CBC Under Fire

[stupefied]

Now I see where you're getting the number from but you're reading it wrong.

$1.1 billion of the broadcaster’s $1.7 billion annual budget comes from taxpayers, the remainder from advertising revenue and program sales...more...

[Craig Huckerby]

That's the first time I have ever heard their annual budget is $1.7 billion - I had read earlier and seen news reports touting $1.15 B total - everything in.

[riggs]

They were never meant to be self sustaining, it's a public broadcaster - they collect ad revenue to offset what they need from the taxpayer - money that is needed because they are mandated by the broadcast act to do certain things, the private broadcasters are not - and tiny tim, no it's still closer to 2 million, you have to remember about $300 million of their budget is from ad revenue and programming revenue - sale of content to international broadcasters.

Is this a nice way of saying Canadian television lacks the ability to generate enough Ad Revenue to support itself? If so, I would have to agree.

[Craig Huckerby]

Is this a nice way of saying Canadian television lacks the ability to generate enough Ad Revenue to support itself? If so, I would have to agree.

No this is the fact that Canada has a public broadcaster with funding from the government to ensure Canadian programs get aired. The private networks in Canada make the bulk of their money airing nothing but American shows - because it's cheaper to rent shows than to produce them. That said, the private networks get a fair share of government subsidy to maintain their networks set on local television spending.

[RWGR]

No this is the fact that Canada has a public broadcaster with funding from the government to ensure Canadian programs get aired. The private networks in Canada make the bulk of their money airing nothing but American shows - because it's cheaper to rent shows than to produce them.

Wrong. The Canadian public, and Canadian networks, demand American shows because they are, on the whole, superior to the Canadian product.

End of story.

[riggs]

Wrong. The Canadian public, and Canadian networks, demand American shows because they are, on the whole, superior to the Canadian product.

End of story.

Agreed.

If Canadian shows were half as good as the American product it would reflect in its Ad Revenue thus minimizing its reliance on federal funding. According to Craig, the CBC ensures Canadian content unfortunately at the expense of the Canadian taxpayer.

[RWGR]

Agreed.

If Canadian shows were half as good as the American product it would reflect in its Ad Revenue. Thus minimizing its reliance on federal funding. According to Craig, the CBC ensures Canadian content unfortunately at the expense of the Canadian taxpayer.

I don't know why Craig fights this so. It's not some big revelation that Hollywood creates most of what a lot of the world watches (for good and bad: a theme for another thread).

There is no shame in admitting Hollywood produces a better product; it's what they do, for crying out loud. They were the first to create an entire industry around a city, whose main job was to produce material for viewing. A lot is good; a lot is bad. But on whole, when Hollywood does produce the 'good stuff', it reaches a level no other entity can.

[Craig Huckerby]

I don't know why Craig fights this so. It's not some big revelation that Hollywood creates most of what a lot of the world watches (for good and bad: a theme for another thread).

There is no shame in admitting Hollywood produces a better product; it's what they do, for crying out loud. They were the first to create an entire industry around a city, whose main job was to produce material for viewing. A lot is good; a lot is bad. But on whole, when Hollywood does produce the 'good stuff', it reaches a level no other entity can.

I didn't say that CBC produces better stuff than Hollywood - mind you not all of us like the crap coming out of Hollywood or US TV - All I'm saying is the CBC is mandated by the government to produce Canadian Content - some of it is top notch and some of it sucks - just like US TV. I also pointed out it's not just the CBC getting taxpayer money to run a broadcast network - the private networks get it too - you pay it on your cable bill - the only thing is the private networks don't reinvest in Canada, they blow it all on American shows that for the most part don't last the season. I as well as millions of people like the CBC - why is that so hard for some people to accept?

[RWGR]

Craig, you dirty dog...you moved the goalposts!!