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The Upside of Recession
By Dave Hodson | February 28, 2009
As part of the round-the-clock media coverage, cheerleading the worldwide economic slowdown, the Toronto Star published an article titled Looming cuts would shake CBC to its core. Naturally, I was encouraged that there may indeed be positive side-effects to a recession! If there’s only one state-run institution in Canada in desperate need of a good shake, it’s the CBC.
While firms everywhere are dealing with a loss of revenue by making necessary cuts and efficiency improvements, the CBC has instead been crying for months for more government funding to make up their own budget shortfall. It’s the same old story of entitlement with the CBC… taking more and more from the taxpayer, without really being accountable to anyone, including the taxpayer or its viewers. Fortunately, the government has finally suggested that enough is enough, they already receive substantial funding, and they will just have to find a way to get by.
I would have preferred that the government cut funding to the CBC, but I guess I’ll just be happy that they’re not going to increase it.
On a more humorous note, let’s now examine some of the statements in the article…
The CBC is facing major cost-saving measures “that would change the very nature of our service to Canadians” as it copes with its deepening financial crisis, the national broadcaster’s president said yesterday.
Well, I can only hope!
Lacroix’s scenarios would jeopardize the CBC’s mandate of defining Canada to Canadians and are unlikely to produce more advertising, critics say.
Now that’s arrogant. I don’t need some state-run network defining Canada for me. As a Canadian, I’m more than capable of deciding for myself what it means to be Canadian.
It “could lead to the end of the CBC,” Steve Waddell, chief of the actors’ union ACTRA, told the Star.
Oh how I wish it were true, but I seriously doubt it. I think that statement might just be a little over-the-top? However, it’s not surprising to see a little bit of acting coming from an actor!
CBC insiders fear 600 or 700 layoffs in the coming year, and full-scale commercialization of English-language radio, which would bring an estimated $95 million in additional revenue.
If the CBC can bring in an additional $95 million through advertising, possibly reducing the drain on taxpayers, then do it.
Ian Morrison, spokesperson for the broadcast industry watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, said he doubts Canadian taxpayers would be willing to pay for a public broadcaster that carries American TV shows and commercialized radio.
Actually, Ian, I really don’t like paying for the one we have now. Just find a way to save the taxpayer some money, and if you can give us unbiased media content that people actually want to watch, then that’s a good thing too!
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Topics: Media, Politics, Subsidies |
February 28th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Don’t forget Radio Canada which really needs a shakeup. Never a good word for federalism, Canada or free enterprise.