CBC:Back to the future

Presented by Erich Engert

andStephanie Hurtubise

Too late?

“As of today, CBC and Radio Canada is out of the business of competing with the private [broadcasters] for professional sports.” - Hubert Lacroix

CBC/Radio-Canada CEO

CBC Services

Four national radio services Two cable news services Northern Service broadcasting Radio – Canada International

broadcasting CBC.ca and Radio – Canada.ca Etc…

Our Public Broadcaster

CBC Television and CBC Radio – Canada

Inform, entertain, educate

Maintain a unique cultural identity

Part public and part commercial

50/50, taxation/advertising

Radio Vs. Television

Radio – Canada more popular Even after ‘50s slump

CBC Radio a broadcast journalism standard-setter

CBC Radio threatened by CBC TV, not private broadcasting

Neutering the Watch Dog $200 million financial pressures $115 million less from2012 - 2015 $300 million less from federal

government compared to 20 years ago Decreased funding, more decreased

funding, and no more Hockey Night $130-million shortfall solution

Relying on ads $30 for Canadian citizens but 122$ for

British

The Big Issue

Mandate vs. resources Mandate is coverage and content

Competition ruins the audience share Stop with the “something for everyone”

Budget cuts leads to commercial dependence 1984, 1990, 1995

Government doesn’t care Fiddling with cost-saving changes angers

audience

Ratings and Commercial Policy Program success means significant

audience numbers Ratings are a private broadcaster thing

CBC Television in need of renewal Three transmitting options instead of

one.▪ Internet, hand-held devices, and TV with 500

channels New audience strategy necessary

What’s Next?

Complete privatization

Increased public funding

Die

Saving CBC

Popular suggestions: Satisfy and resolve the needs of

Canadians and their Canadian identity Evolve within the digital sphere Ensure financial purpose and reasoning

How plausible are these?

1. ‘Satisfy and resolve the needs of Canadians and their Canadian identity’

“2015: Everyone. Everywhere” (p.2) Be recognized by Canadians as the

leader in culture and democracy Tailor broadcasting to Canadians’ wants

and needs Share stories showcasing Canadian

marvels, values, and connecting ties Increase regional presence and

community spaces

Reasoning: Historical role and reputation “The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

should be reflecting Canadians to Canadians.” – Maddren

Issue: Lack of connectivity

Solution: Increase and emphasize Canadian

stories

2. ‘Evolve within the Digital Sphere’

All-encompassing sector Migration trend from public service

broadcasting to Internet Adaptation:

crucial for CBC’s future Suggestion already taken

into account

3. ‘Ensure financial purpose and reasoning’

“2015: Same Strategy, Different Path”: Federal budget reduction of $115 million

Common proposition: Elimination of all advertising Substantial increase of donations

and subscriptions▪ * This will destroy CBC!

“A news service constantly calling out for donations is at the mercy of all manner of forces that simply don’t like what is being reported.” - Doyle

Elimination = reduction of $533 million

Can be better perceived in this graph:

http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/site/annual-reports/2012-2013/pdf/complete-report-2012-2013.pdf

May work in the future – but not presently

CBC has financial plan Reduce costs Increase revenue

Our Solution

Too late to get rid of ads

Tell me about the Canadian

Less U.S.A shows in Canada broadcaster

Need filler? Tell me about the world

References

CBC/Radio-Canada (n.d.). 2015: Eveyrone. Every way. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/_files/cbcrc/documents/strategy-2015/document2015-2pager-en.pdf

CBC/Radio-Canada (n.d.). 2015: Same Strategy, Different Path. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/site/budget/en/index.html

CBC/Radio-Canada (2014). Elimination of advertising on CBC/Radio-Canada services would be bad public policy. Retrieved from www.cbc.radio-canada.ca

Collins, R. (2001). Public service broadcasting Beyond 2000: Is there a future for public service broadcasting? Canadian Journal of Communication, 25, 3-15.

Doyle, J. (2014, April 11). Solution for CBC TV: Get cheap and cool – now. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/solution-for-cbc-tv-get-cheap-and-cool---now/article17949154/

Doyle, J. (2014, April 09). We’re asking the wrong question about the CBC. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/were-asking-the-wrong-question-about-the-cbc/article17893998/

Houpt, S. (2014, April 14). CBC cuts 657 jobs, reduces programs. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/cbc-braces-for-job-cuts-as-president-set-to-reveal-plan-to-balance-books/article17912671/

MediaSmarts (2014). Diversity and Canadian Broadcasting Policy. MediaSmarts. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/diversity-media/visible-minorities/diversity-and-canadian-broadcasting-policy

Staff (2014, April 11). How should we remake the CBC? Cultural minds weigh in. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/television/six-canadians-share-their-thoughts-on-how-to-remake-the-cbc/article17930097/

White, M. Tele-advising: Therapeutic discourse in American Television. North Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 1992. Google Books. Web. P. 114. May 09.

Soroka, Stuart and Andrew, Blake. (2013, Mar. 18). Without investment, the CBC is doing little for Canadians. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/without-investment-the-cbc-is-doing-little-for-canadians/article9870044/

Neville, Bill. Wither the CBC? The Future of Public Broadcasting in Canada. Toronto: Public Policy Forum Raboy, M. (2012). Public Broadcasting for the 21st Century. Luton, England: John Libbey Media. CBC/Radio-Canada. (2012). Annual Report 2011-2012. Ottawa: Corporate Communications.

CBC.ca, (2014, March 29) CBC budget cut by $115M over 3 years. CBCnews. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cbc-budget-cut-by-115m-over-3-years-1.1147096. Kiefl, Barry, (2014, Jan. 6) CBC’s future should look like its radio past. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/cbcs-future-should-look-like-its-radio-past/article16190517/