CBC/Radio-Canada will cut 657 full-time positions to confront a $130-million budgetary shortfall for the 2014-15 broadcast year, stemming from the loss of hockey and lower than expected ratings for its current television season. It will also alter its approach to sports coverage.
“As of today, CBC and Radio Canada is out of the business of competing with the private (broadcasters) for professional sports,” Hubert Lacroix, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said Thursday in a corporate-wide town hall with employees.
Last November, CBC also lost its primary cash cow when Rogers Media nabbed the rights to NHL games for the next 12 seasons. Under a sub-licence deal with Rogers, CBC will continue to air Saturday night hockey on its main network. But while it will not pay anything for rights to that programming – more than 300 hours over the course of the season and the Stanley Cup playoffs – it is footing the bill for some of the production costs, including staff time.
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