The CBC’s problem isn’t just the lack of funding or the disruptive Internet, although those are major issues.
The problem isn’t that CBC has too many enemies. Its problem is too few friends.
Years ago, then-Liberal cabinet minister George Baker told me that the CBC “doesn’t have a single friend at the cabinet table.” That was during the Liberal years, when the public broadcaster endured a series of punishing cuts.
The CBC forgot how to make friends while private networks spent all their time pleasing people. The other networks built loyalty and audiences, at cost to the CBC.
Now it is cutting staff and newscast hours to refocus on digital products. Television has fallen to fourth out of four priorities, an admission of defeat after 60-plus years of trying to make a success of Canadian public television.
Read the full story.
cbcexposed is all about exposing the waste of the CBC ... over 1 billion dollars a year of taxpayer money funds the cbc and a lot of that taxpayer money is wasted.
Exposed - CBC Unions Rethink Hubert Lacroix Pink Slip
The unions inside the CBC seem to have toned down earlier rhetoric suggesting the pubcaster's president, Hubert Lacroix, be pink-slipped.
There is, however, a sense of urgency and perhaps even a hint of impending agitation embedded in the wording of a letter ostensibly sent to congratulate Melanie Joly on her appointment as federal Heritage Minister.
Read the letter here.
There is, however, a sense of urgency and perhaps even a hint of impending agitation embedded in the wording of a letter ostensibly sent to congratulate Melanie Joly on her appointment as federal Heritage Minister.
Read the letter here.
CBC president Hubert Lacroix no longer has legitimacy
Unions representing majority of CBC and Radio-Canada employees launched a petition saying Hubert Lacroix and board of directors “no longer have legitimacy.”
The two unions representing the vast majority of CBC and Radio-Canada employees across the country are calling for CBC president Hubert Lacroix and the entire board of directors to step down, and are launching a petition on the matter amongst its members.
Lacroix was not made available for an interview.
Read the full story.
The two unions representing the vast majority of CBC and Radio-Canada employees across the country are calling for CBC president Hubert Lacroix and the entire board of directors to step down, and are launching a petition on the matter amongst its members.
Lacroix was not made available for an interview.
Read the full story.
Open Letter to CBC
This is a letter to us from a reader ... we have posted it here for your information WITH their permission to do so:
_______________________________________
Hello,
I am a French Canadian who has lived all across the country
and like to read the news in both official languages as sometimes it gives
different perspectives on a same topic.
However, I’ve been more and more disappointed with Radio-Canada as they
are so Quebec-centric it is making me sick.
I’m originally from Labrador and now live in St. John’s, and I’ve lived
in BC and Quebec. I’ve emailed
countless of times to Radio-Canada about how they forget (and steal) Canadians
who are not living in La Belle Province.
In sports, it is common to read “The Quebecer X and the Canadian Y” in
the same article, mentioning how our athletes succeeded. During the last Federal Election, the Bloc
was mentioned daily but good luck finding news about the Greens for example, a
national party as opposed to a regional, country breaker party. Their main news page
(http://radio-canada.ca/nouvelles) is filled with Quebec news and if you want
something from the Maritimes, BC or outside of Quebec, you got to do some work
because it is not that simple to find in a buggy (yes!!) web site. I’ve emailed them this month about this and
their response from Pierre Champoux was:
“L’auditoire de ICI Radio-Canada.ca se trouve principalement
au Québec et nous devons en tenir compte dans nos choix éditoriaux mais cela ne
signifie pas que nous ignorions les informations provenant des autres
provinces. Les pupitres nationaux sont en contact constant avec leurs collègues
des régions
du Québec et d'ailleurs au pays pour s’assurer de ne rien
oublier qui soit d’intérêt pour les Canadiens. “
Personal Translation: “The Radio-Canada audience is mostly
located in Quebec and we have to take that into account in our editorial
choices, but this does not mean that we are ignoring informations coming from
other provinces. National desks are in
constant communication with their colleagues in Quebec regions and elsewhere in
the country in order to make sure that nothing is forgotten that is interests
to Canadians.”
Radio-Canada (and CBC) is a NATIONAL organisation but most
importantly, the SAME organisation.
Their claim that their French speaking audience is mostly located in
Quebec is because they have alienated us outside Quebec to a point where we
don’t even look at what they are doing.
And regardless, this is not Radio-Canada’s mission. It is simply disgusting to see that I cannot
see what’s happening here in NL in their national space but god forbid
something going on in France, Spain, Europe of a small village in Quebec (a
small business about beard trimming in rural Quebec tonight:
http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/estrie/2015/12/18/006-barbe-tendance-homme-masculin.shtml)
can make its way there though.
The executives are completely disconnected from French
Canadians. They operate Radio-Canada as
a Quebec news outlet. I complained many
times, especially during the elections, and I got told that I was lying when I
have screenshot evidence of their poor, Quebec-oriented editorial choices. They are not listening and don’t want
to. They are not even using the same
web platform as CBC hence doubling the cost of developing a news web platform
for a single, national, news outlet.
Their web platform is buggy (select your region as Newfoundland and
Labrador and you end up with news from NB, or various rural regions of Quebec)
and virtually unusable (can wait 1 minute, in 2015, to get a page!!) at times
when CBC is always responding.
I could go on and on with my rant. But I am sick of seeing Radio-Canada being operated as a Quebec
news outlet, meaning that Quebecers are getting way more than what they are
paying for. This is stealing all tax payers.
I’ve discovered your site this morning and I found it simply
brilliant. I’m all for fairness and
seeing how CBC (and Radio-Canada) steal tax payers money, I believe it should
either be abolished, or the execs all be fired and sued for stealing tax payers
money. They know they are not
respecting their primary mandate, and this is simply wrong and against the
law. Coming from an area where French
speaking Canadians are a minority, I would believe Radio-Canada’s commitment
towards minority regions and realities if they were to get more executives from
outside Quebec, and invest more in their regional outlet outside Quebec. At the moment, everything is
Montreal-centric, then Quebec-centric and if there are crumbs left, than the
rest can have them.
Exposed - CBC Is a Luxury We Can No Longer Afford
The Road To Bankruptcy Is Paved With Good Intentions
I believe that when the CBC began, it was absolutely essential at almost any cost. It was one of the only mediums of communication, and for many parts of Canada it was the only television available. It was undeniably a key means of getting information out from coast-to-coast, and held great cultural value in terms of defining Canada a country. I believe it certainly justified its fairly high cost to the public purse in times past… wait for it… *sound of other shoe dropping*… Unfortunately for the CBC, the world we live in today is not the world of yesteryear.I believe the current financial commitment in tax dollars to the CBC should be slashed much more dramatically than the current budget suggests (roughly 10%), because its importance to Canadians is vastly diminished relative to even 15 years ago. Imagine what hundreds of millions of dollars could do in terms of plugging the holes in education, health care, or infrastructure? These are the priorities I believe most Canadians have, and the CBC, while a nice luxury to possess, is simply one we can’t afford any more.
Read the full story here.
CBC columnist vows to have a “party when Harper dies”
You run across a lot of lefty crazies on Twitter who wish conservatives harm, or call Stephen Harper "Adolf Hitler" -- but you certainly don’t expect something this insane from a CBC columnist:
Lyndon Penner is a gardening columnist for CBC News Saskatchewan and that he still has his job after sending out this tweet is stunning.
I will be filing a complaint with the CBC Ombudsman and will update with the response.
UPDATE: Lyndon has changed his Twitter account to @LyndonGardener
Read the full story here.
Lyndon Penner is a gardening columnist for CBC News Saskatchewan and that he still has his job after sending out this tweet is stunning.
I will be filing a complaint with the CBC Ombudsman and will update with the response.
UPDATE: Lyndon has changed his Twitter account to @LyndonGardener
Read the full story here.
Outside firm to review CBC managers behaviour
A senior member of staff at CBC issued an informal complaint against a fellow exec after the VP displayed “upsetting” behaviour in a meeting, the Star reports.
According to the Toronto-based media outlet, Heather Conway – executive vice-president of English Services – was accused of harassing the English branch’s chief business officer, Neil McEneaney.
McEneaney also asserted that Conway, who has herself called for a more respectful working environment in the past, apologised for her actions.
Despite the incident being played down, the broadcasting corporation has hired an outside firm to conduct a review of senior managers’ behaviour including Conway’s.
Read the full story.
According to the Toronto-based media outlet, Heather Conway – executive vice-president of English Services – was accused of harassing the English branch’s chief business officer, Neil McEneaney.
McEneaney also asserted that Conway, who has herself called for a more respectful working environment in the past, apologised for her actions.
Despite the incident being played down, the broadcasting corporation has hired an outside firm to conduct a review of senior managers’ behaviour including Conway’s.
Read the full story.
Is 150 million to CBC more important than other priorities
It’s been a heck of a year for the CBC — a scathing report denounced managers for their handling of the Jian Ghomeshi affair while former anchors Amanda Lang and Evan Solomon faced controversies of their own.
All the while, the CBC continued to grapple with steep budget cuts that slashed news broadcasts, gutted sports and documentary divisions and put for sale signs in front of aging facilities.
But with a more CBC-friendly Liberal government now holding the purse strings, could things finally be looking up for the beleaguered public broadcaster?
In a statement, the CBC said any new government funds would be put towards the ongoing five-year “Strategy 2020” that focuses on digital initiatives.
Assuming the money comes through at all.
Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said a harsh fiscal climate could force the Liberal government to reassess whether it can afford to spend more on the broadcaster.
“I’m not sure that most people would argue that spending another $150 million on the CBC is more important than many of the other priorities that the Liberals have identified,” Wudrick said from Ottawa.
Read the full story.
All the while, the CBC continued to grapple with steep budget cuts that slashed news broadcasts, gutted sports and documentary divisions and put for sale signs in front of aging facilities.
But with a more CBC-friendly Liberal government now holding the purse strings, could things finally be looking up for the beleaguered public broadcaster?
In a statement, the CBC said any new government funds would be put towards the ongoing five-year “Strategy 2020” that focuses on digital initiatives.
Assuming the money comes through at all.
Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said a harsh fiscal climate could force the Liberal government to reassess whether it can afford to spend more on the broadcaster.
“I’m not sure that most people would argue that spending another $150 million on the CBC is more important than many of the other priorities that the Liberals have identified,” Wudrick said from Ottawa.
Read the full story.
CBC legal counsel argued AGAINST free speech
Canada’s state broadcaster has been busy proving themselves to be one of the most devoted enemies of freedom of speech and information sharing in the country.
I feel comfortable saying this based on the more than 400 pages of emails, memos and documents I’ve reviewed in what was their attempt to cover up their efforts to protect Justin Trudeau from attack ads. They even tried to censor the internet.
You may recall that CBC got angry with the Conservative Party for using a clip from one of their many behind the scenes, all access, Peter Mansbridge and Justin hang out moments in the now infamous and certainly ridiculous comments he made about the Boston Marathon bombers.
The CBC didn’t stop there and began on a multi-year push to have CBC news footage protected from being used in political ads despite existing jurisprudence, the law and CBC’s own legal opinion showing they didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Read the full story and watch the video here.
I feel comfortable saying this based on the more than 400 pages of emails, memos and documents I’ve reviewed in what was their attempt to cover up their efforts to protect Justin Trudeau from attack ads. They even tried to censor the internet.
You may recall that CBC got angry with the Conservative Party for using a clip from one of their many behind the scenes, all access, Peter Mansbridge and Justin hang out moments in the now infamous and certainly ridiculous comments he made about the Boston Marathon bombers.
The CBC didn’t stop there and began on a multi-year push to have CBC news footage protected from being used in political ads despite existing jurisprudence, the law and CBC’s own legal opinion showing they didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Read the full story and watch the video here.
Exposed - CBC pointing fingers to avoid own scandals
The CBC is carefully pointing the finger at waste and mismanagement in the Senate to avoid their own scandals.
CBC has changed it’s focus from direct attacks on Senator Mike Duffy to denouncing the Senate. CBC reporter Terry Milewski’s charges against the Senate can easily be made against the CBC itself.
His story is the kettle calling the pot black. The CBC misrepresents Canadians by spending 37 times more on PEI than major parts of Canada. CBC has expense scandals and sex scandals beyond anything in the Senate.
Read the full story here.
CBC has changed it’s focus from direct attacks on Senator Mike Duffy to denouncing the Senate. CBC reporter Terry Milewski’s charges against the Senate can easily be made against the CBC itself.
His story is the kettle calling the pot black. The CBC misrepresents Canadians by spending 37 times more on PEI than major parts of Canada. CBC has expense scandals and sex scandals beyond anything in the Senate.
Read the full story here.
CBC Interview Not Adherrent to CBC Standards
Yesterday, CBC Ombudsman Esther Enkin released a review entitled “Breaking the Silence: A controversial report and the question of balance” which found that a May 4 CBC As It Happens interview with a representative from anti-Israel NGO Breaking the Silence, was not adherent to CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices.
Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.
New Liberal Government to Protect CBC?
Story from the past ...
The Liberal Party of Canada is urging Canadians to sign a petition that will tell Stephen Harper to lay off the CBC’s budget; that “the Conservatives are using the CBC as a scapegoat for their budget deficits and are breaking their election promise to continue their funding.”
Fans/employees of the CBC may be excused for raising an eyebrow to see the Liberals criticizing any government eyeballing CBC budget cuts as part of a government-wide austerity plan for in 1996, as Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien and his finance minister Paul Martin were trying to dig Canada out from under its biggest debt load (measured relative to GDP), the Liberals imposed drastic cuts on the Crown corporation, chopping $414 million from a budget of what, at that time, was $1.4 billion a year. That’s a haircut of close to 30 per cent.
Read the full story.
The Liberal Party of Canada is urging Canadians to sign a petition that will tell Stephen Harper to lay off the CBC’s budget; that “the Conservatives are using the CBC as a scapegoat for their budget deficits and are breaking their election promise to continue their funding.”
Fans/employees of the CBC may be excused for raising an eyebrow to see the Liberals criticizing any government eyeballing CBC budget cuts as part of a government-wide austerity plan for in 1996, as Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien and his finance minister Paul Martin were trying to dig Canada out from under its biggest debt load (measured relative to GDP), the Liberals imposed drastic cuts on the Crown corporation, chopping $414 million from a budget of what, at that time, was $1.4 billion a year. That’s a haircut of close to 30 per cent.
Read the full story.
Exposed - CBC workplace is psychologically unhealthy
Many employees of Canada’s national broadcaster believe the CBC workplace is psychologically unhealthy and managers do not deal effectively with issues that may threaten or harm them, according to an internal survey carried out following the Jian Ghomeshi scandal.
Concerns were also raised by survey respondents over whether the CBC deals effectively with “situations that may threaten or harm employees.” Almost a third (29 per cent) said the CBC does not.
When staff were asked whether CBC management would “do what’s right” in a situation where a concern was raised about “ethics and integrity,” 30 per cent said they would not. Asked if CBC management “cares about my overall well-being,” 43 per cent said the organization does not.
Read the full story.
Concerns were also raised by survey respondents over whether the CBC deals effectively with “situations that may threaten or harm employees.” Almost a third (29 per cent) said the CBC does not.
When staff were asked whether CBC management would “do what’s right” in a situation where a concern was raised about “ethics and integrity,” 30 per cent said they would not. Asked if CBC management “cares about my overall well-being,” 43 per cent said the organization does not.
Read the full story.
CBC caught in vicious circle
The president of CBC/Radio-Canada says public broadcasters are caught in a “vicious circle” of budget cuts and service reductions that threaten their continued existence.
“First, we struggle with cuts to our funding,” Hubert Lacroix told an audience at an international public broadcasters’ conference in Munich, Germany, last week.
“Then as the cuts make us weaker and affect morale, critics, key stakeholders and even some of the citizens we serve, question our relevance in a digital world.”
He said public broadcasters have been too slow to react to changing technologies and a changing political environment.
The Canadian Media Guild said Lacroix had “made a career of shredding” the CBC, and cast doubt on whether Lacroix would rebuild CBC services and staffing if funding were restored.
Read the full story.
“First, we struggle with cuts to our funding,” Hubert Lacroix told an audience at an international public broadcasters’ conference in Munich, Germany, last week.
“Then as the cuts make us weaker and affect morale, critics, key stakeholders and even some of the citizens we serve, question our relevance in a digital world.”
He said public broadcasters have been too slow to react to changing technologies and a changing political environment.
The Canadian Media Guild said Lacroix had “made a career of shredding” the CBC, and cast doubt on whether Lacroix would rebuild CBC services and staffing if funding were restored.
Read the full story.
CBC had a scandal-plagued year
It's been a heck of a year for the CBC -- a scathing report denounced managers for their handling of the Jian Ghomeshi affair while former anchors Amanda Lang and Evan Solomon faced controversies of their own.
All the while, the CBC continued to grapple with steep budget cuts that slashed news broadcasts, gutted sports and documentary divisions and put for sale signs in front of aging facilities.
Read the full story here.
All the while, the CBC continued to grapple with steep budget cuts that slashed news broadcasts, gutted sports and documentary divisions and put for sale signs in front of aging facilities.
Read the full story here.
CBC wastes THOUSANDS praising Peter Mansbridge
So I saw this full-page newspaper ad, sent to me by a viewer.
It’s a huge ad that might have cost the CBC, I don't know, $25,000?
They're congratulating themselves because their anchor, Peter Mansbridge, has been on TV for 40 years.
No wonder he’s a millionaire celebrity, asked to officiate at Liberal Party weddings in Italy.
I think the only reason he won’t be appointed to the Senate by Justin Trudeau is that Mansbridge wouldn’t want the pay cut, or the cut in political influence.
Right now, the Media Party is being slaughtered in Canada.
Hundreds laid off at CTV.
Postmedia, which owns most daily newspapers in Canada, has said they’re going to cut $50 million next year. That’s probably 500 jobs, maybe shutting down whole newspapers.
But the CBC blows $25,000 puffing up the ego of their anchor.
I guess they're taking it from the $150 million "bonus" they got from Justin Trudeau after helping him win the election.
The CBC: Irrelevant, arrogant, biased. It’s time to pull the plug!
Read the full story and watch the video here.
It’s a huge ad that might have cost the CBC, I don't know, $25,000?
They're congratulating themselves because their anchor, Peter Mansbridge, has been on TV for 40 years.
No wonder he’s a millionaire celebrity, asked to officiate at Liberal Party weddings in Italy.
I think the only reason he won’t be appointed to the Senate by Justin Trudeau is that Mansbridge wouldn’t want the pay cut, or the cut in political influence.
Right now, the Media Party is being slaughtered in Canada.
Hundreds laid off at CTV.
Postmedia, which owns most daily newspapers in Canada, has said they’re going to cut $50 million next year. That’s probably 500 jobs, maybe shutting down whole newspapers.
But the CBC blows $25,000 puffing up the ego of their anchor.
I guess they're taking it from the $150 million "bonus" they got from Justin Trudeau after helping him win the election.
The CBC: Irrelevant, arrogant, biased. It’s time to pull the plug!
Read the full story and watch the video here.
Tale of two tax stories by the CBC
Tale of two tax stories by the CBC; One total BS and one not BS, but I have quibbles:
Harper government partnered with industry group fighting CRA over KPMG case ...
This is a non-story and the insinuation of the headline is false and biased. It implies that the PM was complicit in tax evasion, which is just untrue. I hate the Tories, but I hate crappy tax reporting more.
Anyway, the second story by the CBC is actually not bad, but I have quibbles.
Canada election 2015 spin cycle stock options ...
The NDP and the Liberals are proposing that stock options be fully taxed. Or not, they have wobbled since they got complaints about it, but still, my complaints goes well beyond what is in the story.
Read the full account here.
Harper government partnered with industry group fighting CRA over KPMG case ...
This is a non-story and the insinuation of the headline is false and biased. It implies that the PM was complicit in tax evasion, which is just untrue. I hate the Tories, but I hate crappy tax reporting more.
Anyway, the second story by the CBC is actually not bad, but I have quibbles.
Canada election 2015 spin cycle stock options ...
The NDP and the Liberals are proposing that stock options be fully taxed. Or not, they have wobbled since they got complaints about it, but still, my complaints goes well beyond what is in the story.
Read the full account here.
CBC is a Costly Waste
There is an irony to the CBC. Most of us are aware of the “SunShine” list that is published each year. When it is published, these annual lists of high paid public servants earning (receiving) more than $100,000 each is often news worthy on CBC. The incongruity is that a very large number of CBC’s “talking heads” are taking home salaries far in excess of the $100,000 plateau but have managed to hide the number from the CBC’s benefactors (the Canadian taxpayer).
It is astounding to hear of some of the executive, senior and middle management salaries and bonuses being paid at CBC. Added to that we have a goodly number of on-air “personalities” who draw astronomical wages! CBC alumni such as Mike Duffy, Jian Ghomeshi and Pamela Wallin were all former elite CBC talking heads.
Although CBC management has managed to hide their publicly funded wages from the public, the wastage does start and end with salaries and bonuses. Periodically stores seep revealing nice little executive junkets to Europe and pricey executive soiree’s. Could it be that those Senate expense habits of Duffy and Whallin came be way of their apprenticeship with the CBC where spending and wages are secret?
Read the full story.
It is astounding to hear of some of the executive, senior and middle management salaries and bonuses being paid at CBC. Added to that we have a goodly number of on-air “personalities” who draw astronomical wages! CBC alumni such as Mike Duffy, Jian Ghomeshi and Pamela Wallin were all former elite CBC talking heads.
Although CBC management has managed to hide their publicly funded wages from the public, the wastage does start and end with salaries and bonuses. Periodically stores seep revealing nice little executive junkets to Europe and pricey executive soiree’s. Could it be that those Senate expense habits of Duffy and Whallin came be way of their apprenticeship with the CBC where spending and wages are secret?
Read the full story.
CBC Using Tax Money to Compete With Newspapers
Would Netflix want to get into the newspaper business? I doubt it. Then, why is CBC so keen on competing with the print media with its online offerings? Is it breaking the law in doing so?
For more than 20 years CBC has offered an Internet website, cbc.ca, but in the past few years this effort has been accelerated. In its recently released strategic plan, called “A Space for Us All,” CBC was coy about its plans to compete with print media. When it was pointed out on Twitter that the strategy said the CBC wanted to turn into a “public media company,” the CBC first denied that this phrase was in the document and then tried to rationalize it.
The reason cbc.ca gets any audience is that CBC viewers and listeners are invited hundreds of times daily to go to CBC’s website; it is a promotional tool that newspapers would die for.
But it is unclear whether the Broadcasting Act permits CBC to operate such unlicensed services and whether CBC should use taxpayers’ money to compete with newspapers.
Read the full story.
For more than 20 years CBC has offered an Internet website, cbc.ca, but in the past few years this effort has been accelerated. In its recently released strategic plan, called “A Space for Us All,” CBC was coy about its plans to compete with print media. When it was pointed out on Twitter that the strategy said the CBC wanted to turn into a “public media company,” the CBC first denied that this phrase was in the document and then tried to rationalize it.
The reason cbc.ca gets any audience is that CBC viewers and listeners are invited hundreds of times daily to go to CBC’s website; it is a promotional tool that newspapers would die for.
But it is unclear whether the Broadcasting Act permits CBC to operate such unlicensed services and whether CBC should use taxpayers’ money to compete with newspapers.
Read the full story.
CBC Good At Internal Confusion
The CBC should make a TV drama about the CBC.
It would be darker than any show currently on the network.
People inside will tell you that, from day to day, marching orders change, priorities shift and budgetary restraints are slapped on and off like rusty handcuffs. Outsiders who deal with the broadcaster will tell you that, on any given day, the CBC appears to be quite good at one thing: internal confusion.
The Broadcasting Act, which guides the CBC, was last amended in 1991.
There were no DVDs, PVRs, on-demand video, satellite radio, content streams, smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, YouTube, Pandora, Netflix, Amazon or even the Internet as we know it. As technology reshaped media, CBC TV has tried to be all things to all Canadians.
And it has failed.
Read the full story.
It would be darker than any show currently on the network.
People inside will tell you that, from day to day, marching orders change, priorities shift and budgetary restraints are slapped on and off like rusty handcuffs. Outsiders who deal with the broadcaster will tell you that, on any given day, the CBC appears to be quite good at one thing: internal confusion.
The Broadcasting Act, which guides the CBC, was last amended in 1991.
There were no DVDs, PVRs, on-demand video, satellite radio, content streams, smartphones, tablets, Apple TV, YouTube, Pandora, Netflix, Amazon or even the Internet as we know it. As technology reshaped media, CBC TV has tried to be all things to all Canadians.
And it has failed.
Read the full story.
Exposed- CBC Pension Plan Surplus
Excerpts from the 2014 CBC Pension Plan Annual Report
Net Assets have increased again this year to $6.16 billion at December 31, 2014 (2013: $5.34 billion);
The Going Concern surplus is $1.5 billion (2013: $849 million) and results in a Going Concern funding ratio of 132% (2013: 119%);
The Plan’s ratio of assets to liabilities on a going concern basis increased substantially during the year and ended the year at 132%. More simply put, the Plan had approximately $1.32 of assets for each dollar of pension plan obligations. The Plan’s positive going concern funding status indicates the financial strength of the Plan and its ability to fulfill its pension obligations on a going concern basis. The going concern basis assumes that the Plan will continue to operate and achieve its long term assumed rates of return. The increase in the going concern funding ratio was achieved while the Plan continued to pay out $274 million of pension payments to retirees and surviving spouses during the year.
Read the full report here.
Net Assets have increased again this year to $6.16 billion at December 31, 2014 (2013: $5.34 billion);
The Going Concern surplus is $1.5 billion (2013: $849 million) and results in a Going Concern funding ratio of 132% (2013: 119%);
The Plan’s ratio of assets to liabilities on a going concern basis increased substantially during the year and ended the year at 132%. More simply put, the Plan had approximately $1.32 of assets for each dollar of pension plan obligations. The Plan’s positive going concern funding status indicates the financial strength of the Plan and its ability to fulfill its pension obligations on a going concern basis. The going concern basis assumes that the Plan will continue to operate and achieve its long term assumed rates of return. The increase in the going concern funding ratio was achieved while the Plan continued to pay out $274 million of pension payments to retirees and surviving spouses during the year.
Read the full report here.
CBC Ombudsman - Amanda Lang Violated CBC Policy
The complainant, Rod Murphy, was one of many people who expressed concern about a conflict of interest when senior business correspondent Amanda Lang interviewed the CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada, because of her personal involvement with a board member, and because she had spoken at events partly sponsored by RBC. I found that there was a violation of conflict of interest policy because of the personal connection.
You were one of 67 people who wrote to express concern about the involvement of CBC News’s senior business correspondent, Amanda Lang, in the coverage of a story involving the Royal Bank of Canada, its use of foreign workers and outsourcing of work.
There were allegations that Ms. Lang had attempted to “sabotage” the story and prevent it from going to air. There were accusations of conflict of interest because Ms. Lang had been paid to speak at events which were sponsored by RBC. It was also subsequently revealed that Ms. Lang is in a relationship with a member of the board of RBC. You and many others thought that Ms. Lang was in a conflict of interest when she involved herself with the stories, and was wrong not to reveal her personal relationship with a RBC board member when she interviewed Gordon Nixon, the CEO of Royal Bank, to get his response to the CBC stories about his bank’s practices concerning the use of foreign workers and outsourcing.
CBC policy was violated in the case of Ms. Lang’s involvement in the coverage of RBC.
Read the full story.
You were one of 67 people who wrote to express concern about the involvement of CBC News’s senior business correspondent, Amanda Lang, in the coverage of a story involving the Royal Bank of Canada, its use of foreign workers and outsourcing of work.
There were allegations that Ms. Lang had attempted to “sabotage” the story and prevent it from going to air. There were accusations of conflict of interest because Ms. Lang had been paid to speak at events which were sponsored by RBC. It was also subsequently revealed that Ms. Lang is in a relationship with a member of the board of RBC. You and many others thought that Ms. Lang was in a conflict of interest when she involved herself with the stories, and was wrong not to reveal her personal relationship with a RBC board member when she interviewed Gordon Nixon, the CEO of Royal Bank, to get his response to the CBC stories about his bank’s practices concerning the use of foreign workers and outsourcing.
CBC policy was violated in the case of Ms. Lang’s involvement in the coverage of RBC.
Read the full story.
Exposed - CBC Policy Violated
The complainant, Sherry Currie, owns a travel agency in New Brunswick. Her service was the subject of a story because it took over six months to provide a refund to a client for a cancelled trip. The facts of the story were correct but CBC News in Halifax did not wait long enough to get Ms. Currie’s side of the story. The more it is a matter of reputation, the more the effort needed to get the other side.
You had several objections to this story. You wrote that the reporter, Yvonne Colbert, had attempted to reach you by email on March 25, informing you that the story would run that evening. You said you were on the road and not able to check your messages and you were not given a sufficient amount of time to get in touch to give your version of events.
I appreciate the pressure of deadlines in daily news coverage, but there was nothing that would have been lost waiting longer for a response. The information you provided would have certainly contributed to the “fairness and completeness of the story.” Fairness is one of the core values listed in CBC News Journalistic Standards and Practices. In this regard, the story violated CBC policy.
The lack of clarity undermines the accuracy and fairness of the story. Getting it right and providing fair coverage trumps deadlines.
Read the full report.
You had several objections to this story. You wrote that the reporter, Yvonne Colbert, had attempted to reach you by email on March 25, informing you that the story would run that evening. You said you were on the road and not able to check your messages and you were not given a sufficient amount of time to get in touch to give your version of events.
I appreciate the pressure of deadlines in daily news coverage, but there was nothing that would have been lost waiting longer for a response. The information you provided would have certainly contributed to the “fairness and completeness of the story.” Fairness is one of the core values listed in CBC News Journalistic Standards and Practices. In this regard, the story violated CBC policy.
The lack of clarity undermines the accuracy and fairness of the story. Getting it right and providing fair coverage trumps deadlines.
Read the full report.
Conflicting stories on the CBC in Crisis
CEO Hubert Lacroix says the CBC has healthy ratings, but is crippled by a broken funding model.
Read the full story here.
CBC TV has an audience crisis, according to the most recent data released by CBC. The metrics CBC uses to measure performance run the gamut from content percentages to revenues obtained from advertising and other sources. One needs to be an expert in audience measurement to work their way through this maze of information. I doubt that many CBC Board members or senior managers understand or could explain it all.
Read the full story here.
Is there a crisis? YOU be the judge!
Read the full story here.
CBC TV has an audience crisis, according to the most recent data released by CBC. The metrics CBC uses to measure performance run the gamut from content percentages to revenues obtained from advertising and other sources. One needs to be an expert in audience measurement to work their way through this maze of information. I doubt that many CBC Board members or senior managers understand or could explain it all.
Read the full story here.
Is there a crisis? YOU be the judge!
CBC President Hubert Lacroix loses confidence of Canadian Media Guild
Today, after much consideration and discussion, the Canadian Media Guild took the unprecedented step of publicly declaring our lack of confidence in the CBC/Radio-Canada President and Board of Directors.
Mr. Lacroix and the CBC/Radio-Canada Board’s failure to step-up has broken our confidence in their ability to lead Canada’s largest journalistic organization and national public broadcaster.
Read the full story.
Mr. Lacroix and the CBC/Radio-Canada Board’s failure to step-up has broken our confidence in their ability to lead Canada’s largest journalistic organization and national public broadcaster.
Read the full story.
Union demands CBC President Hubert Lacroix step down
The two main unions representing CBC workers are demanding that president and CEO Hubert Lacroix and the board of directors step down for failing to defend public broadcasting.
"We all as Canadians have to think again about what we want at the CBC," Isabelle Montpetit, president of the union representing employees at Radio-Canada, CBC's French service, tells As it Happens host Carol Off. Montpetit's union, Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), is asking its members to sign a petition calling for these resignations.
Both Lacroix and the board of directors were appointed by the outgoing Conservative government. Montpetit accuses Lacroix of failing to defend the public broadcaster in his years as president.
Read the full story.
"We all as Canadians have to think again about what we want at the CBC," Isabelle Montpetit, president of the union representing employees at Radio-Canada, CBC's French service, tells As it Happens host Carol Off. Montpetit's union, Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC), is asking its members to sign a petition calling for these resignations.
Both Lacroix and the board of directors were appointed by the outgoing Conservative government. Montpetit accuses Lacroix of failing to defend the public broadcaster in his years as president.
Read the full story.
Another CBC Executive harassment allegation
A top CBC official who called for a more respectful workplace has apologized for her own behaviour to one of her senior staff.
Heather Conway, executive vice-president of English Services for the public broadcaster, was recently accused of harassing Neil McEneaney, sources told the Star.
In the wake of McEneaney’s informal complaint, CBC has hired an outside firm to conduct a review of the conduct of senior managers including Conway.
Read the full story.
Heather Conway, executive vice-president of English Services for the public broadcaster, was recently accused of harassing Neil McEneaney, sources told the Star.
In the wake of McEneaney’s informal complaint, CBC has hired an outside firm to conduct a review of the conduct of senior managers including Conway.
Read the full story.
CBC Gives Platform To Claim of Israeli Terrorism
CBC Gives Platform to Palestinian Organization’s Claim that Israel is Carrying Out ISIS Like Terror Attacks.
Yesterday, CBC News’ website abhorrently gave a platform to a press release issued by the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) which claimed that Israel is carrying out terror attacks in the same vein as ISIS’ recent massacres in Paris and in Beirut.
In this disgraceful attempt at drawing a moral equivalence and lumping Israel in with the scourge of radical Islam perpetrated by ISIS, CPAM claimed Israel committed “terror” in a raid on a Palestinian hospital. What CBCNews.ca failed to report and which we called on their editors to address in a complaint sent yesterday, is that the individual who was “dragged away”, as the CBC put it, was a Palestinian terrorist who Israel claims had stabbed an Israeli civilian and who was recuperating and hiding in this hospital. Furthermore, the 28-year-old man who was “shot dead” at the hospital was a known Hamas operative who Israel claims had attacked its soldiers who were acting in self-defence. This individual was, according to the Canadian government, a terrorist. CBC ignored all this vital context.
Furthermore, it was equally troubling that Israeli security forces where referred to by the CBC only as “two dozen Israeli gunmen” – as if they were random individuals who carried out a terror attack against Palestinians at a hospital. Would CBC ever dare label RCMP officers carrying out an arrest raid solely as “Toronto gunmen”? We think not.
Read the full story.
Yesterday, CBC News’ website abhorrently gave a platform to a press release issued by the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) which claimed that Israel is carrying out terror attacks in the same vein as ISIS’ recent massacres in Paris and in Beirut.
In this disgraceful attempt at drawing a moral equivalence and lumping Israel in with the scourge of radical Islam perpetrated by ISIS, CPAM claimed Israel committed “terror” in a raid on a Palestinian hospital. What CBCNews.ca failed to report and which we called on their editors to address in a complaint sent yesterday, is that the individual who was “dragged away”, as the CBC put it, was a Palestinian terrorist who Israel claims had stabbed an Israeli civilian and who was recuperating and hiding in this hospital. Furthermore, the 28-year-old man who was “shot dead” at the hospital was a known Hamas operative who Israel claims had attacked its soldiers who were acting in self-defence. This individual was, according to the Canadian government, a terrorist. CBC ignored all this vital context.
Furthermore, it was equally troubling that Israeli security forces where referred to by the CBC only as “two dozen Israeli gunmen” – as if they were random individuals who carried out a terror attack against Palestinians at a hospital. Would CBC ever dare label RCMP officers carrying out an arrest raid solely as “Toronto gunmen”? We think not.
Read the full story.
BBC to Cut $228 Million from Costs
The U.K. publicly-funded broadcaster BBC has set out details of how it plans to cut £150 million ($228 million) from its costs to plug a hole in its finances.
The shortfall has arisen because fewer people are buying the U.K. television license, which is the main source of funding for the broadcaster.
About £50 million ($76.1 million) will be saved by cutting the number of corporate divisions and senior management positions. Also, there will be fewer layers between the top and bottom of the organization.
The BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “The BBC has and is doing everything possible to make sure the impact on the public is minimized. Wherever possible we’re targeting savings by creating a simpler, leaner BBC.
Read the full story here.
Note to CBC - saving millions by cutting senior management positions?
The shortfall has arisen because fewer people are buying the U.K. television license, which is the main source of funding for the broadcaster.
About £50 million ($76.1 million) will be saved by cutting the number of corporate divisions and senior management positions. Also, there will be fewer layers between the top and bottom of the organization.
The BBC director-general Tony Hall said: “The BBC has and is doing everything possible to make sure the impact on the public is minimized. Wherever possible we’re targeting savings by creating a simpler, leaner BBC.
Read the full story here.
Note to CBC - saving millions by cutting senior management positions?
Exposed - CBC TV in Crisis
CBC’s Audience Crisis: CBC TV Audience is Down 40%, Lowest in History.
CBC TV has an audience crisis, according to the most recent data released by CBC. CBC is required by the government to report on its financial and audience performance on a quarterly basis. Quarterly reporting began in 2011-12. Reports are issued for the first three quarters of the year and the annual report presents results for the full year.
The prime time share of CBC TV is reported as 5.3% at the mid-point of the TV season. This is a loss of over 40% compared to the 9.3% share in 2010-11.
Worth noting: CBC radio’s share is now three times larger than the audience share of CBC TV.
There has been some public debate about whether or not CBC is in crisis. The CBC’s latest report confirms that many programs on the main TV service, despite efforts to be more “popular,” have fallen to audience levels not much greater than many specialty channels.
Those who deny the crisis fail to realize that Canadians prefer Duck Dynasty to most CBC shows, including the national news.
Read the full story.
CBC TV has an audience crisis, according to the most recent data released by CBC. CBC is required by the government to report on its financial and audience performance on a quarterly basis. Quarterly reporting began in 2011-12. Reports are issued for the first three quarters of the year and the annual report presents results for the full year.
The prime time share of CBC TV is reported as 5.3% at the mid-point of the TV season. This is a loss of over 40% compared to the 9.3% share in 2010-11.
Worth noting: CBC radio’s share is now three times larger than the audience share of CBC TV.
There has been some public debate about whether or not CBC is in crisis. The CBC’s latest report confirms that many programs on the main TV service, despite efforts to be more “popular,” have fallen to audience levels not much greater than many specialty channels.
Those who deny the crisis fail to realize that Canadians prefer Duck Dynasty to most CBC shows, including the national news.
Read the full story.
CBC ratings slip again
Despite much finger-crossing at CBC Television, its new reality show The One: Making a Music Star continued its dismal showing on the public airwaves. Viewership plunged further during the second week of the George Stroumboulopoulos-hosted show to 150,000 on Tuesday night, compared with 236,000 viewers it drew from 9 to 11 the previous week.
The ratings winner of the musical-talent showdown Tuesday night was CTV's Canadian Idol (with 1.65-million viewers), while Global's Rock Star: Supernova delivered 1.28-million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Industry watchers say CBC -- which simulcasts The One with ABC -- basically has three choices: cancel it, move it, or tough it out.
Read the full story.
The ratings winner of the musical-talent showdown Tuesday night was CTV's Canadian Idol (with 1.65-million viewers), while Global's Rock Star: Supernova delivered 1.28-million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Industry watchers say CBC -- which simulcasts The One with ABC -- basically has three choices: cancel it, move it, or tough it out.
Read the full story.
CBC Peter Mansbridge Secret relationship
Why did Peter Mansbridge keep his relationship with top Trudeau Liberals a secret?
Like the fact that Mansbridge jetted to Italy to preside over the luxury wedding of Kate Purchase, Justin Trudeau’s director of communications, to Perry Tsergas, another top Liberal operative?
And why was Kate Purchase’s father, Bruce Anderson, allowed to have a seat on Mansbridge’s exclusive “At Issue” TV panel for years — even though he was in an obvious conflict of interest?
What other private dealings does Mansbridge have with the ruling Liberal Party that he hasn’t disclosed?
This is a shocking story.
But it has been virtually ignored by the mainstream media. Imagine their national freak-out if a top CBC journalist had a personal relationship with Stephen Harper’s communications director — and put his father on a CBC panel. What a double-standard!
How can the CBC even pretend to be independent and unbiased now?
Read the full story.
Like the fact that Mansbridge jetted to Italy to preside over the luxury wedding of Kate Purchase, Justin Trudeau’s director of communications, to Perry Tsergas, another top Liberal operative?
And why was Kate Purchase’s father, Bruce Anderson, allowed to have a seat on Mansbridge’s exclusive “At Issue” TV panel for years — even though he was in an obvious conflict of interest?
What other private dealings does Mansbridge have with the ruling Liberal Party that he hasn’t disclosed?
This is a shocking story.
But it has been virtually ignored by the mainstream media. Imagine their national freak-out if a top CBC journalist had a personal relationship with Stephen Harper’s communications director — and put his father on a CBC panel. What a double-standard!
How can the CBC even pretend to be independent and unbiased now?
Read the full story.
CBC President Hubert Lacroix steps over the line
No doubt for the people working for the federal government over the past 10 years, things have been difficult at times.
But the government was duly elected and the responsibility of public servants is to follow through on the path Canadians have chosen. If you don’t like it, you deal with it quietly.
Hubert Lacroix, the president of the CBC, stepped way over the mark when he lamented the Harper years and welcomed the new government.
“It’s been a tough time for us over the last years: shrinking resources, perhaps not the kind of connection with the government that you would like a public broadcaster to have,” Lacroix said. “Now we have a government that wants to engage in these conversations, a government that has said great things about the broadcaster. It has been a long time for me in this chair waiting for this moment. I finally have a person that wants to talk to us and has an interest in this future.”
Lacroix’s public comments were unbecoming of the head of a Crown corporation. Even if the government isn’t saying “great things” about you, the head of the CBC should simply do his job as effectively as possible and address any concerns privately. If another party promises more money, rise above rubbing your hands with gratuitous delight when it gets elected. That’s especially important because the CBC doesn’t just report to the government; it’s a media organization that reports on it.
Read the full story.
But the government was duly elected and the responsibility of public servants is to follow through on the path Canadians have chosen. If you don’t like it, you deal with it quietly.
Hubert Lacroix, the president of the CBC, stepped way over the mark when he lamented the Harper years and welcomed the new government.
“It’s been a tough time for us over the last years: shrinking resources, perhaps not the kind of connection with the government that you would like a public broadcaster to have,” Lacroix said. “Now we have a government that wants to engage in these conversations, a government that has said great things about the broadcaster. It has been a long time for me in this chair waiting for this moment. I finally have a person that wants to talk to us and has an interest in this future.”
Lacroix’s public comments were unbecoming of the head of a Crown corporation. Even if the government isn’t saying “great things” about you, the head of the CBC should simply do his job as effectively as possible and address any concerns privately. If another party promises more money, rise above rubbing your hands with gratuitous delight when it gets elected. That’s especially important because the CBC doesn’t just report to the government; it’s a media organization that reports on it.
Read the full story.
CBC is not the public’s broadcaster
CBC reporters and producers affirming their assumed superiority by churning out a constant stream of intellectual bigotry.
With the CBC’s TV ratings down 40% to a specialty channel-like 5% share of viewers even before it lost its NHL contract, according to Canadian Media Research, it’s worth asking again what has gone wrong with the Mother Corp and what should be done about it? The answer to the first question is that it no longer represents ordinary Canadians to themselves in a way they like or even recognize.
Someone recently observed that the CBC is not about Canadian programming but programming Canadians to its enlightened view of how the world should work.
Read the full story.
With the CBC’s TV ratings down 40% to a specialty channel-like 5% share of viewers even before it lost its NHL contract, according to Canadian Media Research, it’s worth asking again what has gone wrong with the Mother Corp and what should be done about it? The answer to the first question is that it no longer represents ordinary Canadians to themselves in a way they like or even recognize.
Someone recently observed that the CBC is not about Canadian programming but programming Canadians to its enlightened view of how the world should work.
Read the full story.
Exposed - Liberal Record on CBC
Note: this is a Press Release from the "Friends of Canadian Broadcasting" dated Oct 31, 2000
______________________________
Jean Chrétien’s Liberals may be set to offer Canadians election goodies to improve CBC, but can we count on them to deliver? Their record gives cause for doubt.
This will not be the first time Mr. Chrétien has made big promises about CBC. During the 1993 election, seven years ago, almost to the day, Mr. Chrétien promised a Liberal government would provide CBC long term stable funding. The now famous Liberal Red Book contained this empty commitment:
“A Liberal government will be committed to stable, multiyear financing for national cultural institutions such as the Canada Council and the CBC”.
After winning a majority government in 1993, the Liberals went to work on the CBC. During the next four years CBC’s budget was cut faster and deeper than any most other departments or agencies of government. When the dust had settled by 1997, CBC funding had been cut by more than $400 million – or about 33%. The Liberals' post-election cuts to CBC even exceeded the Reform Party’s 1993 campaign promise to cut $365 million from CBC.
During the 1997 election, Liberal policy again cited the important nation-building role of CBC and called for stable funding. The Liberals once again promised stable CBC funding, but not before cutting its budget again. These cuts took the form of eliminating CBC’s guaranteed access to the publicly financed Canadian Television Fund, a move that cost CBC a further $26 million per year.
Read the full release here.
______________________________
Jean Chrétien’s Liberals may be set to offer Canadians election goodies to improve CBC, but can we count on them to deliver? Their record gives cause for doubt.
This will not be the first time Mr. Chrétien has made big promises about CBC. During the 1993 election, seven years ago, almost to the day, Mr. Chrétien promised a Liberal government would provide CBC long term stable funding. The now famous Liberal Red Book contained this empty commitment:
“A Liberal government will be committed to stable, multiyear financing for national cultural institutions such as the Canada Council and the CBC”.
After winning a majority government in 1993, the Liberals went to work on the CBC. During the next four years CBC’s budget was cut faster and deeper than any most other departments or agencies of government. When the dust had settled by 1997, CBC funding had been cut by more than $400 million – or about 33%. The Liberals' post-election cuts to CBC even exceeded the Reform Party’s 1993 campaign promise to cut $365 million from CBC.
During the 1997 election, Liberal policy again cited the important nation-building role of CBC and called for stable funding. The Liberals once again promised stable CBC funding, but not before cutting its budget again. These cuts took the form of eliminating CBC’s guaranteed access to the publicly financed Canadian Television Fund, a move that cost CBC a further $26 million per year.
Read the full release here.
CBC president Hubert Lacroix - System Is Broken
In a heated town hall with employees, CBC president Hubert Lacroix faced calls to resign. He said the broadcaster must transform itself from a “producer to a multi-platform broadcaster” in order to stay afloat.
He said that advertising revenues have shifted to global players like Facebook and Google and financial support for public broadcasters has decreased. Even conventional private broadcasters are not profitable, he said.
“The system is broken,” he said. “Meantime, as these shifts are happening, large numbers continue to watch television and listen to radio in traditional ways. In fact, Canadians on average are watching more television, not less.
Read the full story.
CBC EXECUTIVE SUITE ESCAPES CUTS
The cuts at CBC did nothing to the overpaid and talent depleted executive suite at the broadcaster. Clearly, Herbert Lacroix has been asleep at the wheel.
CBC has refused to show where the money goes for years, all top “celebrity” contract’s are hidden from public view, for “privacy” reasons naturally.
Lacroix is destroying a publicly funded institution in public, while Mansbridge, Stephen and Chris et all all enriched far beyond the level of pay they ever would receive “privately” with public funds.
Beyond the terrible corporate performance, Herbert was found in audits for double dipping living expenses for years for 40,000.00 dollars. He reluctantly paid the money back and the corporation considers the matter closed. Herbert circumstances were identical to Mike Duffy except there was no CBC coverage of the CEO of CBC Herbert.
Read the full story.
CBC has refused to show where the money goes for years, all top “celebrity” contract’s are hidden from public view, for “privacy” reasons naturally.
Lacroix is destroying a publicly funded institution in public, while Mansbridge, Stephen and Chris et all all enriched far beyond the level of pay they ever would receive “privately” with public funds.
Beyond the terrible corporate performance, Herbert was found in audits for double dipping living expenses for years for 40,000.00 dollars. He reluctantly paid the money back and the corporation considers the matter closed. Herbert circumstances were identical to Mike Duffy except there was no CBC coverage of the CEO of CBC Herbert.
Read the full story.
CBC Looking at Household Fee?
CEO Hubert Lacroix says the CBC has healthy ratings, but is crippled by a broken funding model.
“It’s not about a lack of audience,” he said after the CBC’s annual general meeting in Winnipeg on Tuesday. “It’s about a broken finance model that doesn’t work, that used to be built on advertising revenues supporting a drop in parliamentary appropriations. In this environment, it doesn’t work anymore.”
The 2012 federal budget cut CBC’s funding by $115 million over three years. Last year, the broadcaster said it faced a $130-million shortfall — compounded by the loss of broadcast rights to NHL games — and was cutting 657 jobs.
Germany has a household fee, which others are interested in adopting as people increasingly turn to digital platforms, Lacroix said.
“People are no longer buying television sets. We should have a conversation about what’s the best funding model for us. We can’t continue in this environment.”
The CBC plans to focus on its digital platform and has a goal of doubling its users to 18 million a month by 2020, he told the meeting.
Read the full story.
“It’s not about a lack of audience,” he said after the CBC’s annual general meeting in Winnipeg on Tuesday. “It’s about a broken finance model that doesn’t work, that used to be built on advertising revenues supporting a drop in parliamentary appropriations. In this environment, it doesn’t work anymore.”
The 2012 federal budget cut CBC’s funding by $115 million over three years. Last year, the broadcaster said it faced a $130-million shortfall — compounded by the loss of broadcast rights to NHL games — and was cutting 657 jobs.
Germany has a household fee, which others are interested in adopting as people increasingly turn to digital platforms, Lacroix said.
“People are no longer buying television sets. We should have a conversation about what’s the best funding model for us. We can’t continue in this environment.”
The CBC plans to focus on its digital platform and has a goal of doubling its users to 18 million a month by 2020, he told the meeting.
Read the full story.
CBC strategy completely incoherent
A former top executive with Canada’s public broadcaster says the organization’s strategy is “completely incoherent,” a result of a lack of focus in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s mandate.
The lack of focus means it’s impossible to hold the CBC to account, said Richard Stursberg, former head of CBC English broadcasting.
“It tries to do a little of this, a little of that to try and satisfy all these different constituencies … its strategy is ultimately, completely incoherent,” Stursberg told a Senate committee Tuesday. “You can’t hold the CBC to account when there’s no consensus on what it’s trying to do.”
This fiscal year, the CBC will receive almost $1.04-billion dollars of public money, according to the main estimates.
Read the full story.
The lack of focus means it’s impossible to hold the CBC to account, said Richard Stursberg, former head of CBC English broadcasting.
“It tries to do a little of this, a little of that to try and satisfy all these different constituencies … its strategy is ultimately, completely incoherent,” Stursberg told a Senate committee Tuesday. “You can’t hold the CBC to account when there’s no consensus on what it’s trying to do.”
This fiscal year, the CBC will receive almost $1.04-billion dollars of public money, according to the main estimates.
Read the full story.
CBC Employees make more than Prime Minister
Note from Wikipedia - Canadian Prime Minister's annual salary of CA$163,700. (A prime minister additionally earns the normal salary of a Member of Parliament: $163,700.) - total of $327,400.00
____________________
Four employees involved in CBC broadcasts earn more than $300,000 a year, taking home on average about $485,667 annually in total compensation. But the public broadcaster won’t identify who they are.
The numbers are contained in a document sent to a Senate committee that is studying the challenges facing the CBC. The document includes the salary ranges and total compensation ranges for upper management, as well as how much those executives could earn in the private sector.
See more plus salary disclosures here.
____________________
Four employees involved in CBC broadcasts earn more than $300,000 a year, taking home on average about $485,667 annually in total compensation. But the public broadcaster won’t identify who they are.
The numbers are contained in a document sent to a Senate committee that is studying the challenges facing the CBC. The document includes the salary ranges and total compensation ranges for upper management, as well as how much those executives could earn in the private sector.
See more plus salary disclosures here.
Canadian Media Guild Loses Confidence in Hubert Lacroix
After much consideration and discussion, the Canadian Media Guild took the unprecedented step of publicly declaring a lack of confidence in the CBC/Radio-Canada President and Board of Directors.
We join with our colleagues represented by the SCRC (the union that represents 3,000 Radio-Canada employees in Québec and New Brunswick) to ask for an end to the leadership of a team that is implementing a plan to weaken the public broadcaster, and that has lost our confidence.
Six months ago, we asked Hubert Lacroix to be honest with Canadians about the crisis at CBC/Radio-Canada, and to publicly fight for the funding necessary to continue creating original Canadian programs and deliver quality news in communities across the country.
Read the full story.
We join with our colleagues represented by the SCRC (the union that represents 3,000 Radio-Canada employees in Québec and New Brunswick) to ask for an end to the leadership of a team that is implementing a plan to weaken the public broadcaster, and that has lost our confidence.
Six months ago, we asked Hubert Lacroix to be honest with Canadians about the crisis at CBC/Radio-Canada, and to publicly fight for the funding necessary to continue creating original Canadian programs and deliver quality news in communities across the country.
Read the full story.
Calls for CBC President Hubert Lacroix to step down growing
Despite the incoming Liberal government’s vow to reverse funding reductions to the CBC, the broadcaster’s top brass are still planning layoffs and production cuts, two unions that represent CBC/Radio-Canada employees say.
The Canadian Media Guild, which represents CBC workers, and the SCRC, which represents Radio-Canada workers, issued a statement Thursday calling for CBC President Hubert Lacroix and the entire board of directors to step down.
Instead of fighting for a strong CBC/Radio-Canada, accessible on different platforms, they have announced that even if the funding is restored, they will continue with the plan to diminish CBC/Radio-Canada,” the unions said in a statement.
Read the full story.
The Canadian Media Guild, which represents CBC workers, and the SCRC, which represents Radio-Canada workers, issued a statement Thursday calling for CBC President Hubert Lacroix and the entire board of directors to step down.
Instead of fighting for a strong CBC/Radio-Canada, accessible on different platforms, they have announced that even if the funding is restored, they will continue with the plan to diminish CBC/Radio-Canada,” the unions said in a statement.
Read the full story.
CBC Employees say CBC boss Hubert Lacroix must go
A petition among CBC and Radio-Canada employees says president Hubert Lacroix and board of directors “no longer have legitimacy.”
The two unions representing the vast majority of CBC and Radio-Canada employees across the country are calling for president and CEO Hubert Lacroix and the board of directors to step down, citing a lack of confidence in their leadership.
The unions say that while the incoming Liberal government has promised to reinvest in CBC/Radio-Canada, top brass at the public broadcaster still intend to move forward with cuts to staffing and production.
Lacroix, who was reappointed to a second five-year term in 2012, was not made available for an interview. Rémi Racine, chair of the 12-member board, did not return a request for comment.
Read the full story.
The two unions representing the vast majority of CBC and Radio-Canada employees across the country are calling for president and CEO Hubert Lacroix and the board of directors to step down, citing a lack of confidence in their leadership.
The unions say that while the incoming Liberal government has promised to reinvest in CBC/Radio-Canada, top brass at the public broadcaster still intend to move forward with cuts to staffing and production.
Lacroix, who was reappointed to a second five-year term in 2012, was not made available for an interview. Rémi Racine, chair of the 12-member board, did not return a request for comment.
Read the full story.
Take away from Military to give to CBC
Let's face it, the Liberal Party hasn't been good for Canada's military for a long time so with Trudeau and the Liberals getting ready to take power, I'm concerned.
The Liberals are philosophically opposed to the military which might explain why they'd claim they're scrapping the F-35 to save money while at the same time promising to give the CBC an extra $150M dollars. That has to be more than they would save by scrapping the F-35.
But this is a good demonstration of Liberal priorities in spending millions on a media outlet that will spread their propoganda rather than spending money on the military that will keep all Canadians safe.
See the video and story here.
The Liberals are philosophically opposed to the military which might explain why they'd claim they're scrapping the F-35 to save money while at the same time promising to give the CBC an extra $150M dollars. That has to be more than they would save by scrapping the F-35.
But this is a good demonstration of Liberal priorities in spending millions on a media outlet that will spread their propoganda rather than spending money on the military that will keep all Canadians safe.
See the video and story here.
CBC story falls short of a clear and accessible manner
CBC Ombudsman for English Services:
You wrote that you were concerned that there had been “selective reporting” in an hourly newscast on July 23, 2014. The report concerned statements made by Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at that time. Speaking at an emergency debate of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, she condemned Hamas’s and other armed groups’ indiscriminate firing of missiles into Israel. She also condemned Israel’s attacks that resulted in civilian casualties, which she said violated international humanitarian law “in a manner that could amount to war crimes.”
You questioned why “CBC selectively report(ed) this important story in a manner that incorrectly suggested that one side was accused of possible war crimes.” You attempted to alert the news service of this perceived violation of policy via the programming feedback contact form on the web site, but received no response. You then contacted this office.
Your complaint raises the question of balance and accuracy.
The way the story is written and the way it is delivered falls short of a “clear and accessible manner.”
CBC management might want to review this newscast for lessons it might teach about clarity of writing.
Read the full story.
You wrote that you were concerned that there had been “selective reporting” in an hourly newscast on July 23, 2014. The report concerned statements made by Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at that time. Speaking at an emergency debate of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, she condemned Hamas’s and other armed groups’ indiscriminate firing of missiles into Israel. She also condemned Israel’s attacks that resulted in civilian casualties, which she said violated international humanitarian law “in a manner that could amount to war crimes.”
You questioned why “CBC selectively report(ed) this important story in a manner that incorrectly suggested that one side was accused of possible war crimes.” You attempted to alert the news service of this perceived violation of policy via the programming feedback contact form on the web site, but received no response. You then contacted this office.
Your complaint raises the question of balance and accuracy.
The way the story is written and the way it is delivered falls short of a “clear and accessible manner.”
CBC management might want to review this newscast for lessons it might teach about clarity of writing.
Read the full story.
The CBC has lost its identity
Regionally, CBC has clearly shown it is struggling with a 90-minute television newscast. It obviously does not have the resources, hence the endless repetitiveness of the same story throughout the newscast and multiple weather forecasts.
Communications and broadcasting have changed a great deal since the CBC was originally created and its current mandate should be reviewed. The Internet and new media are with us and the CBC has jumped into it. But should they? Does its current mandate permit this under the Broadcasting Act? Is this a role for the public broadcaster?
If the CBC believes new media is what public broadcasting should be, its whole structure has to be analyzed because what is required for “old” media will not be the same for new media.
The CBC has lost its identity. Canadians can lead the way and provide a new identity by having a public debate on public broadcasting in Canada.
Read the full story.
Communications and broadcasting have changed a great deal since the CBC was originally created and its current mandate should be reviewed. The Internet and new media are with us and the CBC has jumped into it. But should they? Does its current mandate permit this under the Broadcasting Act? Is this a role for the public broadcaster?
If the CBC believes new media is what public broadcasting should be, its whole structure has to be analyzed because what is required for “old” media will not be the same for new media.
The CBC has lost its identity. Canadians can lead the way and provide a new identity by having a public debate on public broadcasting in Canada.
Read the full story.
CBC misreading the law
While disagreement over CBC funding is as old as the broadcaster itself, the more uncomfortable discussion for the CBC is its coverage of the current election campaign - particularly its approach to national debates and political party advertising – which raises troubling questions about its relevance in the current media environment.
The CBC’s odd coverage choices are not limited to the missing debates. Its use of video clips from the debates has also been unnecessarily restrictive. For example, before analyzing the recent Munk debates on the “At Issue” panel, host Peter Mansbridge warned viewers that “we are limited with the excerpts with the amount we are allowed to show.” A similar warning preceded the discussion at other debates.
Yet the reality is that there was no need to be restrictive in the use of video clips. Canadian copyright law permits the use of copyrighted works without permission as part of the fair dealing clause.
In fact, the CBC’s misreading of the law is not limited to the use of clips within its news broadcasts. Just prior to the election call, it asked YouTube and Facebook to remove a Conservative campaign advertisement that used clips from a CBC interview with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. To support its takedown claim, the CBC argued that “no one – no individual candidate or political party, and no government, corporation or NGO – may re-use our creative and copyrighted property without our permission. This includes our brands, our talent and our content.”
That too is wrong. The law features important limitations on the rights of all copyright holders and all media organizations regularly rely on them in their reporting. The limits of copyright extend to campaign commercials and there is little that the CBC (or anyone else) can do about it.
Read the full story.
The CBC’s odd coverage choices are not limited to the missing debates. Its use of video clips from the debates has also been unnecessarily restrictive. For example, before analyzing the recent Munk debates on the “At Issue” panel, host Peter Mansbridge warned viewers that “we are limited with the excerpts with the amount we are allowed to show.” A similar warning preceded the discussion at other debates.
Yet the reality is that there was no need to be restrictive in the use of video clips. Canadian copyright law permits the use of copyrighted works without permission as part of the fair dealing clause.
In fact, the CBC’s misreading of the law is not limited to the use of clips within its news broadcasts. Just prior to the election call, it asked YouTube and Facebook to remove a Conservative campaign advertisement that used clips from a CBC interview with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. To support its takedown claim, the CBC argued that “no one – no individual candidate or political party, and no government, corporation or NGO – may re-use our creative and copyrighted property without our permission. This includes our brands, our talent and our content.”
That too is wrong. The law features important limitations on the rights of all copyright holders and all media organizations regularly rely on them in their reporting. The limits of copyright extend to campaign commercials and there is little that the CBC (or anyone else) can do about it.
Read the full story.
When does NO mean NO to the CBC
The complainant, Chris Miller, said that attempting to interview a Memorial University professor when she had already said no was harassment. He strongly objected to the reporter showing up at the university and interviewing the reluctant subject. CBC policy allows for such interviews, and in this case the policy was followed and the technique justified.
I agree with you it is regrettable and shocking that publicizing the story led to threats and racial comments. That too is an issue of public interest. Journalists are told to minimize harm, and those threats are an unintended consequence. But CBC news staff did not incite those threats nor could they turn away from a story when that ugly side of society reared its head. It is a sad reality that in the age of social media the ability to shame, threaten and harass is an anonymous click away. The response, however, is not to retreat from legitimate journalistic endeavours.
Read the full complaint here and see if you agree with CBC policy.
I agree with you it is regrettable and shocking that publicizing the story led to threats and racial comments. That too is an issue of public interest. Journalists are told to minimize harm, and those threats are an unintended consequence. But CBC news staff did not incite those threats nor could they turn away from a story when that ugly side of society reared its head. It is a sad reality that in the age of social media the ability to shame, threaten and harass is an anonymous click away. The response, however, is not to retreat from legitimate journalistic endeavours.
Read the full complaint here and see if you agree with CBC policy.
Exposed - CBC double standards
Evan Solomon is out at CBC. Given that my views on CBC are well known you would think I’d be happy correct?
No, not really.
If there is more to this story, then neither CBC nor CTV are letting it out, and based on that, I don’t see why Solomon was fired.
He wasn’t being paid to trade political secrets. He wasn’t selling access. He wasn’t padding his expenses.
He was doing something outside of his day job and while he appears to have been paid fairly well, up to $300,000 in commissions, he also struck out often, according to The Star.
Let’s look at how CBC has treated others though, starting with CBC President Hubert Lacroix.
A few years ago, when he found I was about to leak the news about what he'd been doing, he quietly made things right, and kept his job.
And then, of course, there's David Suzuki...
When CBC brought out their new speakers fee policy it clearly did not apply to Suzuki because he continues to take paid gigs.
See the full story and video on The Rebel.
No, not really.
If there is more to this story, then neither CBC nor CTV are letting it out, and based on that, I don’t see why Solomon was fired.
He wasn’t being paid to trade political secrets. He wasn’t selling access. He wasn’t padding his expenses.
He was doing something outside of his day job and while he appears to have been paid fairly well, up to $300,000 in commissions, he also struck out often, according to The Star.
Let’s look at how CBC has treated others though, starting with CBC President Hubert Lacroix.
A few years ago, when he found I was about to leak the news about what he'd been doing, he quietly made things right, and kept his job.
And then, of course, there's David Suzuki...
When CBC brought out their new speakers fee policy it clearly did not apply to Suzuki because he continues to take paid gigs.
See the full story and video on The Rebel.
Exposed - CBC In House Research Challenged
Among its revenue sources the CBC receives $946 million in its annual funding from the federal government, as well as $60 million in “one-time” supplementary funding for programming. However, this supplementary funding has been repeated annually for a number of years. This combined total is just over a billion dollars annually and is a source of heated debate.
CBC’s funding differs from that of the public broadcasters of many European nations, which collect a licence fee, or those in the United States, such as PBS and NPR, which receive some public funding but rely to a large extent on voluntary contributions from individual viewers and listeners.
An Abacus poll from August 2011 showed that approximately one out of two Canadians would like to see the CBC’s funding switched to the PBS/NPR model, while one out of three Canadians want Parliament to sell off or privatize the CBC. This independent survey flies in the face of the CBC’s own in house research claiming 92% of Canadians consider the CBC an essential service which they use to justify their continuously desperate need for more tax dollars.
Read the full story here.
CBC’s funding differs from that of the public broadcasters of many European nations, which collect a licence fee, or those in the United States, such as PBS and NPR, which receive some public funding but rely to a large extent on voluntary contributions from individual viewers and listeners.
An Abacus poll from August 2011 showed that approximately one out of two Canadians would like to see the CBC’s funding switched to the PBS/NPR model, while one out of three Canadians want Parliament to sell off or privatize the CBC. This independent survey flies in the face of the CBC’s own in house research claiming 92% of Canadians consider the CBC an essential service which they use to justify their continuously desperate need for more tax dollars.
Read the full story here.
Exposed - CBC tries to hide its happy face
“A new Liberal government will invest $150 million in new annual funding for the CBC,” said the Liberal leader as the Montreal crowd around him cheered.
Somewhere among the spectators, a CBC reporter or two tried to look nonchalant: It’s always hard to look objective when a politician has just promised to give you millions of dollars.
And while CBC president Hubert Lacroix named no specific party, he was at a public broadcasters’ conference earlier this month arguing that the likes of the CBC needed to reverse the “vicious circle” of funding cuts.
“If we don’t work together to turn this around … we risk becoming so weak that we will no longer be able to provide what our citizens need from each of us and, in turn, it will be harder to justify their investment in us,” he told the Munich gathering.
All of which doesn’t help the usual accusations that the CBC is tainted by political bias.
Read the full story.
Somewhere among the spectators, a CBC reporter or two tried to look nonchalant: It’s always hard to look objective when a politician has just promised to give you millions of dollars.
And while CBC president Hubert Lacroix named no specific party, he was at a public broadcasters’ conference earlier this month arguing that the likes of the CBC needed to reverse the “vicious circle” of funding cuts.
“If we don’t work together to turn this around … we risk becoming so weak that we will no longer be able to provide what our citizens need from each of us and, in turn, it will be harder to justify their investment in us,” he told the Munich gathering.
All of which doesn’t help the usual accusations that the CBC is tainted by political bias.
Read the full story.
Honest Reporting Canada Keeps CBC in Line
Faced with an unrelenting Palestinian terror wave that has seen eight Israelis brutally murdered and dozens maimed, our news media have sympathized with terrorists, downplayed and at times justified their violence, and assigned blame to Israel.
In this crisis, HonestReporting has been working round the clock to ensure that our media report the unvarnished truth about what is actually taking place: How Palestinian incitement has encouraged Palestinian terror.
A recent example of our effectiveness came when CBC News' website turned Palestinian terrorists into victims of supposed Israeli aggression, as seen in the following headline on October 17:
This headline made the guilty party innocent and the innocent party guilty.
HonestReporting Canada pleaded with CBC executives to amend the headline to point out that the 4 dead Palestinians were in fact terrorists who stabbed and tried to murder Israelis. Following our intervention with the CBC, the following amendment was issued which acknowledged, albeit in attribution only, that Israel claims these Palestinians "we're trying to stab them":
This is the impact of HonestReporting and as you can see, our work produces results and our news media are aware that they're being vigilantly watched and are not immune to criticism.
At this time, they need your support to enable their continued efforts. When you give a donation to HonestReporting Canada, you're providing them with the tools they need to expose the lies and to promote the truth.
See more here!
In this crisis, HonestReporting has been working round the clock to ensure that our media report the unvarnished truth about what is actually taking place: How Palestinian incitement has encouraged Palestinian terror.
A recent example of our effectiveness came when CBC News' website turned Palestinian terrorists into victims of supposed Israeli aggression, as seen in the following headline on October 17:
This headline made the guilty party innocent and the innocent party guilty.
HonestReporting Canada pleaded with CBC executives to amend the headline to point out that the 4 dead Palestinians were in fact terrorists who stabbed and tried to murder Israelis. Following our intervention with the CBC, the following amendment was issued which acknowledged, albeit in attribution only, that Israel claims these Palestinians "we're trying to stab them":
This is the impact of HonestReporting and as you can see, our work produces results and our news media are aware that they're being vigilantly watched and are not immune to criticism.
At this time, they need your support to enable their continued efforts. When you give a donation to HonestReporting Canada, you're providing them with the tools they need to expose the lies and to promote the truth.
See more here!
CBC Insolent Election Bias
As Canada’s federal election is less than a month away, the CBC is now a full-fledged left-wing partisan mouthpiece. Canada’s public broadcaster—despite its cute mandate to reflect the views of all Canadians—has devoted itself to mocking Conservative Leader Prime Minister Stephen Harper, all the while lauding and defending Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. (NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair hitherto received tepid coverage, but since polls consistently show him evenly splitting the 60-65 per cent of voters desiring change, he has lately been in the CBC’s crosshairs.)
The Mother Corp’s darling Trudeau is given affectionate Putinesque coverage by our state broadcaster. A minute-long video of Trudeau paddling down the Bow River was inexplicably tweeted by our state broadcaster. No commentary provided—no story to be told—just a rustic scene of a man enjoying the outdoors. The video coincided nicely with junior Trudeau’s pledge to give CBC an additional 150 million dollars to its annual billion dollar federal subsidy.
Conversely, the public broadcaster’s coverage of the CBC-cutting Harper has been marked by juvenile petulance.
Read the full story here.
The Mother Corp’s darling Trudeau is given affectionate Putinesque coverage by our state broadcaster. A minute-long video of Trudeau paddling down the Bow River was inexplicably tweeted by our state broadcaster. No commentary provided—no story to be told—just a rustic scene of a man enjoying the outdoors. The video coincided nicely with junior Trudeau’s pledge to give CBC an additional 150 million dollars to its annual billion dollar federal subsidy.
Conversely, the public broadcaster’s coverage of the CBC-cutting Harper has been marked by juvenile petulance.
Read the full story here.
Exposed - CBC Bias in 2015 Federal Election
CBC bias blatantly obvious during 2015 Federal Election campaign.
With the election campaign in full swing, the blatant bias of the CBC toward their preferred political party is reaching astronomical heights.
From incessant coverage of the Duffy trial, to the constant promotion of the Fin Donnelly lie, the CBC makes no bones about who they think YOU should elect.
$1 Billion a year for the state broadcaster to tell you what to think and who to vote for is abhorrent, dishonest, and should be illegal.
Share this petition with you family and friends, and perhaps this will be the last election that the taxpayer funds a broadcast entity hell bent on influencing the voter.
Full story and petition is here.
With the election campaign in full swing, the blatant bias of the CBC toward their preferred political party is reaching astronomical heights.
From incessant coverage of the Duffy trial, to the constant promotion of the Fin Donnelly lie, the CBC makes no bones about who they think YOU should elect.
$1 Billion a year for the state broadcaster to tell you what to think and who to vote for is abhorrent, dishonest, and should be illegal.
Share this petition with you family and friends, and perhaps this will be the last election that the taxpayer funds a broadcast entity hell bent on influencing the voter.
Full story and petition is here.
Another CBC Journalist Whitewashes Palestinian Terror
We (Honest Reporting Canada) recently took CBC News to task for its website’s failure to report on the recent Palestinian terror attacks.
Not isolated to the CBC’s website, we have serious concerns with the CBC’s reporting of the recent hostilities by way of the coverage produced by reporter Margaret Evans. A former Mideast Bureau Chief, Ms. Evans, who is now back in Jerusalem, produced several television and radio reports which not only whitewashed and excused Palestinian terror, her journalism deligitimized Israel’s right to self defense, and drew a false moral equivalence between Israeli victims and Palestinian perpetrators of terror and their respective families.
In an October 12 CBC National report, Margaret Evans drew a false moral equivalence between Israeli victims of terror and Palestinian perpetrators of terror and their respective families.
Read the full story.
Not isolated to the CBC’s website, we have serious concerns with the CBC’s reporting of the recent hostilities by way of the coverage produced by reporter Margaret Evans. A former Mideast Bureau Chief, Ms. Evans, who is now back in Jerusalem, produced several television and radio reports which not only whitewashed and excused Palestinian terror, her journalism deligitimized Israel’s right to self defense, and drew a false moral equivalence between Israeli victims and Palestinian perpetrators of terror and their respective families.
In an October 12 CBC National report, Margaret Evans drew a false moral equivalence between Israeli victims of terror and Palestinian perpetrators of terror and their respective families.
Read the full story.
CBC news online is glaring exception
It’s said that the most egregious form of media bias, is a bias of omission. When media outlets ignore important news stories and which thereby deprives readers, listeners and viewers of learning about noteworthy developments on a myriad of issues.
The most recent Palestinian terror attacks that killed four Israelis last week — two Israeli men stabbed to death in Jerusalem’s Old City and a Jewish couple gunned down in a drive-by shooting ambush in the “west bank” — in full view of their four now orphaned children, received considerable coverage in the Canadian and international media.
With one glaring exception.
Though CBC News’ Radio and TV programs featured reports about the terror attacks, CBCNews.ca had altogether failed to provide coverage of these attacks.
Read the full story.
The most recent Palestinian terror attacks that killed four Israelis last week — two Israeli men stabbed to death in Jerusalem’s Old City and a Jewish couple gunned down in a drive-by shooting ambush in the “west bank” — in full view of their four now orphaned children, received considerable coverage in the Canadian and international media.
With one glaring exception.
Though CBC News’ Radio and TV programs featured reports about the terror attacks, CBCNews.ca had altogether failed to provide coverage of these attacks.
Read the full story.
CBC cuts nose to spite its face
CBC’s debate coverage approach raises questions about value of public broadcaster
The CBC seems to have cut its nose to spite its face by doing its best to prove its critics right.Hubert Lacroix, president of the CBC, recently placed the future of Canada’s national public broadcaster on the electoral map with comments aimed at sparking a renewed debate on future funding models. Lacroix disputed claims that low ratings are to blame for the CBC’s financial struggles, instead pointing to the need to consider alternative fee schemes, including new levies on internet providers or supplementary charges on television purchases.
Read the full story here.
CBC CEO Hubert Lacroix Political Contrabutions
What do the head of the CBC, a former BlackBerry executive, and the president of The Asper Foundation have in common?
They can all find their names in a database compiled by left-leaning pressure group SumOfUs.org of political appointees who have donated to the Conservative Party.
According to SumOfUs.org campaign director Rosa Kouri, the organization found 356 political appointees who have donated more than $760,000 to the Conservatives’ coffers between 2004 and 2014.
According to the group’s data, the donations range from one-off contributions of $200 to almost $20,000 over 10 years. Some names on their list donated before their appointment, some after.
The data includes names like Hubert Lacroix, the CEO of the CBC, former Blackberry executive turned Sustainable Technology Development Canada Chair Jim Balsillie, and Gail Asper, a trustee at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
Read the full story.
They can all find their names in a database compiled by left-leaning pressure group SumOfUs.org of political appointees who have donated to the Conservative Party.
According to SumOfUs.org campaign director Rosa Kouri, the organization found 356 political appointees who have donated more than $760,000 to the Conservatives’ coffers between 2004 and 2014.
According to the group’s data, the donations range from one-off contributions of $200 to almost $20,000 over 10 years. Some names on their list donated before their appointment, some after.
The data includes names like Hubert Lacroix, the CEO of the CBC, former Blackberry executive turned Sustainable Technology Development Canada Chair Jim Balsillie, and Gail Asper, a trustee at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
Read the full story.
CBC shrugs off election debates
Even as their reporters were proving once again Monday night that CBC journalists are as good as any in the world by winning an international Emmy for coverage of the Ebola outbreak in Africa, CBC’s management was letting them — and the Canadian public — down once again by failing to broadcast yet another leaders’ debate in this election campaign.
Monday’s debate has been universally praised as one of the best campaign debates in more than 50 years. But CBC chose to put Coronation Street on its main network. On its news channel, there was chit chat about commodity prices.
Meanwhile on CPAC — god bless it — Stephen Harper, Thomas Mulcair, and Justin Trudeau engaged in two hours of lively, informative debate about some of the most important foreign policy, defence, and development issues of our time.
The organizers of the debate had offered the broadcast feed free to anyone who wanted to use it. And yet, CBC shrugged.
And so, by campaign’s close, CBC’s sorry record will be broadcasting just one debate out of five, and that was a French language one only offered in translation to its English-language viewers.
Read the full story.
Monday’s debate has been universally praised as one of the best campaign debates in more than 50 years. But CBC chose to put Coronation Street on its main network. On its news channel, there was chit chat about commodity prices.
Meanwhile on CPAC — god bless it — Stephen Harper, Thomas Mulcair, and Justin Trudeau engaged in two hours of lively, informative debate about some of the most important foreign policy, defence, and development issues of our time.
The organizers of the debate had offered the broadcast feed free to anyone who wanted to use it. And yet, CBC shrugged.
And so, by campaign’s close, CBC’s sorry record will be broadcasting just one debate out of five, and that was a French language one only offered in translation to its English-language viewers.
Read the full story.
Time we sell off CBC
CBC’s mandate says “…the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains.”
Wouldn't showing a national federal election debate fit within that mandate?
All three debates should have been broadcast in full on radio and TV across CBC. Instead the debate was shown on TV by CPAC, and by Hamilton’s little independent station CHCH TV, a station that while seen across many parts of Canada doesn’t have the reach that CBC does.
CBC has been acting like petulant child since the Conservatives decided that they wanted a new debate format rather than the one English and one French organized by the consortium of broadcasters.
If CBC can’t be bothered showing something as important as an election debate, why should we subsidize them?
It's time we sell off CBC.
See the video and full text here.
Exposed - CBC failing the public
There’s an old saying in journalism that you should never let yourself become the story. These days the CBC has failed too many times on that front.
The public broadcaster used taxpayer dollars to go to court to fight having to disclose documents to the information commissioner.
The Jian Ghomeshi saga is an HR, PR and management disaster — and that’s not including the alleged harm suffered by his accused.
CEO Hubert Lacroix apologized last year for claiming $30,000 in expenses to which he wasn’t entitled.
For an organization that’s supposed to be dedicated to talking about Canada and Canadians, Canada spends far too much time talking about it.
The CBC continues to fail the people it’s supposed to serve.
Read the full story.
The public broadcaster used taxpayer dollars to go to court to fight having to disclose documents to the information commissioner.
The Jian Ghomeshi saga is an HR, PR and management disaster — and that’s not including the alleged harm suffered by his accused.
CEO Hubert Lacroix apologized last year for claiming $30,000 in expenses to which he wasn’t entitled.
For an organization that’s supposed to be dedicated to talking about Canada and Canadians, Canada spends far too much time talking about it.
The CBC continues to fail the people it’s supposed to serve.
Read the full story.
Former CBC Host pleads not guilty
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| Former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, centre, appears for a pre-trial hearing for his sexual assault case with his lawyer, Marie Henein, second from right, in Toronto, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. (/Michelle Siu / THE CANADIAN PRESS) |
The former host of CBC Radio's cultural affairs show "Q" is facing five charges including four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance, choking.
See more here.
CBC President Hubert Lacroix hitting back
The head of the CBC is hitting back at Conservative Leader Stephen Harper over comments the national broadcaster is floundering because of low ratings rather than a lack of funding.
CEO Hubert Lacroix says the CBC has healthy ratings, but is crippled by a broken funding model.
Harper told a private radio station in Quebec that the CBC's budget crunch isn't due to government cuts, but because of its low ratings.
"The reason for the difficulties aren't the cuts," Harper said in an interview broadcast Monday. "There aren't cuts. The reason is the loss of [CBC's] audience. It's a problem for the CBC to fix."
There is a limit to state subsidies, he added.
Lacroix wouldn't answer when asked whether he thought Harper's comments were fair.
"But I'm going to tell you it's not because of our ratings that we have a problem at CBC-Radio Canada."
Read the full story.
CEO Hubert Lacroix says the CBC has healthy ratings, but is crippled by a broken funding model.
Harper told a private radio station in Quebec that the CBC's budget crunch isn't due to government cuts, but because of its low ratings.
"The reason for the difficulties aren't the cuts," Harper said in an interview broadcast Monday. "There aren't cuts. The reason is the loss of [CBC's] audience. It's a problem for the CBC to fix."
There is a limit to state subsidies, he added.
Lacroix wouldn't answer when asked whether he thought Harper's comments were fair.
"But I'm going to tell you it's not because of our ratings that we have a problem at CBC-Radio Canada."
Read the full story.
CBC Exposed - serious defamation
Leenen v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2000 CanLII 22380 (ON SC)
In February 1996, the defendant CBC aired a one-hour documentary on the fifth estate on a controversial heart medication known as nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker ("CCB").
The plaintiff agreed to be interviewed for the program. When he asked what topics would be discussed, he was told that the interviewer would be interested in his views on the science of CCBs was well-known within the scientific community. He had written an article in which he concluded that there was clear evidence demonstrating short-term nifedipine to be detrimental to patients with coronary artery disease. The article pointed out that the evidence with respect to the longer acting formulation was limited. The plaintiff provided the CBC with a copy of this article. He gave a lengthy interview in which he discussed the science of CCBs. Most of that interview was not used in the program. The general tenor of the program was that an extremely dangerous drug was being prescribed for unsuspecting heart patients and that the plaintiff defended the drug and accepted perks from a pharmaceutical company.
In light of the systematic reporting of one side of the story, the significant omissions of important information which was contrary to the program's thesis, and the deliberate refraining from making inquiries or allowing the plaintiff a fair opportunity to defend himself, the defendants clearly acted maliciously and in bad faith towards the plaintiff.
When the program was broadcast, the plaintiff was a highly respected research scientist and also carried on an active clinical practice. As a scientist, his integrity and credibility were fundamental to his work. His reputation had been earned over many years and was precious. The program struck at the very core of his being in questioning his scientific credibility, his integrity and his commitment. He was shocked and devastated and felt that his reputation for integrity had been destroyed. It was significant that his accuser was the CBC and not a tabloid to which no one would have paid very much attention. The program reached over a million viewers and a further four hundred thousand when it was rebroadcast on Newsworld. Taking into account the seriousness of the defamation, the breadth of the publication and its source, the republication, the standing of the victim and the nature of his reputation at the time of the broadcast, this was as serious a libel as could be imagined.
Read the full judgement here.
In February 1996, the defendant CBC aired a one-hour documentary on the fifth estate on a controversial heart medication known as nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker ("CCB").
The plaintiff agreed to be interviewed for the program. When he asked what topics would be discussed, he was told that the interviewer would be interested in his views on the science of CCBs was well-known within the scientific community. He had written an article in which he concluded that there was clear evidence demonstrating short-term nifedipine to be detrimental to patients with coronary artery disease. The article pointed out that the evidence with respect to the longer acting formulation was limited. The plaintiff provided the CBC with a copy of this article. He gave a lengthy interview in which he discussed the science of CCBs. Most of that interview was not used in the program. The general tenor of the program was that an extremely dangerous drug was being prescribed for unsuspecting heart patients and that the plaintiff defended the drug and accepted perks from a pharmaceutical company.
In light of the systematic reporting of one side of the story, the significant omissions of important information which was contrary to the program's thesis, and the deliberate refraining from making inquiries or allowing the plaintiff a fair opportunity to defend himself, the defendants clearly acted maliciously and in bad faith towards the plaintiff.
When the program was broadcast, the plaintiff was a highly respected research scientist and also carried on an active clinical practice. As a scientist, his integrity and credibility were fundamental to his work. His reputation had been earned over many years and was precious. The program struck at the very core of his being in questioning his scientific credibility, his integrity and his commitment. He was shocked and devastated and felt that his reputation for integrity had been destroyed. It was significant that his accuser was the CBC and not a tabloid to which no one would have paid very much attention. The program reached over a million viewers and a further four hundred thousand when it was rebroadcast on Newsworld. Taking into account the seriousness of the defamation, the breadth of the publication and its source, the republication, the standing of the victim and the nature of his reputation at the time of the broadcast, this was as serious a libel as could be imagined.
Read the full judgement here.
CBC should find new funding options
A Senate committee is calling on Canada's public broadcaster to publicly disclose how much employees make and ensure non-executives aren't getting paid more than their peers in private broadcasting.
The Senate's communications committee is also calling on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to find new ways to fund its operations in order to limit the amount of funding it receives from the federal government.
The committee says it's time to update the Broadcasting Act, noting the legislation hasn't been updated since the "pre-smartphone, pre-multi-platform" era of 1991.
The Senate report also references scandals involving former radio host Jian Ghomeshi and business correspondent Amanda Lang in calling for stricter policies to prevent problems, rather than having to react after they become public.
Read the full story.
The Senate's communications committee is also calling on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. to find new ways to fund its operations in order to limit the amount of funding it receives from the federal government.
The committee says it's time to update the Broadcasting Act, noting the legislation hasn't been updated since the "pre-smartphone, pre-multi-platform" era of 1991.
The Senate report also references scandals involving former radio host Jian Ghomeshi and business correspondent Amanda Lang in calling for stricter policies to prevent problems, rather than having to react after they become public.
Read the full story.
CBC Amanda Lang should resign
Here’s an idea that’s probably going nowhere but let’s try it anyway – CBC’s Amanda Lang could get down off her high horse and resign. Enough with the haughty umbrage.
CBC could help her down from the high horse and achieve some closure on the matter of Lang’s allegedly compromised reporting and interviewing. But that’s another idea that’s going nowhere. CBC’s umbrage is even haughtier than Lang’s. It changed its regulations too late. Barn door closed after the horse left.
Read the full story.
CBC could help her down from the high horse and achieve some closure on the matter of Lang’s allegedly compromised reporting and interviewing. But that’s another idea that’s going nowhere. CBC’s umbrage is even haughtier than Lang’s. It changed its regulations too late. Barn door closed after the horse left.
Read the full story.
Exposed - CBC to sell everything
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada’s financially troubled public broadcaster, has plans to sell all of its properties and buildings across the entire country.
Every single property will be sold – no stone will be left unturned. This includes the Toronto headquarters, Montreal studio, and the recently renovated and expanded Vancouver studio.
If the fire sale plan moves forward, the CBC would have to pay rent for the remainder of its existence – it might provide a short-term reprieve, but it would drastically increase its already tight annual operating budget.
The plan to sell off all of its property across the country is a last-ditch attempt for the broadcaster to save itself.
It is clear that the CBC is putting all cards on the table to save itself: there is nothing to lose.
Read the full story.
Every single property will be sold – no stone will be left unturned. This includes the Toronto headquarters, Montreal studio, and the recently renovated and expanded Vancouver studio.
If the fire sale plan moves forward, the CBC would have to pay rent for the remainder of its existence – it might provide a short-term reprieve, but it would drastically increase its already tight annual operating budget.
The plan to sell off all of its property across the country is a last-ditch attempt for the broadcaster to save itself.
It is clear that the CBC is putting all cards on the table to save itself: there is nothing to lose.
Read the full story.
CBC is promised millions MORE of taxpayer dollars
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| Disclaimer: Photo is not associated with the National Post story below. |
With his ex-broadcaster wife at his side, Justin Trudeau adopted his best “looking into the future” expression and pledged a king’s ransom to Schitt’s Creek and Definitely Not the Opera.
“A new Liberal government will invest $150 million in new annual funding for the CBC,” said the Liberal leader as the Montreal crowd around him cheered.
Somewhere among the spectators, a CBC reporter or two tried to look nonchalant: It’s always hard to look objective when a politician has just promised to give you millions of dollars.
And such is the endless quandary faced by the national broadcaster when covering elections. Unlike CTV, Global or pretty much any other media outlet covering the 2015 election, it is empirically in CBC’s best interest if the Conservatives lose on Oct. 19.
Read the full story National Post story here.
PS - Did you know the CBC now gets over $1 BILLION/year in taxpayer funding already?
CBC Special Examination
Under section 138 of the Financial Administration Act, federal Crown corporations are subject to a special examination once every 10 years. A special examination could be done earlier than the 10-year timeline, as a result of a request by the Office, the Minister, the Board, or the Governor in Council.
A few interesting observations from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Special Examination Report—2013 by Canada's Auditor General:
- We looked at whether CBC/Radio-Canada has a formal security management process in place. We found that although the Corporation has key systems and practices in place, it does not show consistency in the way it handles sensitive information that is normally considered to be classified or protected under federal government policy.
- Frequent movement of senior personnel in People and Culture poses the risk of loss of corporate memory and inconsistency in approaches, including adjustments in strategic plans and attention to performance management. In our view, the lack of consistent management could adversely affect the Corporation’s ability to implement and advance its human resource initiatives.
- Since 2008, the Corporation has had four different human resources strategic plans. It is appropriate to update plans in response to changing conditions. However, the lack of stability regarding strategic direction over a relatively short period increases the risk that the organization spends more time and energy on planning instead of implementing initiatives and moving forward.
Read the full audit here.
Exposed - was NHL a CBC Cash Cow?
The following numbers were taken from the most recent quarterly financial reports as published by the CBC (for the 3 months ended June 30, 2015):
Revenue:
$118,521,000 - same period in 2014 was $192,592,000 ... a decrease of 38.5 %
Excuse: After Rogers acquired the NHL broadcast rights in June 2014, no revenue was generated from hockey playoffs during the first three months of this year, largely contributing to the decrease in English Services’ revenue.
Operating Expenses:
$364,808,000 - same period in 2014 was $469,521,000 ... a decrease of 22.3 %
Reason: English Services incurred rights and production costs related to the hockey playoffs during the first quarter of last year. No such costs were incurred in 2015-2016, as our contract with the NHL ended at the end of June 2014.
Bottom line: There is a whopping 38.5 % decrease in revenue (contributed to loss of NHL) and a corresponding decrease in Operating Expenses of a much lower 22.3 % (again associated with the loss of NHL).
Was the NHL as big a cash cow for the CBC as this indicates? Why sell it?
Read the full report here.
Revenue:
$118,521,000 - same period in 2014 was $192,592,000 ... a decrease of 38.5 %
Excuse: After Rogers acquired the NHL broadcast rights in June 2014, no revenue was generated from hockey playoffs during the first three months of this year, largely contributing to the decrease in English Services’ revenue.
Operating Expenses:
$364,808,000 - same period in 2014 was $469,521,000 ... a decrease of 22.3 %
Reason: English Services incurred rights and production costs related to the hockey playoffs during the first quarter of last year. No such costs were incurred in 2015-2016, as our contract with the NHL ended at the end of June 2014.
Bottom line: There is a whopping 38.5 % decrease in revenue (contributed to loss of NHL) and a corresponding decrease in Operating Expenses of a much lower 22.3 % (again associated with the loss of NHL).
Was the NHL as big a cash cow for the CBC as this indicates? Why sell it?
Read the full report here.
Exposé of CBC Manager Politics
I contacted Mike Fegelman of HonestReporting Canada and he sent me a USB stick with 120 clips from a variety of CBC shows. We spent hours searching YouTube, and several bloggers sent us ideas and video. We spent the whole summer watching, downloading and editing videos, adding titles and subtitles and writing commentary. By the time fall had arrived, we had produced a 50-minute documentary, This Hour Could Have 10,000 Minutes: The Biases of the CBC.
With revenues of $1.9 billion, of which 60 per cent comes from government, the CBC and Radio-Canada maintains more than 100 stations (88 radio and 27 TV). But specialty TV is the fastest growing broadcast category. Internet advertising now exceeds all television advertising. Residential TV subscriber numbers are in decline. A huge fragmentation of audiences is under way. Of the top 100 TV programs in Canada by 2014, only 23 were Canadian-produced and one-third of Anglophone Canadians had embraced Netflix.
The Broadcasting Act of 1991 mandates its two “primary tools,” the CBC and the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission. Section 3 of the Act covers the CBC, and part of its mandate is to “reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions.”
That is where the CBC is losing sight of its mission. The ivory tower on Front Street in Toronto not only makes the CBC Toronto-centric, but it blinds them to the needs and requirements of people across the country.
To see more and get a copy of the book please click here.
CBC consistently losing market share despite taxpayer subsidy
I believe that when the CBC began, it was absolutely essential at almost any cost. It was one of the only mediums of communication, and for many parts of Canada it was the only television available. It was undeniably a key means of getting information out from coast-to-coast, and held great cultural value in terms of defining Canada a country. I believe it certainly justified its fairly high cost to the public purse in times past… wait for it… *sound of other shoe dropping*… Unfortunately for the CBC, the world we live in today is not the world of yesteryear.
The CBC has consistently lost market share to their private rivals that do not benefit from a taxpayer subsidy. This fact alone dictates that people have voted with their television remotes already.
I have several friends in the journalism industry, and they all report the same reality – that everyone wants a CBC job because they are better-paying and much more cushy in terms of benefits and expectations. While this might be great for the unionized workers at CBC, it is definitely not advantageous to the average Canadian. Nor is it fair to the other networks that compete with the CBC. Why should the Canadian taxpayer fit the bill for salaries that are driving up costs in the market? It is the classic private-public dilemma, and balance desperately needs to be restored.
Read the full story here.
The CBC has consistently lost market share to their private rivals that do not benefit from a taxpayer subsidy. This fact alone dictates that people have voted with their television remotes already.
I have several friends in the journalism industry, and they all report the same reality – that everyone wants a CBC job because they are better-paying and much more cushy in terms of benefits and expectations. While this might be great for the unionized workers at CBC, it is definitely not advantageous to the average Canadian. Nor is it fair to the other networks that compete with the CBC. Why should the Canadian taxpayer fit the bill for salaries that are driving up costs in the market? It is the classic private-public dilemma, and balance desperately needs to be restored.
Read the full story here.
CBC accused of attempting to reverse decades of settled law
On March 16th, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) heard oral arguments in CBC v SODRAC . The issue centers on whether broadcasters should be required to pay royalties on ephemeral or incidental copies of audiovisual works that are created during the process of making a final copy for broadcast.
CBC submits that SODRAC is the first copyright holder to “attempt to monetize broadcast-incidental copies…[which is] a subversion of the purpose of the Copyright Act in an attempt to generate economic rents through a layer licensing scheme.
The SODRAC factum on the other hand contends that CBC is attempting “to reverse decades of settled law” and does not mince words in its opening paragraphs:
This appeal amounts to an attempt by CBC to persuade this Court, through a misuse of the principle of technological neutrality, to upset the existing statutory balance in relation to broadcast-incidental copies and to substitute its own policy preferences for those of Parliament, enabling CBC to escape liability for copies it is making and deriving benefits from, and that it has been making and paying for, for decades.
Read the complete story here.
CBC submits that SODRAC is the first copyright holder to “attempt to monetize broadcast-incidental copies…[which is] a subversion of the purpose of the Copyright Act in an attempt to generate economic rents through a layer licensing scheme.
The SODRAC factum on the other hand contends that CBC is attempting “to reverse decades of settled law” and does not mince words in its opening paragraphs:
This appeal amounts to an attempt by CBC to persuade this Court, through a misuse of the principle of technological neutrality, to upset the existing statutory balance in relation to broadcast-incidental copies and to substitute its own policy preferences for those of Parliament, enabling CBC to escape liability for copies it is making and deriving benefits from, and that it has been making and paying for, for decades.
Read the complete story here.
Exposed - CBC appeared to be editorializing in a news piece
The complainant, Marc Poitras, objected to the characterization of a platform speech by the Liberal Party leader as “striking hopeful notes.” He’s right – there was no justification and it appeared to be The complainant, Marc Poitras, objected to the characterization of a platform speech by the Liberal Party leader as “striking hopeful notes.” He’s right – there was no justification and it appeared to be editorializing in a news piece.
The difficulty here was that since the whole sentence was unclear, it might not have been obvious to you that this was in fact a quotation. It compressed so many thoughts into one short sentence that it lost clarity. It left the impression of bias. I think more likely it is a case of bad writing and editing.
On this score, the article fails. I recommend CBC news managers review how this happened so that those involved can learn from the mistake.
Read the full complaint and review here.
The difficulty here was that since the whole sentence was unclear, it might not have been obvious to you that this was in fact a quotation. It compressed so many thoughts into one short sentence that it lost clarity. It left the impression of bias. I think more likely it is a case of bad writing and editing.
On this score, the article fails. I recommend CBC news managers review how this happened so that those involved can learn from the mistake.
Read the full complaint and review here.
Exposed - CBC and Canadian defamation law
Tort law surrounding defamation law does not directly curb your right to free expression; it is not illegal per se. Rather, defamation is generally about paying damages to people that have been harmed by your speech. You can still say whatever you want, but you may have to pay for it (and you may have to pay a lot).
Key rulings in Canadian defamation law:
In Leenan v CBC and Myers v CBC , the CBC was ordered to pay damages to two cardiologists who were wrongly portrayed in a negative light on a CBC program, showing that both Crown corporations and broadcasters of defamatory content, including broadcasters of content created by others, can also be liable for defamation.
Read the full story and see more examples here.
Key rulings in Canadian defamation law:
In Leenan v CBC and Myers v CBC , the CBC was ordered to pay damages to two cardiologists who were wrongly portrayed in a negative light on a CBC program, showing that both Crown corporations and broadcasters of defamatory content, including broadcasters of content created by others, can also be liable for defamation.
Read the full story and see more examples here.
CBC drops more TV stations
CBC has ended its relationship with a number of local over-the-air television stations, exposing deep rifts in Canada’s broadcast landscape.
The CRTC announced Thursday that CHEX-TV in Peterborough, Channel 12 in Oshawa and CKWS-TV in Kingston would be ending their affiliation with CBC and entering into a “program supply agreement” with CTV beginning Aug. 31.
Gregory Taylor, a University of Calgary researcher and expert on over-the-air television, said the CBC has rapidly been moving away from free over-the-air programming and towards online mobile content as part of its digital-first strategy.
As the CBC continues to drop local over-the-air affiliates, private networks are picking them up. Taylor said private broadcasters like CTV stand to gain more by airing their programming in local networks.
Read the full story.
The CRTC announced Thursday that CHEX-TV in Peterborough, Channel 12 in Oshawa and CKWS-TV in Kingston would be ending their affiliation with CBC and entering into a “program supply agreement” with CTV beginning Aug. 31.
Gregory Taylor, a University of Calgary researcher and expert on over-the-air television, said the CBC has rapidly been moving away from free over-the-air programming and towards online mobile content as part of its digital-first strategy.
As the CBC continues to drop local over-the-air affiliates, private networks are picking them up. Taylor said private broadcasters like CTV stand to gain more by airing their programming in local networks.
Read the full story.
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