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.
FRIENDS says if things don't go well with the CanWest takeover of Alliance Atlantis, the Aspers could lose control of the company.
Article says Josée Verner makes a favourable impression at Canadian Heritage but the real test is yet to come.
FRIENDS says pressure on CanWest to cut costs may give it an excuse to squeeze Canadian programming.
FRIENDS says the CRTC has allowed foreign ownership of a Canadian media company through the back door.
FRIENDS says the CRTC should have shown more backbone in its decision approving the takeover of Alliance Atlantis.
Poll commissioned by FRIENDS, ACTRA and CEP says 62% of Canadians are more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes more foreign ownership of Canadian broadcasting companies.
Columnist says that majority of recent government appointments have gone to people with Tory links.
FRIENDS urges the Conservative government to resist overtures from cable company lobbyists to relax or scrap foreign ownership rules.
FRIENDS, ACTRA, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have released poll results saying that Canadians believe cultural sovereignty ought to trump foreign ownership of domestic media.
FRIENDS, ACTRA an CEP conducted a public meeting in Calgary to warn the PM that voters who lean towards the Conservatives do not want Americans purchasing on Canadian media assets.
A new poll says eighty-two per cent of Canadians feel the government should make serious efforts to sustain a Canadian culture that's separate from the U.S.
A new poll says the majority of Canadians oppose foreign ownership of the media, telephone and cable firms, and believe the government should play a role in preserving Canada's cultural identity.
FRIENDS says CBC radio is "a national treasure" and its programming should not be taken down to the lowest common denominator.
FRIENDS says CBC management changes threaten to "downgrade the independence" of CBC Radio.
Blog post discusses FRIENDS concerns over Prime Minster Harper's appointment of the new CBC president.
Columnist learns about concerns with Prime Minister Harper's CBC president appointment from FRIENDS e-network.
FRIENDS quoted in an editorial saying the CBC president should be chosen by its board of directors.
Elections Canada records indicate the new CBC president donated $1,000 to Daniel Fournier, the 2006 Conservative candidate in the Montreal riding of Outremont.
FRIENDS says Prime Minister Stephen Harper has ignored a House of Commons Heritage committee directive that said the CBC president should be hired and fired by the CBC board of directors.
FRIENDS expresses concern over the process by which the new CBC president and CEO was hand-picked by Prime Minster Stephen Harper.
FRIENDS says choices made by the CBC's English-language television network are among the most serious problems facing Hubert Lacroix.
Email to Conservative party insiders contains official talking points for the appointment of Hubert Lacroix as President of the CBC.
FRIENDS says the CEO of Canada's public broadcaster should report to the CBC board, not Prime Minister Harper.
The CRTC has proposed new rules that would allow the commission to bar the public and competing companies from hearings when confidential corporate information is discussed.
Article examines the growing trend of Canadian broadcasters producing domestic versions of foreign TV shows.
FRIENDS says CanWest's decision to cut 200 jobs comes at a time when the company should be producing more quality Canadian programming, not less.
FRIENDS says the CanWest job cuts demonstrate that debtholders are pressuring the company, which is in the midst of trying to buy Alliance Atlantis for $2.3-billion with U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs.
CBC says current plan to enhance Kelowna Radio One station will improve service to Kamloops, nonetheless recognizes future need for "a distinct service for Kamloops".
Comments on the final day of the CRTC diversity hearings, including presentation by FRIENDS.
FRIENDS calls CBC publisher hire an inspired choice for a challenging position.
FRIENDS notes new head of CBC news will be at the "front line" between the news and political appointees in CBC management.
FRIENDS says changes to simultaneous substitution and genre protection rules could have major impact on Canadian sports specialty channels and Canadian content in sports programming.
FRIENDS says that by delaying its hearing on the CanWest/Goldman Sachs takeover of Alliance Atlantis, the CRTC is demonstrating it won't simply rubber stamp the deal.
FRIENDS says about three million Canadians still rely on rabbit ears or other antenna for their TV signals.
FRIENDS welcomes Josée Verner's appointment as Heritage minister and says her predecessor was too closely associated with the broadcasting and cable industries.
FRIENDS joins others in welcoming appointment of Josée Verner as Minister of Canadian Heritage.
FRIENDS says the hiring of headhunting firm Egon Zehnder International to look for a new president and CEO of CBC is a step in the right direction.
FRIENDS says the next CBC President should have a wide knowledge of the country and have a strong background in production, scheduling and marketing.
Advertisers look to Asia for lessons on how to reach younger audiences as they drift away from traditional mass media such as paid-for newspapers and mainstream television networks.
Ian Morrison echoes Knowlton Nash, former anchor of CBC's The National, on the challenges confronting the CBC.
FRIENDS says the biggest issue with the proposed CanWest bid for Alliance Atlantis is CanWest's claim that it is keeping effective ownership and control in Canadian hands when 85 percent of the equity is coming from a New York merchant bank.
A CRTC task force recommends that the CTF be separated into two streams – one supported by Ottawa that would go into "culturally significant" programming, and one supported by the cable and satellite companies that would produce more commercial fare.
FRIENDS reveals that on CBC TV from June 18 to 24, 9.5 out of 28 hours in prime-time were taken up by foreign shows.
FRIENDS research shows the highest level of foreign programming ever for CBC English television.
Columnist says CBC Television has been pouring increasing resources into "infotainment" programming at the perceived expense of news and current affairs portfolios.
FRIENDS says CBC's top news editor had to cope with poor decisions from top management such as chopping regional newscasts in half in 2000.
FRIENDS says Tony Burman was the most senior protector of the independence of the radio and television news service from political interference from the senior management at CBC.
FRIENDS says Ottawa's A-Channel may be sold to Rogers in the next few months.
Article says there is growing disappointment and frustration among Conservatives with the Harper government putting a decision on the future of the CBC on hold.
Columnist notes the CRTC took the direction recommended by FRIENDS in their CTVglobemedia/CHUM decision.
FRIENDS applauds the CRTC decision requiring CTVglobemedia to sell CHUM's CityTV stations but allowing them to keep its A-Channel stations.
FRIENDS comments on potential buyers for CHUM's CityTV stations in a CBC Radio One interview.
FRIENDS says the CRTC "did its job" by making the approval of the CTVglobemedia/CHUM deal conditional on the sale of the Citytv stations.
FRIENDS says the CRTC's CTVglobemedia/CHUM decision ensures that three private-sector national television networks, rather than two, will operate in English-speaking Canada.
CRTC chair says the broadcast regulator's CTVglobemedia/CHUM decision was based on the policy of "maintaining diversity of voices within the Canadian broadcasting system."
FRIENDS says CRTC decision is good for viewers, advertisers and competition and diversity in the Canadian broadcasting system.
FRIENDS says Canadian private broadcasters enjoy a substantial amount of public funding every year that is intended to encourage more Canadian content.
Canadian broadcasters capped off their Los Angeles Screenings by pulling out their wallets in a bid for potential 2007-08 primetime hits.
FRIENDS says the CBC's plan to expand its supper hour news programs from 30 to 60 minutes without increasing local news budgets is a bad idea.
FRIENDS' steering committee chair says the Canadian Heritage Committee should make it clear to CBC that regional programming is a priority and ensure that the public broadcaster is funded accordingly.
FRIENDS is encouraged by new legislation before the B.C. government to support the province's public television broadcaster.
FRIENDS says Canadian private broadcasters spent $479 million on foreign dramas in 2006, while only spending $70.9 million on domestic dramas.
FRIENDS says CBC Television should invest more money in regional programming if it wants to stop the slide in its audience share, especially for supper-hour news shows.
FRIENDS says Canadian TV broadcasters, which receive more than $200-million in public assistance, are buying more U.S. programming than ever before.
FRIENDS says the CRTC followed its procedures when it refused to consider CTVglobemedia's offer to sell up to three CityTV stations to push through its takeover of CHUM.
FRIENDS questions the appointment process of senior management for Canada's public broadcaster.
FRIENDS questions how the unprecedented clout of a merged CTVglobemedia-CHUM will affect competition in Canada's television industry.
Article profiles the battle for Quebec's radio listeners between Astral and Corus.
FRIENDS says if the CRTC allows CTVglobemedia to retain CHUM's CityTV stations it would violate the regulator's own policy against common ownership of two stations serving identical markets.
FRIENDS says recent CBC radio changes show the public broadcaster is making a determined effort to reach a younger audience, but there could be political implications from alienating key decision makers in older demographics.
Columnist says Leonard and Izzy Asper's rush for media convergence led to Hollinger getting the better end of the deal for its Canadian newspapers in 2000.
FRIENDS says the Rogers deal to purchase A-Channel stations could fall through if the CRTC does not approve CTVglobemedia's acquisition of CHUM.
FRIENDS expresses concern over local news in Barrie in the wake of the proposed A-Channel sale to Rogers.
FRIENDS says Canadians would be better served if Rogers owned CHUM's Citytv stations, rather than A-Channel stations, resulting in three private-sector national TV networks.
FRIENDS says the sale of A-Channel stations could hurt local news coverage because new ownership may wish to cut costs.
FRIENDS says the CRTC might order CTVglobemedia to sell Citytv stations and retain ownership of A-Channels in smaller markets as part of the takeover of CHUM.
Michael Geist observes some traditional broadcasters and copyright holders are increasingly wary of unregulated new media services such as Internet streaming and podcasting and may be gearing up for a fresh look at Internet regulation.
FRIENDS questions the stewardship of the CRTC for allowing Canadian broadcasters to spend more on foreign television programming than on Canadian.
CBC president Robert Rabinovitch asks the parliamentary heritage committee for a 10-year mandate - FRIENDS recommends CBC focus on Canadian programming for television and radio.
FRIENDS referenced in article about a presentation made by Save Our CBC Kamloops to the House committee reviewing CBC's mandate.
FRIENDS presents research that shows three million Canadians do not subscribe to cable or satellite and receive their TV signal over the air.
FRIENDS says the announced CRTC review of media concentration in Canada is a good sign and shows the broadcast regulator is concerned about the question of Canadian voices.
FRIENDS says plans by CBC to rely more heavily on cable and satellite transmission will disenfranchise Canadians who receive TV over-the-air.
FRIENDS notes that under new chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein, the CRTC might tighten its policies on media takeovers.
A letter attacking the credibility of the CBC, written by a confidante of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is raising eyebrows on the eve of public consultations to review the broadcasting corporation's mandate.
FRIENDS says the CRTC is following due process, so far, with its upcoming hearings into CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM.
XM Satellite Radio, the broadcaster that is being acquired by its rival Sirius Satellite Radio, posted a fourth-quarter loss of $256.7 million (USD).
FRIENDS notes that public opinion polls have shown that privatizing Ontario's public broadcaster would be unpopular.
FRIENDS says that, from dumbed-down news reporting to Hollywood imports to decimated local programming, CBC senior management is not delivering what Canadians need.
Columnist says CBC president and CEO Robert Rabinovitch and CBC-TV executive vice-president Richard Stursberg, have been 'stung' by FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting.
FRIENDS defends evaluating the performance of senior CBC executives.
Columnist sites FRIENDS research stating that between September 2003 and February 2006, foreign programs shown on CBC-TV increased by almost 50 per cent.
FRIENDS says the track record of Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president of CBC English-TV over the past two years has been very disappointing.
FRIENDS expects the ownership structure in the CanWest/Alliance Atlantis deal to be challenged by the CRTC under Canadian regulations limiting foreign ownership of media companies to 47%.
FRIENDS says the CBC Radio plan to reach a younger demographic is responsible management, as long they are sensitive to their existing audience.
FRIENDS says that possible CRTC intervention into the CanWest/Goldman Sachs purchase of Alliance Atlantis may cause concern for investors.
