FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting has been supporting Canadian
content and making news for many years now. An archive of articles
about our organization can be found below.
Article discusses business prospects of U.S. satellite radio services in Canada; FRIENDS continues to see CRTC approval of satellite radio with low Canadian content requirements as slippery slope for regulatory regime that enabled the success of the Canadian music industry.
Richard Stursberg, executive director of CBC English television, proclaims network "fully recovered" from NHL and CBC lockouts; FRIENDS disagrees, calls CBC lockout "a calamitous mistake".
Industry sources say national public broadcaster requires sustained funding commitment.
FRIENDS says next federal government will be forced to address the scarcity of funding for production of Canadian television programs; notes current funding model effectively helps to subsidize the cost of acquiring U.S. shows.
CBC struggles with worker morale, viewer loyalty post-lockout; FRIENDS says many Canadians were justifiably upset with loss of a service they were paying for.
Columnist discusses FRIENDS petition calling for increased funding for CBC.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre issues declaration criticizing the federal government's telecommunications policy review and recommending changes; FRIENDS has endorsed the declaration.
FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison comments following appearance of CBC president and other executives before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
CBC employees return to work; FRIENDS calls for changes to patronage system used to appoint CBC president.
NDP Heritage Critic says seven-week lockout at CBC the direct result of the patronage system used to appoint the CBC president.
FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison to speak at forum on public broadcasting and citizenship.
FRIENDS says CBC president must answer for the extraordinary number of lockouts at the public broadcaster since 1999.
FRIENDS says CBC president must answer for high frequency of lockouts during his tenure.
MPs to ask hard questions of CBC management following lockout.
FRIENDS spokesperson writes that based on poll results, Canadians consistently trust CBC more than other broadcasters, and want it funded properly.
Not increasing CBC's funding will be politically expedient so long as there are polls to suggest vocal CBC supporters are in the minority.
CBC president given rough ride by MPs, ministers, CBC board of directors over lockout; FRIENDS says president is wearing the lockout decision personally, expects he will have less freedom over remainder of his two-year term.
CBC management, union to attend meeting with federal Minister of Labour to discuss lockout; FRIENDS views meeting as positive development that will focus more public attention on CBC president.
FRIENDS comments on op-ed by former CBC chair Patrick Watson.
Private broadcasters benefit from CBC lockout, reflected in minimal news coverage of lockout on private networks; FRIENDS understands that savings from CBC lockout may be sufficient to offset revenues lost during NHL lockout.
FRIENDS calls theory that savings from CBC lockout are being used to offset losses resulting from NHL lockout "plausible".
Famous Canadians deliver single message at Massey Hall event in support of public broadcasting: "Bring back the CBC".
CBC Board of Directors announces support for management decision to lock out workers; FRIENDS says next step is for Parliament to become involved.
FRIENDS co-sponsors evening in support of public broadcasting, Wednesday, September 21, 8 p.m., at Massey Hall in Toronto.
FRIENDS co-sponsors event to support public broadcasting, September 21, 8 p.m. at Massey Hall in Toronto.
FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison and Conservative Party heritage critic Bev Oda discuss the role and future of the national public broadcaster.
FRIENDS appeal of CRTC satellite radio decisions based in part on the risk that conventional broadcasters would demand reductions in Canadian content obligations to compete with licensed U.S. services.
FRIENDS expects conventional radio broadcasters will eventually ask Ottawa to reduce their Canadian content obligations in wake of cabinet decision to uphold CRTC decisions on satellite radio.
Cabinet upholds CRTC decisions to issue satellite radio licences with unprecedented low Canadian content obligations; Canadian content policy dealt blow; FRIENDS calls decision a black day for Canada.
FRIENDS says the fact CBC's president is not accountable to its board means the appointment of a new chairperson is unlikely to bring an end to the current labour dispute.
FRIENDS disagrees that technology renders Canadian content regulations obsolete, notes that satellite radio market will remain small for some time to come.
U.S. satellite radio services stage media forum in Toronto, arrange for artists to voice objection to the appeals of CRTC licensing decisions.
FRIENDS expects federal cabinet will give CRTC guidelines if it decides to send satellite radio decisions back for review.
FRIENDS believes CBC management chose late summer lockout date to ensure the least public reaction.
FRIENDS notes that CBC television viewers typically switch to other channels when CBC goes off the air, and are slow to return.
FRIENDS says allowing satellite radio decisions to stand would create a slippery slope for Canadian content throughout the broadcasting system.
Former CBC anchor Knowlton Nash, former Heritage Committee Chair and Our Cultural Sovereignty author Clifford Lincoln lament impact of lockout on CBC's future.
FRIENDS says CBC management decision to deliver CBC newscasts to Air Canada, but rebroadcast BBC news on air, shows where priorities lie.
VP of the National Citizens Coalition says CBC lockout proves Canada doesn't need an “all-socialist” public broadcaster anymore.
FRIENDS calls CBC lockout programming crude and unimaginative; viewers and listeners in remote areas say they feel cut off from the rest of the country.
FRIENDS blames both management and union for CBC lockout, notes negative consequences of successful Canadian Media Guild efforts in 2004 to amalgamate both technicians and journalists into the same bargaining unit.
FRIENDS says the people of Canada, CBC's shareholders, will unfairly suffer from CBC lockout.
FRIENDS expects the quality of CBC news and other programming to deteriorate badly in the event of a lockout; lost viewers and listeners may be hard to win back.
Article notes that Canadian Satellite Radio is doing much more public relations work than Sirius Canada in the face of appeals of CRTC decisions granting satellite pay radio licences.
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and eight other organizations will mount offensive against CRTC's satellite radio decision.
FRIENDS comments on new pay TV licence applications.
CRTC expected to make a decision on four new pay tv applicants in late winter or early spring.
Four new applications may upset two-decade old Corus/Astral pay television duopoly.
Groups oppose CRTC ruling on Satellite radio; say that XM and Sirius will provide minimal Canadian content.
FCC commissioners, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, fail to agree on questions to be asked in review of U.S. media ownership rules.
Arts and labour groups ask government to pull the plug on U.S. subscription radio licensees; conventional radio stations unsure whether satellite radio will harm their business.
CHUM and Astral join a large number of arts groups in appealing the CRTC’s pay radio decision.
CHUM and Astral announce appeal of CRTC decision on subscription radio services saying it will negatively affect Canadian content requirements across the broadcasting sector.
Broadcasters join cultural coalitions in launching appeal against CRTC subscription radio decision.
Three coalitions appeal the CRTC's licensing of U.S. satellite radio services CSR and Sirius Canada.
Broadcasters led by Astral and CHUM join two cultural coalitions in appealing the CRTC's pay radio ruling.
The value of the traditional 30-second television ad spot is declining.
Conventional radio broadcasters say they are not fearful of satellite radio, will focus on local content.
Quebec's minister of culture is shocked by CRTC decision on satellite radio, feels ruling poses a significant threat to Quebecois culture.
FRIENDS opposes double standard for Canadian content created by CRTC pay radio decision.
Company that serves independent artists says it disagrees with arts group coalition appeal of the CRTC pay radio decision.
Friends and other members of cultural coalition say CRTC satellite radio ruling could lead to decreased Canadian content across the broadcasting system.
Cultural groups ask federal Cabinet to overturn CRTC pay radio ruling.
ACTRA comments on cultural coalition appeal of CRTC pay radio decision.
Cultural groups oppose satellite radio decision on the basis it will erode Canadian content structure that has taken Canada decades to build.
Cultural coalition tells Cabinet pay radio decision runs counter to Canadian broadcasting policy.
Coalition of media, labour and arts groups appeals satellite radio ruling.
Coalition of media, labour and arts groups says Cabinet must overturn CRTC pay radio ruling in order to preserve Canadian content.
Cultural coalition believes pay radio ruling breaches Canada's Broadcasting Act.
Cultural coalition opposes CRTC approval of U.S. satellite radio services.
Arts coalition says CRTC ruling on pay radio sets a dangerous precedent and is asking federal Cabinet to overturn it.
Coalition of arts groups asks Cabinet to overturn satellite radio decision.
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and other coalition members ask Cabinet to review CRTC ruling on satellite radio, consider the decision to be a threat to Canadian content.
FRIENDS and other arts groups say CRTC satellite radio decision will undo decades of achievement resulting from Canadian content rules; FRIENDS criticizes CBC management for involvement in one of two U.S. services licensed.
FRIENDS op-ed explains rationale for arts coalition appeal of CRTC decision on pay radio.
Arts and labour groups say pay radio decision runs counter to policy objectives behind Canada's Broadcasting Act.
Friends and other arts and labour groups ask Cabinet to review the CRTC's decision on pay radio.
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and fellow arts and labour groups are challenging the CRTC's pay radio ruling because of its projected degenerative effect on Canadian content throughout the broadcasting system.
Article says that CRTC ruling on pay radio services is "heavy handed" due to attached Canadian content obligations.
Coalition members ask Cabinet to review CRTC subscription radio decision, which they say will erode Canadian content in Canada's audio-visual system.
U.S. satellite radio providers consider whether to enter Canadian market, want to ensure Canadian rules do not "diminish the American listening experience".
Groups say pay radio decision creates slippery slope toward reduction or elimination of Canadian content requirements.
Two coalitions of arts, recording industry and media groups - one English and one French - are demanding the CRTC's subscription radio decision be overturned.
A coalition of arts groups including Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is contesting CRTC ruling on subscription based radio services.
CRTC pay radio decision would undo years of efforts to promote and protect Canadian programming, say arts groups.
FRIENDS joins coalition of arts, labour and other groups in asking federal cabinet to overturn CRTC pay radio decision.
FRIENDS notes that the broadcasting licenses issued to U.S. satellite broadcasters require them to meet much lower Canadian content requirements than conventional radio broadcasters.
Saint Johner is one of two Maritimers who have won the 2005 Dalton Camp Award.
Article says that truck drivers who have been subscribing to grey market satellite radio will be happy that the CRTC has approved it in Canada but unhappy about the Canadian content requirements the regulator has attached to the technology.
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, along with several other arts groups, says it will appeal CRTC ruling on subscription radio.
Dalton Camp Award winner discusses the challenge of speaking out against a large economic interest in one's home province.
Arts groups say they will appeal CRTC ruling on satellite radio over lax Canadian content regulation.
FRIENDS says at least one appeal from cultural groups is likely following CRTC pay radio decision.
Quebec government fears pay radio ruling a threat to Quebec culture; satellite operators dismiss news of appeals.
A half-dozen arts organizations agreed in a conference call Friday to appeal the CRTC pay radio decision to the federal Cabinet or the courts.
Canadian partner in U.S. satellite radio licensee plans IPO; FRIENDS and other groups plan appeal of CRTC licensing decision.
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting to be joined by other arts groups in appealing CRTC ruling on subscription radio.
FRIENDS says there will be one or more appeals of CRTC pay radio ruling.
Canadian Association of Broadcasters complains that CRTC pay radio decision creates an uneven playing field for conventional radio broadcasters in terms of Canadian content requirements.
FRIENDS says CRTC decision to approve two U.S. satellite pay radio services is likely to scuttle the Canadian alternative proposed by CHUM and Astral.
FRIENDS says the Canadian content requirements contained in the CRTC's pay radio decision are inconsistent with the Broadcasting Act.
Arts organizations, including FRIENDS, to consider potential appeal of CRTC pay radio decision.
Licensing of two U.S. pay radio services with low Canadian content requirements means CHUM/Astral pay radio service may not launch; conventional broadcasters suggest they will seek lower Cancon requirements; FRIENDS says CRTC (and CBC, a minority partner in one of the U.S. services) have opened the floodgates to American radio programming.
New Brunswick newspaper celebrates Dalton Camp Award winners.
FRIENDS says CRTC pay radio decision creates pipeline for U.S. radio programs into Canada, but offers little in return.
CRTC pay radio decision is fundamentally about the integrity of Canadian content requirements.
FRIENDS believes watered down Canadian content requirements, sought by two of the three applicants for pay radio licences, would have spillover effects for conventional radio.
Winners of the 2005 Dalton Camp Award have been announced.
One of two winning essays of the 2005 Dalton Camp Award.
The CRTC will shortly decide on three applications for pay radio licences; Friends of Canadian Broadcasting supports the CHUM/Astral application because it is the only one that complies with Broadcasting Act Canadian content requirements.
CRTC to rule on pay radio this week; FRIENDS says only one of the three applicants would meet Broadcasting Act requirements.
FRIENDS speculates the CRTC will find it difficult to please all stakeholders in its forthcoming digital pay radio decision.
All major Canadian broadcasters save the CBC sign up for CRTC incentive that allows them additional advertising minutes if they air more Canadian drama in prime time.
Links to UNESCO initiatives to promote citizens' media.
FRIENDS says Rogers' free preview of pornographic programming is consistent with its values.
Columnist calls CBC management decision to make its publicity and promotions staff redundant, and outsource their jobs to freelance publicists, "bizarre" and a mistake.
University of Alberta alumni magazine profiles late Lieutenant Governor and former FRIENDS Steering Committee member, Lois Hole.
Columnist says government response to Lincoln Report effectively sweeps important reforms under the rug.
FRIENDS says strength of government's second response to Lincoln Report is that it is a policy overview and has put a number of important processes in place.
Government response to Lincoln Report affirms support for Broadcasting Act objectives, finds no need for major overhaul of federal cultural institutions.
Industry representatives say government response to Lincoln Report fails to reverse 1999 CRTC drama policy or take other action to redefine Canadian content.
FRIENDS says government response to the Lincoln Report is the most substantive attention paid to broadcasting policy since Mulroney era.
FRIENDS gives qualified praise to government's second response to the Lincoln Report on Canadian broadcasting.
FRIENDS recommends leaner CRTC focused on quality of appointees rather then quantity.
FRIENDS Advisory Council member remembers Bill Cameron.
Funding for CBC regional programming, missing from the federal budget, may be contained in Heritage Department's response to Lincoln Committee report, scheduled for April.
FRIENDS believes CBC local/regional funding announcement may be yet to come.
Federal budget fails to boost funding for CBC local/regional programming.
CBC rumoured to be in line for a funding increase to revive local programming.
Sources expect the federal budget to fulfil the CBC's request for a budget increase, but Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has not confirmed the rumour.
The federal budget to be tabled Wednesday is expected to meet the CBC's demand for extra funding to revive regional programming; but government must take measures to ensure that the money is used for that purpose.
Government sources say Wednesday's federal budget will grant the CBC extra funding to revitalize regional programming.
Federal budget expected to contain a funding increase for CBC; FRIENDS says important to ensure new funds are earmarked for local/regional programming.
Federal budget expected to contain a funding increase for CBC; FRIENDS says important to ensure new funds are earmarked for local/regional programming.
The CBC asks for budget increase, promises that funds will be used to revitalize regional programming.
Sudbury business writer applauds the CRTC for recognizing the unhealthy impact the agreements between Rogers and Newcap have had on local radio in Sudbury.
FRIENDS steering committee chair describes what a strong grassroots CBC would look like: a balance between local and network programs.
Columnist says the CBC should not revive regional television newscasts.
Lack of funds cited as CBC loses broadcasting rights to 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and 2012 Summer Games to Bell/Rogers consortium.
CBC told the House of Commons Heritage Committee it needs an $80 million funding increase over three years to reinvent local/regional television and radio programming.
CBC maintains President was "misunderstood" when he told reporters in November that CBC would spend the majority of a $100 million funding increase on network rather than local and regional programming.
CBC local/regional plans to be unveiled at House of Commons Heritage Committee meeting.
CRTC has accepted FRIENDS' submission that the business link between NewCap and Rogers radio stations in Sudbury reduced the diversity of news in the Sudbury area and functioned as an unauthorized local management arrangement (LMA). The Commission has ordered that this link end and has extended NewCap's Sudbury licence for only three years.
CEO of CBC/Standard/Sirius joint venture challenges FRIENDS' assessment of Cancon commitments by satellite radio applicants, optimistic that all three applicants will be licensed.
Article suggests the political climate in Ottawa is such that there are good chances some of the Lincoln Report recommendations will finally be implemented.
Satellite radio is appealing, but poses a considerable threat to Canadian content.
