rural areas. If its important enough for people to have access to good radio choices, then they should be willing to move to a more urban location. Or have them ask their employer for more money.

Why should I be forced to subsidize other people's entertainment choices?

To you perhaps. I don't think it is, especially when we're talking about a time when we're promoting northern sovereignty. Canadian TV and Radio, believe it or not, are very important components of that.

Please explain how 'northern sovereignty' depends on the presence of CBC TV/radio. Last time I checked, it was more important that we patrol the areas and have individuals stationed up there, not that we were simply broadcasting in the area.

I haven't seen any articles where any country has used the presence of radio broadcasters to strengthen claims of ownership of territory.

[g_bambino]

So? Just because one or 2 countries do things that are foolish, why should Canada follow suit?

You seriously believe the BBC is "foolish"?

[M.Dancer]

You seriously believe the BBC is "foolish"?

No...forceing people to pay $300 a year for the right to watch TV and give that money to the state broadcaster is foolish..

Edited April 29, 2010 by M.Dancer

[M.Dancer]

In the UK, they extort 3.5 Billion Lbs from TV owners every year and give it to the BBC....

[g_bambino]

No...forceing people to pay $300 a year for the right to watch TV and give that money to the state broadcaster is foolish..

Why?

[Michael Hardner]

Why?

...and how much are our 'tv taxes' today ? Those are given to private broadcasters too.

[Uncle 3 dogs]

CBC radio 1 is still the best source for current affairs programming, without a far right slant

[Handsome Rob]

...and how much are our 'tv taxes' today ? Those are given to private broadcasters too.

Nuke 'em. Pay tax for what we need, nothing more.

I can't fathom the idea that we spend such monies as a billion on the CBC, funding for city events, etc, when we still have homeless problems, we still have people waiting 6 months for surgeries that drastically alter quality of life, etc.

[M.Dancer]

Why?

You mean why should someone be forced to subsidize someone else's viewing habits?

How would you feel if the feds said "we need a national magazine!" and started sending you a weekly issue...you don't care for it, don't read it....and at the end of the year you get a $300 bill...would you be okay with that?

[Moonbox]

You mean why should someone be forced to subsidize someone else's viewing habits?

How would you feel if the feds said "we need a national magazine!" and started sending you a weekly issue...you don't care for it, don't read it....and at the end of the year you get a $300 bill...would you be okay with that?

Let's say for the sake of argument that its a heavily right wing magazine too....maybe that will provide some perspective to you guys...

Edited April 29, 2010 by Moonbox

[g_bambino]

You mean why should someone be forced to subsidize someone else's viewing habits?

We subsidise a media outlet, not people's viewing habits. Now, I'll freely admit that the management of CBC over the past decade or so has being doing a crap job, gradually adopting a mindset incongruous with the original intent of the corporation: broadcast Canadian media to Canadians. Instead, they've tried to turn the CBC into a company more akin to Fox or Global: money-making, ratings dependant, and playing an ever-increasing amount of foreign (American and British) content. I place that fault with the people running the corporation, though, not the corporation itself, and I'd see value in subsidising a CBC that was trimmed back and returned to its fundamental purpose.

[+]

Edited April 29, 2010 by g_bambino

[M.Dancer]

We subsidise a media outlet, not people's viewing habits. Now, I'll freely admit that the management of CBC over the past decade or so has being doing a crap job, gradually adopting a mindset incongruous with the original intent of the corporation: broadcast Canadian media to Canadians. Instead, they've tried to turn the CBC into a company more akin to Fox or Global: money-making, ratings dependant, and playing an ever-increasing amount of foreign (American and British) content. I place that fault with the people running the corporation, though, not the corporation itself, and I'd see value in subsidising a CBC that was trimmed back and returned to its fundamental purpose.

[+]

Aside from Coronation street, and the Tudors, what american or british content do they run? As far as I can tell their line up is unfunny canadian mixed with trite formulaic drama

And yes, it is the viewing habits with subsidize, although with the way the CBC is going, less and less viewers are getting their habits subsidized...

[Handsome Rob]

Let's say for the sake of argument that its a heavily right wing magazine too....maybe that will provide some perspective to you guys...

No.

If the CBC was run by Ezra Levant & Mark Steyn, would you still want it?

[bloodyminded]

No.

If the CBC was run by Ezra Levant & Mark Steyn, would you still want it?

Nobody would.

[M.Dancer]

No.

If the CBC was run by Ezra Levant & Mark Steyn, would you still want it?

Depends....would it still suck? Would Radio Canada start broadcasting hockey? Would they continue to torture us with the comedic strugglings of THH22 Minutes?

Is there anything on that anyone really likes?

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/weekly/today/cbc_television

[Michael Hardner]

Aside from Coronation street, and the Tudors, what american or british content do they run? As far as I can tell their line up is unfunny canadian mixed with trite formulaic drama

And yes, it is the viewing habits with subsidize, although with the way the CBC is going, less and less viewers are getting their habits subsidized...

It's getting better. Being Erica.. is... watchable... and Dragon's Den is great fun actually.

I think that if you're going to have a nation, especially one that lives beside a cultural behemoth with 10X the population, a national psyche needs to be engendered and promoted.

They could do a better job of being efficient, though.

[Handsome Rob]

Depends....would it still suck? Would Radio Canada start broadcasting hockey? Would they continue to torture us with the comedic strugglings of THH22 Minutes?

Is there anything on that anyone really likes?

http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/weekly/today/cbc_television

Hockey, but that's not because of the CBC.

That nature of things is OK, but they'd find another network.

I can stand the National, it's OK.

The rest of it, trash pile.

[g_bambino]

Aside from Coronation street, and the Tudors, what american or british content do they run?

On top of what you mention, The Simpsons and various American movies. I'm really not sure why...

[M.Dancer]

It's getting better. Being Erica.. is... watchable... and Dragon's Den is great fun actually.

I think that if you're going to have a nation, especially one that lives beside a cultural behemoth with 10X the population, a national psyche needs to be engendered and promoted.

They could do a better job of being efficient, though.

I sat through one episode of Being Erica and got a yeast infection.

Isn't Dragon's Den a direvitive?

[Michael Hardner]

I sat through one episode of Being Erica and got a yeast infection.

Isn't Dragon's Den a direvitive?

1. Thank you for giving me that mental image. Kind of like a rash with a beard stuck in it.

2. Yes, but the Canadian franchise has some great characters, as in real people type characters.

Kevin O'Leary is a loud, brash, right-wing Canadian. He's hilarious and there's not many on TV like him. The egos of the panelists make for some great side-clashes and real toe-stepping. There's also a pleasant middle-aged lass named Arlene Dickinson to remind the middle-aged guys why middle-aged ladies are great.

[Michael Hardner]

And does ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA why CBC costs $1B per year ? Does CTV lose $1B per year ?