As the CBC announces that it will stop broadcasting pro sports, we can all cheer. There was never a need to have pro sports paid for by taxpayers. There are plenty of businesses able and eager to do the job.
Some of us (ahem) will cheer a little more loudly than others. Hockey season used to mean that CBC was effectively “down” much of the time. Olympic extravagances had a similar effect.
As CBC shrinks away from popular programming that it cannot afford to carry, will its survival be threatened? I hope not. Audience numbers will decline, and advertising revenues with them, but there is still a useful role to play, covering public affairs that are important to the nation, but not entertaining.
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I agree in principle with your position, but I should point out that HNIC (Canada’s most popular TV program) netted CBC $100MM per year in easy profit which they then used to support content. Now, their programming choices will be more limited. Personally I couldn’t care less, having never been a CBC fan. TVO, I like.
I like TVO, too, but it’s naturally Ontario-centric. CBC’s mandate has been more national … except in Quebec, of course, where it’s a different thing.
CBC has some good documentaries but, as you say, without heavy advertising revenue, they may not have the money to continue production of such work. I enjoy some CBC panel discussions, but I think it’s time they put Peter Mansbridge and Rex Murphy out to pasture.
If CBC became a TVO for all of Canada, that would be great.