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.
Canadian senator, political strategist, author, and commentator makes a speech about democracy and journalism.
FRIENDS says facts are in short supply in the ad war over Local TV.
Roundtable discussion on the issue of fee-for-carriage, featuring broadcast industry observers including FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison.
FRIENDS says focus on style over substance moves CBC News in the direction of the private sector.
FRIENDS says senior CBC management is slavishly copying private sector behaviour in news rebranding.
The TV Alliance calls for a level playing field for meaningful consumer participation in the upcoming public hearing on billing practices for TV services in Canada.
FRIENDS says the Canwest restructuring will be better for the viewers, because anytime a company is better managed, its products tend to be better as well.
FRIENDS says financial weakness has caused Canwest to cut corners and that the restructuring can only improve the company's TV programming.
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, discusses the need for "fee-for-carriage" to preserve local television and the misinformation being presented by Canada's cable monopolies.
More than 5,600 people have signed a petition calling for the CBC to retain the one-hour format of The National, and keep the flagship news program in its current 10 p.m. time slot.
TValliance.ca, a new grassroots initiative to promote a better and more transparent TV broadcasting and distribution system for Canadians has launched.
FRIENDS says cable and satellite TV providers are misleading their subscribers by slapping a 1.5% fee on monthly bills and then trying to shift blame to the CRTC for the price hike.
In response to reports of "product integration" into CBC TV shows, FRIENDS says taxpayers expect public broadcasting services to be distinct from the private sector.
Article authors say the current media system in Canada does not adequately address the social, ecological and economic challenges facing communities across the country.
In a radio interview with host Roger Currie, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian
Morrison, discusses recent changes in Canada's TV industry.
FRIENDS says CBC's senior programming brass has a plan to move the public broadcaster's flagship nightly news program The National from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. to make room for prime-time entertainment programming.
Foreign programming now makes up 25 per cent of prime-time viewing
hours on CBC English TV, according to new research by Friends of
Canadian Broadcasting.
Canadian content during prime time on CBC English TV has reached a
20-year low, according to new research about what's on TV released this
morning by the watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
Canadian content during prime time on CBC English TV has reached a 20-year low, according to new research about what's on TV released this morning by the watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
FRIENDS says that if CBC Newsworld shifts focus from current affairs programming to news programming, it may run into issues over its mandate under the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission.
According to a poll commissioned by broadcast industry watchdog Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, most Canadians believe that the CBC is "being starved of funds by a government with a vendetta against it".
The majority of Canadians say the Conservative government is "hostile to the CBC and would like to diminish public broadcasting in Canada," according to a new poll from the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
In a radio interview with host Kathleen Petty, FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison, discusses the challenges facing Canadian TV broadcasters and the debate over 'fee-for-carriage'.
2009 Dalton Camp Award winner says "a journalist's foremost obligation is to tell the truth and to provide a check on government power, not to protect state officials".
2009 Dalton Camp Award winner says the Internet can enable a future where we no longer remain passive recipients of news and culture, but where we are inspired to contribute to the discussion.
A new Pollara study commissioned by FRIENDS shows nearly two thirds of respondents believe that Stephen Harper and his government are hostile to the CBC, and that half of them feel he "has a hidden agenda that favours private corporate broadcasters."
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, discusses a major new Pollara study of Canadians' attitudes about and expectations for the CBC.
FRIENDS says the CRTC has come up with a "good, sensible decision" in not imposing the requirement on broadcasters who face considerable financial headwinds already.
FRIENDS asks whether Minister Moore knew that a funding review was in the works when he gave his guarantee to parliamentarians that the CBC's budget would not be cut.
CBC president tells employees that the public broadcaster must find $50 million in its budget that could potentially be cut or redirected.
Article profiles the friction between FRIENDS and the House of Commons over the posting of committee proceedings that eventually lead to a liberalization of the rules.
A new Pollara survey finds that a majority of Canadians support increased funding for the CBC.
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison discusses, local programming, "fee-for-carriage", the plight of CanWest.
Freelance Journalist interviews FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison on the recent CBC cuts and how the recession is affecting Canada's broadcasting industry.
Magazines Canada uses FRIENDS as a model to build a network of citizens to advocate on behalf of the Canadian magazine industry.
Editorial cites www.friends.ca as a place to connect with other supporters of public broadcasting.
FRIENDS says cuts at the CBC will result in the regions becoming hinterland, receiving programming from a centralized operation, rather than places where their own stories can be told.
FRIENDS says regional and local CBC programming will be hit hard by budget cuts.
FRIENDS says Canadians will be upset when they see cuts to CBC's local and regional programming implemented.
FRIENDS says that facing an estimated $65 - $100 million shortfall, it's almost certain that CBC local programming nationwide will take a hit.
Op-ed says CBC should reduce ads on TV in exchange for stable, long-term funding; but, this is not a new idea...
CBC spokesman says the that details of a newly approved budget will be revealed by month's end.
FRIENDS applauds the Heritage Minster's comments that the CBC needs to "stop chasing revenues and eyeballs," but says it is unlikely the Minister is controlling the purse-strings on this file.
FRIENDS says the CBC's revenue shortfall springs equally from the recession and the public broadcaster having overpaid for American game shows that did not meet "rosy" sales projections.
FRIENDS tracks Stephen Harper's comments on public broadcasting and cultural sovereignty over the years.
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, discusses the implications of placing ads on CBC Radio.
Article references FRIENDS' campaign to keep ads off CBC Radio.
FRIENDS says if TV networks don't provide high-profile promotion and reserve online space for Canadian shows and news broadcasts, Canada's broadcasting industry will suffer.
FRIENDS says that if public investment replaced ad revenue on CBC television, it would help private sector television operators who are in financial difficulty.
FRIENDS says that local programming on over-the-air television doesn't shouldn't be allowed to wither away and die forever because of a temporary economic down cycle.
FRIENDS says the CBC should follow the BBC model in which the board of directors, composed of TV veterans, nominates the president, who reports back to the board.
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, discusses the implications of amalgamating the Canadian Television Fund, the Canada New Media Fund and Aboriginal Television fund.
FRIENDS says losing a local TV station would be devastating to a community because of the effect on the economy and decrease in local information.
FRIENDS says that it is time for the CRTC to grant over-the-air broadcasters fee-for-carriage revenues.
FRIENDS says it is doubtful whether Canadian taxpayers would be willing to pay for a public broadcaster that carries American TV shows and commercialized radio.
FRIENDS says possible cuts to CBC programs and less regional content would result in more of a Toronto broadcasting corporation than a Canadian broadcasting corporation.
FRIENDS say the gamble by CBC executives to purchase expensive U.S. TV shows hasn't paid off.
FRIENDS says a CBC revenue shortfall is as high as $125 million, and that watertight, multi-year acquisition of American shows have contributed to the corporation's woes.
CBC spokesman Jeff Keay says the public broadcaster wants Ottawa to provide immediate relief for a budgetary shortfall expected in 2009-2010 but he dismissed suggestions that bridge financing would amount to a handout.
FRIENDS says a CBC revenue shortfall is likely caused by the decision to purchase several expensive U.S. TV properties, including Jeopardy, Wheel Of Fortune and The Martha Stewart Show.
FRIENDS says it is reasonable to extend the same public policy and Broadcasting Act support for Canadian content in all media, including new media.
FRIENDS says the prime responsibility of the CRTC is to ensure that a certain amount of Canadian content in the audio-visual system - including the Internet - is available to Canadians.
FRIENDS says a CRTC plan to issue one-year licences and review local programming rules will be good for TV companies but bad for viewers.
FRIENDS spokesperson Ian Morrison discusses options for CHCH TV Hamilton and the importance of local news in a radio interview with host Bill Kelly.
FRIENDS says it is likely that CHCH television will continue to operate in Hamilton, but the sagging financial fortunes of parent company Canwest may mean less local programming.
FRIENDS says Heritage Minister James Moore may have blurted out more than he intended when saying he would consider putting ads on CBC Radio.
In a radio interview, FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, discusses the possible implications of placing ads on CBC Radio.
FRIENDS spokesperson, Ian Morrison, takes part in a call-in radio show on the Conservative government's openness to allow the commercialization of CBC Radio.
FRIENDS says a mandate to ensure shelf space for Canadian programming puts pressure on the CRTC to reconsider fee-for-carriage.
FRIENDS says that if the government and CBC executives are considering putting ads on CBC Radio they can expect a firestorm of protest.
Heritage Minister James Moore says that commercial advertising on CBC Radio should be be considered if the public broadcaster needs extra cash to to dig itself out of a financial hole.
FRIENDS says the Canwest TV station in Hamilton is in a strong position to carry on under new ownership.
FRIENDS says about two million Canadians who use rabbit ears or rooftop antennas to watch American television will be affected when U.S. broadcasters switch to digital TV signals in June.
FRIENDS says the CRTC should not be making seven-year decisions about broadcasting entities in a recession, where one of the major players might be failing.
FRIENDS says broadcasters may ask for relief on what they must spend on local programming or Canadian drama at CRTC licence renewal hearings set for this spring.
FRIENDS says the lack of a clearly defined transition plan from analogue to digital TV broadcasts will cause trouble for over-the-air viewers.
In response to public pressure, including from FRIENDS, Heritage Minister James Moore has promised not to cut the CBC's parliamentary grant by $200 million in the upcoming budget. �
