The CBC -What to do

[M.Dancer]

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

The Simpsons runs on Global...CBC televises movies that doesn't have Gordon Pinsent/donald sutherland in them?

[g_bambino]

The Simpsons runs on Global...

I know. But, as I said, the CBC should not be trying to be Global; it shouldn't be in the ratings game.

CBC televises movies that doesn't have Gordon Pinsent/donald sutherland in them?

Believe it or not, yes.

[Michael Hardner]

'The Trailer Park Boys' should be a paradigm for how Canadian TV works - cheap, smart, fast.

There is some room for giant expensive productions, TV series and movies....

But $1B ? Where is it going ?

[M.Dancer]

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

Because it is idealogy driven instead of ratings driven.

So you think any private network would do a speacial on Oscar peterson and hope to break even? He'a a Jazz performer! The only people who willing listen to jazz are either trying to get laid or don't want to get laid.

[Michael Hardner]

Because it is idealogy driven instead of ratings driven.

So you think any private network would do a speacial on Oscar peterson and hope to break even? He'a a Jazz performer! The only people who willing listen to jazz are either trying to get laid or don't want to get laid.

Your incorrect assessments of Jazz notwithstanding, I understand better now.

Who is making the money, though ? Not the performers. Maybe the crews ? Management ?

[Handsome Rob]

Your incorrect assessments of Jazz notwithstanding, I understand better now.

Who is making the money, though ? Not the performers. Maybe the crews ? Management ?

Just glancing through the annual;

Board members receive $2000.00 in excess just to attend meetings. Not really relavant, but fun fact.

Last year CBC TV revenued $250M, programming cost $460M, so that's 1/5th of it.

I'm certain if we look hard enough, we can account for all.

[M.Dancer]

Your incorrect assessments of Jazz notwithstanding, I understand better now.

Who is making the money, though ? Not the performers. Maybe the crews ? Management ?

My comments about jazz are spot on. Need I quote Joey (the lips) Fagan? Ifully intend to start listening to jazz on my death bed...to make me want to leave...

Who makes the money? All of them...all they tend to have a lot more of them than the others....

[Smallc]

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.

The area has to be lived in in order for you to really have ownership. Radio and TV are part of life and living. Having the Canadian face on the radio and TV in the area is important to sovereignty. It isn't just about patrols, and any scholar on international relations would tell you that.

[kimmy]

Two, replace Michael Enright of the English CBC with Kate McMillan of Small Dead Animals. Replace Anna Maria Tremonti (at least on Friday mornings) with Mark Steyn.

I don't get to listen to Anna Maria Tremonti often, but I love the part of her show when she asks a leading question and then follows the response with the disapproving "hmmmm."™

AMT: "And... all of this was done without the approval of the minister?"

Interviewee: "yes... that's correct."

AMT: "hmmmm."™

Always kills me.

'The Trailer Park Boys' should be a paradigm for how Canadian TV works - cheap, smart, fast.

There is some room for giant expensive productions, TV series and movies....

But $1B ? Where is it going ?

Indeed... some of the most interesting stuff I've seen on CBC wasn't productions of shows attempting to emulate and compete with American programming at all. One thing that I recall thinking was neat was a show that showcased short films made by amateurs... some of them were surprisingly good. I can't remember what the program was called, but it--

--wait, did you just call the Trailer Park Boys "smart"?

I can't respond to that. I have no response to that at all.

"hmmmm."™

-k

[sharkman]

My comments about jazz are spot on. Need I quote Joey (the lips) Fagan? Ifully intend to start listening to jazz on my death bed...to make me want to leave...

Leave, as in leave your body? Hurry up the dyin' part? Or Pull yourself off of the death bed and scram, as in beating death? Either way, jazz would have performed you a service and you could thank the heroin junkie Miles Davis. I have no idea why that popped into my head.

[Smallc]

AMT: "And... all of this was done without the approval of the minister?"

Interviewee: "yes... that's correct."

AMT: "hmmmm."

I wouldn't call that particular example leading.

[M.Dancer]

Radio and TV are part of life and living.

Because anyone who doesn't have a TV or radio...simply isn't living...

[Michael Hardner]

My comments about jazz are spot on. Need I quote Joey (the lips) Fagan? Ifully intend to start listening to jazz on my death bed...to make me want to leave...

Charlie Parker will beat you in hell, is all I have to say on that.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Its fun to beat up CBC! Yet I think if folks looked into its history a little their views may change. The CBC has been a positive influence for the nation. It has supported a Canadian identity in the media and it has left its mark on our society. We would have been rolled over by the USA in media terms long ago if not for the CBC. It has proven to be an expensive operation, of that I have no doubt.

[Michael Hardner]

Indeed... some of the most interesting stuff I've seen on CBC wasn't productions of shows attempting to emulate and compete with American programming at all. One thing that I recall thinking was neat was a show that showcased short films made by amateurs... some of them were surprisingly good. I can't remember what the program was called, but it--

--wait, did you just call the Trailer Park Boys "smart"?

I can't respond to that. I have no response to that at all.

"hmmmm."™

-k

The show was called "Zoey" or something that began with a 'Z'. Yes, TPB was smartly written, and was a great idea and - for film buffs here - I submit that it was the only funny Dogme-type comedy ever filmed ( so far ).

Can't watch the vid as I'm at work.

For a hint of what CBC can be, check out CBC Radio 3. It's inventive, fun, cheap, and mainstream all at once - a breath of fresh air.

[M.Dancer]

It has supported a Canadian identity in the media ...

Which is why the cancelled Don Messier's Jubillee...

The CBC's idea of Canadian Identity is the USA with a production budget 85% smaller...

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Which is why the cancelled Don Messier's Jubillee...

The CBC's idea of Canadian Identity is the USA with a production budget 85% smaller...

Perhaps, but we seem to complain about that too!

[g_bambino]

Its fun to beat up CBC!

For some people, apparently. Wierd, when the same people are dead silent about TVO or SCN.

[M.Dancer]

Perhaps, but we seem to complain about that too!

I should add that the most succesful CBC shows are the ones that are as far removed from Americana as can be...

The Jr Forest Rangers (Joe Two Rivers)

Don Messier's Jubilee (killed even though it was the highest rated in their time slot)

Front Page Challenge (It's Betty Kennedy)

The Beachcombers

The Plouffe Famity (in both languages)

Les Boys ...

And then there were the ones that the producers clearly viewed as appropriate for marketing and syndication to the US

Street legal

Intelligence

SCTV

Traders

...and so on...

[segnosaur]

The area has to be lived in in order for you to really have ownership. Radio and TV are part of life and living.

Except for the fact that its been pointed out that there are alternatives to publicly funded broadcasts in the north... There's satellite radio/TV (yes, reception will not be great in some areas, but that won't affect all.) You also have: shortwave radio, internet connectivity. Heck, they could just do regular air-lifts of DVDs to northern communities.

And even if you still assume that there must be some sort of radio/TV broadcast in northern areas (there doesn't, but I'm just humoring you), why do we need CBC radio/TV in the rest of the country, where a multitude of options already exist? Why not just cut the CBC, and pay CTV/Global/CityTV/etc. a few extra million to broadcast to northern communities?

Having the Canadian face on the radio and TV in the area is important to sovereignty. It isn't just about patrols, and any scholar on international relations would tell you that.

Sorry, proof by referring to some mythical "scholar on international relations" doesn't really do much to support your case.

The fact is, "Canadian culture" (TV shows, musical groups, etc.) can be divided into 2 categories:

- That which is popular (e.g. Great Big Sea, Corner Gas, Air Farce, Hockey Night in Canada). But since these are popular, they do not need the support of the CBC. They can appear on private broadcasters.

- That which is not popular (much of what is shown on CBC TV), in which case, its not really reflective of "Canada" if its a broadcast of things Canadians aren't interested in

[segnosaur]

For some people, apparently. Wierd, when the same people are dead silent about TVO or SCN.

A couple of reasons why people may be silent about things like TVO and SCN:

- This is a national forum; not everyone has the same provincial pubic broadcaster in their area. So any complaints about TVO will be irrelevant to people in western Canada

- Not sure, but I believe that the public spending per capita is less for TVO than it is for CBC. (CBC receives ~1 billion, which works out to ~$30/person. In 1996, TVO received $56 million (http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.php?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php%3Fid%3D6%26historyID%3D27), which works out to ~$5 per person. (Now, the TVO numbers are a little out of date, but even if contributions have doubled, people are still paying less for it than for CBC.)

[Smallc]

Why not just cut the CBC, and pay CTV/Global/CityTV/etc. a few extra million to broadcast to northern communities?

I would support that...but since it's still spending public money, i doubt that you would.

- That which is not popular (much of what is shown on CBC TV), in which case, its not really reflective of "Canada" if its a broadcast of things Canadians aren't interested in

Again, CBC radio is quite popular, and does an excellent job of painting a picture of many things happening in Canada for anyone listening.

[August1991]

Maybe I missed something, flipping through this thread but my OP had a simple point. (Michael Harder take note, and maybe I'll flip though to check your posts again.)

To fly a plane, you need two wings. The English CBC only has one wing and as a result, it is boring. English CBC only shows one part/wing of English Canada.

The CBC needs another wing? Yes. And my suggestion?

Let Mark Steyn or Kate McMillan (or people like them) have access to the CBC. IOW, the CBC should "allow"/pay Fox News (or the English Canadian equivalent) to broadcast part of the time.

(BTW, this is what the SRC -French CBC- does.)

I don't get to listen to Anna Maria Tremonti often, but I love the part of her show when she asks a leading question and then follows the response with the disapproving "hmmmm."

AMT: "And... all of this was done without the approval of the minister?"

Interviewee: "yes... that's correct."

AMT: "hmmmm."

Always kills me.

Her hmmm should be trademarked. I reckon that Tremonti doesn't even know how ironic it is. (Irony - the faultline of leftists.) Edited May 1, 2010 by August1991

[sharkman]

Mark Steyn would be a great addition that would no doubt increase ratings, but I think it goes against their agenda. Steyn takes the EIB microphone once in a while, though.

[August1991]

Mark Steyn would be a great addition that would no doubt increase ratings, but I think it goes against their agenda. Steyn takes the EIB microphone once in a while, though.

Sadly, the CBC would insist on a bureaucratic contract that Steyn would probably refuse to sign. IOW, the CBC is bent towards a particular worldview. The CBC is biased.

The federal French CBC (SRC) also suffers such a bias, but not on a critical issue for people in Quebec.

Go figure.

Edited May 1, 2010 by August1991