CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada window set to close

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

You are comparing apples and oranges. The main difference I noticed watching TV in England was barely any commercials, the bulk of their revenue comes from licensing where in Canada it comes from advertising.

The government should stay out of broadcasting, CTV and Global have shown you can do a good job without squeezing taxpayers for money

Laugh

Global and CTV which simply buy American programming are the model of success?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

The BBC received £3.6B ($5.7B CAD) in public funding from the television license fee in 2012. For comparison, the CBC received $1B in public funding for the same year.

Per capita annual public funding:
BBC: $91.2
CBC: $29.0

In other words, the BBC receives more than triple the amount of public funding per citizen that the CBC does. If we want our public broadcaster to rival that of one of the best in the world, perhaps we should fund it similarly.

That's like saying that if you funnel enough money into Chrysler that they will start pumping out BMW's. It doesn't work that way as in the entertainment industry a lot of it has to do with talent, creativity, and management that understands its audience and how to put it all together. It's bad enough that CBC doesn't disclose what they are doing with the $29 per person we give them and chances are that doubling the funding would net another couple of mediocre shows and thicker wallet lining of the fat cats at CBC.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

the one good thing that may come of this is an overhaul of the CBC

the BBC which it is modeled after has some of the most watched, and purchased by other countries, programming in the world

BBC Revenue in 2012/2013 minus the license fees was still 1.4 billion pounds

That's also without commercials (outside for BBC shows)

shows like Top Gear, Doctor Who, Planet earch have made the beeb hundreds of millions of dollars on their own

they also just have a history of quality and have shown some of the best shows on tv, it's too many to count but as varied as Monty Python to Sherlock to The Office etc.

why can't CBC be even 1% of that

Excluding the license fees still doesn't make it comparable. They drive the rest of the revenues. Those fees go towards development of high quality programming that generates viewers, ads, global rights sales, etc.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

You are comparing apples and oranges. The main difference I noticed watching TV in England was barely any commercials, the bulk of their revenue comes from licensing where in Canada it comes from advertising.

The government should stay out of broadcasting, CTV and Global have shown you can do a good job without squeezing taxpayers for money

Letting the American broadcasters do their programming work for them isn't the ideal form of success for Canadian broadcasting. CBC shows may suck, but at least they put out original Canadian content.

[Plett25]

The CBC is 0.4% of the federal budget. The CBC's budget could double and it would still be a rounding error.

Only right-wing (and left-wing) culture warriors care about this kind of stuff.

[Hank Hill]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Laugh

Global and CTV which simply buy American programming are the model of success?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

I see a lot of American shows on CBC while CTV puts out Canadian shows that people actually watch like Corner Gas, Arrow, The Listener and Global's Rookie Blue, Flashpoint

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I see a lot of American shows on CBC while CTV puts out Canadian shows that people actually watch like Corner Gas, Arrow, The Listener and Global's Rookie Blue, Flashpoint

Name one American show currently on CBC... I just looked and saw nearly 100% Canadian programming, the only exception I saw was Coronation Street.

And there hasn't been a new Corner Gas episode in years. Giving CTV credit for Corner Gas would be like giving CBC credit for the Beachcomers.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I see a lot of American shows on CBC while CTV puts out Canadian shows that people actually watch like Corner Gas, Arrow, The Listener and Global's Rookie Blue, Flashpoint

Arrow is filmed in Canada but I'm not sure that is really original Canadian content. That is a Warner Bros/CW show that happens to be filmed in Canada, CTV just broadcasts the show in Canada.

Hasn't CBC actually improved recently? I don't really watch much of their content but Heartland has a really good following, Republic of Doyle seems to be doing alright, and Dragon's Den is not original but is one of the better versions of that show.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I see a lot of American shows on CBC while CTV puts out Canadian shows that people actually watch like Corner Gas, Arrow, The Listener and Global's Rookie Blue, Flashpoint

Flashpoint (great show) was actually CTV as well. But that's only one canadian show per year for both of those companies? AFAIK they never have multiple Canadian produce shows running at the same time. Plus Arrow is an American production I believe?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Plett25

The CBC is 0.4% of the federal budget. The CBC's budget could double and it would still be a rounding error.

Only right-wing (and left-wing) culture warriors care about this kind of stuff.

At the end of the day rounding error or not, its a billion dollars. Its money that could be spent elsewhere.

When the original mandate was to make sure that Canadian content was supported and that people all across the country could have access to the news and culture, its not something that's needed anymore.

For the most part the Canadian Culture shows on CBC fall far behind the independent stuff being produced elsewhere. With the advent of the internet and satellite T.V. and radio CBC is no longer needed to beam the Canadian message to far reaches of this country.

I think in terms of delivering news its a viable option. But the rest of the stuff could be moved elsewhere and nobody would care.

In a country with a crumbling healthcare, infrastructure and an aging population a billion bucks or even a half billion bucks could be better spent elsewhere.

You could probably knock 10% off of the CBC budget by slashing executive expense spending.

To me the argument isn't about being right wing or whatever. I can get Canadian content elsewhere I can get sports and hockey elsewhere. I think in terms of value proposition, CBC isn't there.

[Tinordi]

You could probably knock 10% off of the CBC budget by slashing executive expense spending.

Yeah? Go on...

[boggledepot]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's like saying that if you funnel enough money into Chrysler that they will start pumping out BMW's. It doesn't work that way as in the entertainment industry a lot of it has to do with talent, creativity, and management that understands its audience and how to put it all together. It's bad enough that CBC doesn't disclose what they are doing with the $29 per person we give them and chances are that doubling the funding would net another couple of mediocre shows and thicker wallet lining of the fat cats at CBC.

In one perspective this might be correct, as CBC does not disclose its accounting books. But in another prospect it is, indeed, mistaken. The CBC discloses what they are doing with their subsidization with every broadcast, every podcast, every news report etc... The CBC is a company, and we can safely assume where that $29 goes is, in part, towards the services they offer. Considering the price of Globe and Mail subscriptions, NHL CentreIce, Cable packages, Netflix, and music on iTunes, I would say $29 for the CBC is a bargain.

Sorry, you don't like their programming, But they really are the only major media outlet in the country that actively promotes Canadian content.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

At the end of the day rounding error or not, its a billion dollars. Its money that could be spent elsewhere.

When the original mandate was to make sure that Canadian content was supported and that people all across the country could have access to the news and culture, its not something that's needed anymore.

For the most part the Canadian Culture shows on CBC fall far behind the independent stuff being produced elsewhere. With the advent of the internet and satellite T.V. and radio CBC is no longer needed to beam the Canadian message to far reaches of this country.

I think in terms of delivering news its a viable option. But the rest of the stuff could be moved elsewhere and nobody would care.

In a country with a crumbling healthcare, infrastructure and an aging population a billion bucks or even a half billion bucks could be better spent elsewhere.

You could probably knock 10% off of the CBC budget by slashing executive expense spending.

To me the argument isn't about being right wing or whatever. I can get Canadian content elsewhere I can get sports and hockey elsewhere. I think in terms of value proposition, CBC isn't there.

I say cut the funding to the CBC at the same time that they cut the funding to the private broadcasters - would save almost 2 billion bucks a year....

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

At the end of the day rounding error or not, its a billion dollars. Its money that could be spent elsewhere.

When the original mandate was to make sure that Canadian content was supported and that people all across the country could have access to the news and culture, its not something that's needed anymore.

For the most part the Canadian Culture shows on CBC fall far behind the independent stuff being produced elsewhere. With the advent of the internet and satellite T.V. and radio CBC is no longer needed to beam the Canadian message to far reaches of this country.

I think in terms of delivering news its a viable option. But the rest of the stuff could be moved elsewhere and nobody would care.

In a country with a crumbling healthcare, infrastructure and an aging population a billion bucks or even a half billion bucks could be better spent elsewhere.

You could probably knock 10% off of the CBC budget by slashing executive expense spending.

To me the argument isn't about being right wing or whatever. I can get Canadian content elsewhere I can get sports and hockey elsewhere. I think in terms of value proposition, CBC isn't there.

I think that you are greatly underestimating the CBC, especially with regards to CBC Radio which is a cross-country platform for Canadian music talent that otherwise wouldn't be a blip on the radar. I know that there are other mediums for information and music now, but CBC has done a decent job with regards to apps and internet coverage to stay relevant over time. You could say that it isn't required for you - but I think that you would have a hard time speaking for the whole of the Canadian population.

Healthcare is Provincially funded (and is actually well-funding amazingly enough... the CBC is federally funded. Seems odd to say that health care is a mess and that the money put towards the CBC should be spent on health care (Alberta spends 13 billion dollars on health care a year... even putting 100% of the CBCs budget into health care across the country wouldn't make a difference.

Also just saying they could cut 10% is lazy - could you elaborate on how?

Personally I would like to see the CBC take some more risks with their programing, stop focusing on heartland, just for laughs gags and other family friendly fluff and produce a gritty television show or something that highlights what this country has to offer.

As for Hockey Night in Canada, if it is the end of the line, I will miss it. I know that some people don't like it, but there is something comforting in watching the product, it is still a first rate sports program that you can watch for free (with a tv of course) from coast to coast.

[Hank Hill]

I would take all of CBC funding and apply it to the federal debt.

I get that there are people who actually like CBC just like there are people who prefer CTV.

My issue is all Canadians have to pay for this non-essential service (yes the sun will still rise without the CBC) and a lot don't watch it.

Canadian content can stand on its own, if its good, people will watch or listen thru any network or social media. We don't need a dinosaur like the CBC to promote talent.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Plett25

The CBC is 0.4% of the federal budget. The CBC's budget could double and it would still be a rounding error.

Only right-wing (and left-wing) culture warriors care about this kind of stuff.

Should be 0.0%. 0.4% is still a lot of money. The government no longer needs to be in the TV business, especially if they're losing money with it.

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Fire

Should be 0.0%. 0.4% is still a lot of money. The government no longer needs to be in the TV business, especially if they're losing money with it.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

the one good thing that may come of this is an overhaul of the CBC

the BBC which it is modeled after has some of the most watched, and purchased by other countries, programming in the world

BBC Revenue in 2012/2013 minus the license fees was still 1.4 billion pounds

That's also without commercials (outside for BBC shows)

shows like Top Gear, Doctor Who, Planet earch have made the beeb hundreds of millions of dollars on their own

they also just have a history of quality and have shown some of the best shows on tv, it's too many to count but as varied as Monty Python to Sherlock to The Office etc.

why can't CBC be even 1% of that

Because the best Canadian writers and actors can drive a short distance south and earn a truckload more money. Also, every sod that lives here and wants a TV has to pay £145.50 a year for a TV licence.

[SuperMatt18]

That is the key difference between the BBC and CBC.

BBC can keep talented British actors/writers/producers etc in Britian and have them work on projects for the BBC.

In Canada any of the talent is going to make the trip south of the border where they will get paid much more handsomely then any of CTV/CBC/Global etc are willing to pay.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I would take all of CBC funding and apply it to the federal debt.

I get that there are people who actually like CBC just like there are people who prefer CTV.

My issue is all Canadians have to pay for this non-essential service (yes the sun will still rise without the CBC) and a lot don't watch it.

Canadian content can stand on its own, if its good, people will watch or listen thru any network or social media. We don't need a dinosaur like the CBC to promote talent.

Tax dollars pay for infrastructure in parts of the city and country that I never use, or subsidize medical procedures I will never use, but I don't bemoan the fact that I pay them. I actually get more value from CBC than I get from streets and street lights in, say, Lake Bonavista.

The argument that all tax money should only be spent on reducing the debt or on reducing suffering all over the world is shrill. Anything can be essential or non-essential depending on your perspective. It's part of life.