Posted by RadioActive  March 21, 2025 7:17 am | #1 |
Former CRTC exec. Peter Menzies proposes that the CBC become a service funded by subscriptions from Canadians, meaning those who want to support it can continue to do so. It would turn the Corp. into a PBS-style model.
It's certainly a dramatic proposal. But he's not suggesting all funding be stopped. He would continue public bucks for CBC North and Radio-Canada, but turn the English side of the network into something only willing Canadians would pay for.
"There is a significant market for a subscription-based English CBC news service. Canada has approximately 15 million homes, which, based on a $30/month subscription, converts into $5.4 billion in annual revenue potential.
If the CBC was able to convert just 10 per cent of that amount, it would have a stable base of $540 million to operate. Meanwhile, Canada’s media landscape would become a far more level playing field, and the CBC would be more accountable to the desires for better and more representative programming from its audience."
What do you think of this idea? The upside is the federal government would save a lot of money and allegations of political bias would be reduced. The downside comes if not enough people were willing to pony up for the service.
Changing the channel: A bold new vision for a subscription-based CBC
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Posted by Shorty Wave March 21, 2025 7:45 am | #2 |
Not to be a Negative Nelly but I think that there wouldn’t be enough people willing to pony up for the service, especially at $30/month, maybe $10 or so. I watch CBC TV maybe a total of 3-4 hours a month, whereas I listen to Radio One a fair bit and would consider ponying up for that. Interesting article/concept, thanks for posting RA!
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Posted by Scarboroughbluffsradiof99 March 21, 2025 8:09 am | #3 |
very bad idea with the cost of food and whatnot.
CBC should be a true PBS with a mottel baced on donations and fund drives.
Public broadcasters programming should be free, we should just have to donate and watch fund drives.
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Posted by mace March 21, 2025 8:46 am | #4 |
I have to admit the PBS pledge drive folks are quite talented. I have never seen people say please send money so many different ways. Mike and Goldie [Collins and Gardner] were legendary on WNED.
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Posted by paterson1 March 21, 2025 10:00 am | #5 |
Curious the report says that CBC's yearly budget for news/information/documentaries is $284 million. Makes me wonder what does Bell Media budget for news/information/documenties etc? I noticed at Christmas on the annual CTV news credits that CTV news had over 900 names for the national news department including CTV News Channel and Your Morning. The credits did not include local CTV affiliate personel.
Much of Mr. Menzie's paper is based on the premise of the "uneven playing field" that CBC TV and radio have much more money to spend on news than private companies like Bell Media. I wonder if this gap is as big as he tries to imply, or is there any difference at all? And CBC radio tends to have a lot of news and information. Bell Media radio? Generally next to no news/information, except for a handful of talk stations.
I also question the percent of viewership in prime time of CBC TV and that of CBC News Network which Menzie shows as very weak. For context there should be comparisions with the other networks. What is CTV, Global's and City TV share nationally in prime time? What is CBC TV's share nationally daytime as compared to CTV, Global, City? How does CBC News Network compare nationally to CTV News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News?
Without this information, saying that CBC isn't being watched by Canadians is only conjecture. Indications over the past few months are that CBC News Network is actually quite popular and has been for a while. However we see next to no information regarding ratings for the OTA networks or for the news networks. Taking Mr. Menzie's word on all of this really isn't good enough. Put out the numbers please.
PBS model is a non-starter for me at least. That would be the very last resort, and not a very good one in my opinion. And other than their evening newscast, how much news coverage or reporting of anything does PBS actually do? Not much.
Left wing bias? Seems to be an issue with all public broadcasters around the world not just CBC/Radio Canada. Even PBS, with their yappy, annoying and on going pledge drives are regularly accused of this.
