Bloated CBC must pull in reins
Published Friday February 27th, 2009
There is a recession, so as soon as it feels a pinch our publicly owned and financed CBC runs to the Ottawa trough and asks for more money, another sign the bloated CBC is out of touch with Canadians and the reality of Canada, despite its mandate to reflect Canada to Canadians.
Global has laid off 560 employees. CTV laid off 150 and just yesterday closed two of its Ontario stations. But the CBC just moans its revenues are down by $65 million and puts its hand out for more.
Ottawa needs to just say "no", firmly and clearly.
It is time for a thorough, independent, realistic review of literally everything the CBC does, how it does it, and whether it should be doing it. On its own website on Feb. 11 the CBC responded to a newspaper story by stating: "Airing ads on CBC Radio is not currently being considered." A paragraph later, it admitted that "It is no secret that television ad revenues are declining." They are not even thinking of trying to obtain a single penny to support the radio service, but they want more. The CBC's last annual report cited expenditures of $1,013 per year per employee for "training." CBC has 10,200 employees. That's $10 million, but aren't most of their staff already well-trained, professionals? They say there is no fat to cut. If you had $1,000 per day for every day the world has seen since Jesus was born (365 times 2008), you'd only have $732.9 million and would have to add $267 million more to get the CBC's annual budget.
The CBC, defender of all things Canadian, should tell Canadians how much it paid for the right to broadcast U.S. game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. And do we need its 29 different services few use rather than just basic radio and TV service?
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Saying ads aren't being considered doesn’t mean sponsorship of radio programs isn’t on the table.
The President & CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada says it paid ten-times LESS to buy Wheel of Fortune than to produce ONE HOUR of The Border. And one reason to put out the money for those shows is to generate more ad revenue.
CBC’s 29 services include broadcasts in 8 Aboriginal languages and 9 other languages. You don’t get rid of a PUBLIC service just because not everyone uses it.
Speaking of paying for it, it only costs each taxpayer $34/yr. Less than a dime a day. Most of us probably lose that much in the couch cushions. Is there fat to cut? Sure. Does it mean ALL CBC employees are overpaid? No. A reporter can only ever hope to make $66,000/yr; the top National Reporters max at $75,000. These good-paying jobs, yes, but not the best in the biz.