CBC Lockout

August 22, 2005

That "guy" is an idiot. Nothing more.

Riverwind · August 22, 2005

I have argued elsewhere that government should fund TV based on audience size. But I think this guy is right. Almost everybody in Canada who wants to watch TV has access to cable or satellite. Maybe the CBC-TV should stop broadcasting by antennae and base everything on fees.

The CBC should continue to exist if and only if it can provide programming that private broadcasters are unable to or are willing to deliver. CBC Radio provides excellent local coverage in Vancouver - something that no other private radio station can even come close to matching. The news service and the flag ship show 'as it happens' is also quite good. The national morning show used to be excellent and is now quite amateurish - not to mention absurdly biased. I question whether CBC should be bidding on the Olympics or other sports channels. I know the revenue from these broadcast help fund the other shows. I have been thinking that CBC TV could be replaced if and only if private broadcasters would accept Can-Con rules for prime time television, however, I don't believe that any broadcasters would be willing to do this; even in return for money to produce quality shows. This would imply that there is a need for CBC TV.

What is often forgotten in this debate is NPR and PBS are supported by the US taxpayer and could not exist on donations alone. This means that I strongly believe that government money should support public broadcasting, however, I am not convinced that propping up the bloated bureaucracy of the CBC is most effective way to spend that money.

kimmy · August 22, 2005

I have been thinking that CBC TV could be replaced if and only if private broadcasters would accept Can-Con rules for prime time television, however, I don't believe that any broadcasters would be willing to do this; even in return for money to produce quality shows. This would imply that there is a need for CBC TV.

But are there not Can-Con rules for prime-time TV? I can't see any other explanation for Train 48...

I've never listened to CBC Radio-1 because AM radio is for peasants.

Speak for yourself you "stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat". In Montreal, CBC Radio-1 is on FM.

:lol: I had to look up the quotation, but yes, it fits.

My ancestors tilled the soil of the untamed prairies so that I wouldn't *have* to listen to AM radio.

-k

mirror · August 23, 2005

I know he was supposed to have at least 1/2 dozen children and a stout wife, but how stout did a stalwart peasant in a sheepskin coat's wife have to be?

August1991 · August 29, 2005

About 61 per cent of those polled said they felt no impact at all from the lockout, which began on Aug. 15, Canadian Press reports.
Only 10 per cent of 1,000 surveyed by phone between Aug. 18 and 21 said it was "a major inconvenience" to them, while 27 per cent said it was "a minor inconvenience."

A CBC spokesman said the numbers reflect the way in which they are handling the delicate situation.

"...handling the delicate situation..." Uh? Maybe it has to do with the few people who normally listen to the CBC.

The poll, considered accurate to within 3.1 per cent 19 times out of 20, also showed that about one in four people said they watched or listened to CBC less since the dispute began. Those most inconvenienced tended to be Liberal or NDP voters or older people.

G & M

I would expect arbitration to be imposed soon. The Liberals need these votes. The CBC will also get more money as part of the deal.

SirSpanky · August 29, 2005

Exactly. I had no idea either. As long as their back to work for the beginning of hockey season.

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That's the beautiful part. Management has vowed to broadcast HNIC strike or no stike. So who cares when they settle?

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Do they vow a commentator too? Did you guys try to watch a CFL game with just the stadium audio? Its just weird. I don't know if I could handle not having a play by play.

Renegade · August 29, 2005

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for arbitration to get these guys back on the job. Based upon the Decima poll, no one seems to notice or care.

About 61 per cent of those polled said they felt no impact at all from the lockout, which began on Aug. 15, Canadian Press reports.
Only 10 per cent of 1,000 surveyed by phone between Aug. 18 and 21 said it was "a major inconvenience" to them, while 27 per cent said it was "a minor inconvenience."

From this article: CBC lockout affects few: survey

August1991 · August 29, 2005

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for arbitration to get these guys back on the job. Based upon the Decima poll, no one seems to notice or care.

The people who care or notice are precisely the people the Liberals need if they are to win a majority.

Riverwind · August 29, 2005

Only 10 per cent of 1,000 surveyed by phone between Aug. 18 and 21 said it was "a major inconvenience" to them, while 27 per cent said it was "a minor inconvenience."

Finding no convience does not mean that people don't miss the CBC. I am currently stuck because I can't find decent local news on the radio (I don't watch television and internet news is pretty weak on local coverage).

kimmy · August 29, 2005

That "guy" is an idiot. Nothing more.

Rick Mercer?

Do they vow a commentator too? Did you guys try to watch a CFL game with just the stadium audio? Its just weird. I don't know if I could handle not having a play by play.

We had TV hockey without commentators quite recently. A couple of years ago, Radio-Canad was on strike (or locked out) and people had the opportunity to watch the Canadiens-Hurricanes series without commentators. What a delight it was! It was almost like being at the game, in the stands, watching the game without the annoyance of the play by play team blathering in your ear. Oh, sure, you could just hit mute, but then you wouldn't get all the sonic ambience of a hockey game-- the smack of the puck, the crunch of bodies into the boards, the sizzle and hiss of skate blades on ice, the roar of the crowd-- that is such a part of the experience.

I am sure that some people will miss the incompetence of Bob Cole and the befuddled malapropisms of Harry Neale during this fall's Hockey Night In Canada broadcasts... the same people who find it confusing to watch a sit-com without a laugh-track. For most hockey fans, or ones who have actually watched a game at an arena, at least, the prospect of HNIC without a play by play team is exciting. I'm really looking forward to it!

-k

mirror · August 29, 2005

How many of you are Bill Richardson, of "Sad Goat" fame, fans?

Hey CBC Honchos! My Bum Is on the Line!

August1991 · August 29, 2005

Bill Richardson has worked on contract for the CBC since 1988.

The wonder is why anybody in their right mind ever renewed his contract. That post, and that programme, are sad indeed.

The money that goes into the CBC is in no way whatsoever connected to the money that goes out (to pay for contracts). The great disconnect.

mirror · August 29, 2005

Bill Richardson has worked on contract for the CBC since 1988.
The wonder is why anybody in their right mind ever renewed his contract. That post, and that programme, are sad indeed.
The money that goes into the CBC is in no way whatsoever connected to the money that goes out (to pay for contracts). The great disconnect.

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Actually Bill is one of English Canada's cultural icons.

kimmy · August 30, 2005

CBC football ratings have improved since the lockout.

While the implications for CBC and the locked out workers are unclear, this is certainly bad news for Don Wittman.

-k

Black Dog · August 30, 2005

I probably listen to/watch the CBC more than most other networks, for one simple reason: no reality shows.

There's a good reason for public-financing of radio and TV but the content of the CBC is absurdly biased. I would prefer to see the CBC abolished and its budget portioned out to commercial stations according to audited audience measures.

"Absurdly biased"? Name me a broadcaster that isn't. And what your calling for is using public funds to finance private enterprise. Which is commonplace enough without such steps.

mirror · August 30, 2005

At last some good news in this blasted situation. CBC management and workers are to resume contract negotiations tomorrow. FINALLY!

Montgomery Burns · August 30, 2005

I don't miss Canada's state-run taxpayer-funded Soviet-style news station in the least. It got so tiring listening to their anti-Israel anti-America hard-left propaganda.

I went to their forums one time and used the word "terrorist" when describing a displaced Arab from Jordan (some call them Palestinians) who blew up a busload of Israeli schoolchildren. The moderator deleted the word "terrrorist". :blink:

CBC Newsworld was revolting in their bias. How many times did you ever see a conservative or libertarian on Newsworld? It is infuriating that Canadian conservatives are forced to fund the horrid CBC.

Since the Liberal Party lifted its 5 year ban of the Fox News Channel, I have watched little else. What a refreshing change. Although their reporting is basically the same as the other channels (they have the same annoying habit of referring to terrorists as insurgents), they actually have conservative pundits. And the liberals who aren't scared to appear on Fox News (O'Reilly has been calling out Howard Dean for months, and Mother Sheehan backed out of an appearance) actually are forced to defend their views; they don't get the softball questions that they do on other channels.

No wonder Fox News gets higher ratings than CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, and CNBC combined.

I have to chuckle when I see liberals raging about Hannity & Colmes. The show has one liberal and one conservative, but to liberals that is unfair. :unsure:

mirror · August 30, 2005

Yes, the CBC has banned the use of the word terrorist just like President Bush has. :lol:

feloniusteabag · August 30, 2005

Dear Montgomery Burns,

No wonder Fox News gets higher ratings than CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, and CNBC combined.

Yes, a show 'by idiots, for idiots' is bound to do well down there. How are their ratings compared to inane pap such as 'Survivor' or 'Seinfeld'?

(they have the same annoying habit of referring to terrorists as insurgents),

That is because there is a difference, depending on the circumstances.

Montgomery Burns · August 30, 2005

Dear Montgomery Burns,
No wonder Fox News gets higher ratings than CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, and CNBC combined.
Yes, a show 'by idiots, for idiots' is bound to do well down there. How are their ratings compared to inane pap such as 'Survivor' or 'Seinfeld'?
(they have the same annoying habit of referring to terrorists as insurgents),
That is because there is a difference, depending on the circumstances.

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Ahhh yes. It is just the purest of coincidence that those "diots" became the most powerful country in the world, economically, militarily, and culturally.

Only an idiot would consider that a coincidence.

And people who deliberately target and blow up innocents, are terrorists. Period.

Montgomery Burns · August 30, 2005

Yes, the CBC has banned the use of the word terrorist just like President Bush has.

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Apparently you can't spell.

You do not spell BBC B-u-s-h.

mcqueen625 · August 31, 2005

As the CBC lockout enters its second full day I am beginning to realize how much I am missing the CBC, primarily the radio, as I don't watch much TV.
I guess I have not listened to corporate radio for some time now, and I forget that is totally saturated with commercials. How awful that is!

I hope this lockout gets resolved soon as I can't take much more of the corporate garbage parading as news out there.

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And the CBC is not saturated with commercials even though they compete for those advertising contracts, while at the same time holding out their hands for $ billions in taxpayer's dollars?

I do miss being able to access local news on CBC.ca, since all of our newspapers are owned and controlled by the Irving Empire.

SirSpanky · September 1, 2005

Philosophic subjects you speak of Monty. Debateable whether ambition, which is not necessarily a good thing brought on their dominance.

Ahhh yes. It is just the purest of coincidence that those "diots" became the most powerful country in the world, economically, militarily, and culturally.
Only an idiot would consider that a coincidence.

A right-ist news system being the most popular in a right-ist society, shifted more to the right after the 9-11 attacks doesn't surprise me at all. I'd be interested to see the ratings/readership before and after 9-11 for the major media outlets.

All media is biased, and personally I like knowing which side a story teller is likely to drift towards. Keeps my bullshit guard up.

August1991 · September 2, 2005

The BBC has an annual budget of about Cdn $8 billion of which about $6 billion comes from a per TV annual fee of $240.

The CBC has an annual budget of about $1 billion.

The BBC provides World Service in several languages and, all things considered, it is not that bad. The CBC is just lousy. R-C is much better.

I hope this lock-out leads to major changes in the way the CBC operates.

Montgomery Burns · September 4, 2005

August1991:

The BBC has an annual budget of about Cdn $8 billion of which about $6 billion comes from a per TV annual fee of $240.

The sad thing is that their citizens are forced to pay that annual fee whether they want to or not. While the poor or elderly might want to put up with a few commericals instead of paying this fee, they have no choice.

And then the BBC goes around the country with those vans checking out which houses are watching the BBC without paying the annual fee. If caught, you get a fine and possibly a jail sentence.

A reasonable person would conclude that the vast majority of people who watch the BBC without paying are the poor and elderly, who end up paying a fine or even going to jail.