Source : CBC/Radio-Canada

Update on the Board of Directors meeting

Here's my update to you on the most recent Board meeting, which was held Wednesday and Thursday of this week, in Ottawa.

Board Deliberations and Discussions

- As requested by members at the May meeting of the Board, Jane Chalmers returned to the Board to expand on the strategy for CBC Radio Two Redevelopment.  The Board wholly endorsed the proposed approach.  Jane will share a more detailed overview of the plan with CBC Radio staff shortly.

- Michel Tremblay presented CBC/Radio-Canada's strategy in preparation for the CRTC's review of its current television policy for conventional broadcasters, which will examine such issues as the economic model for conventional television, the framework for attaining the greatest amount of Canadian television, and the most effective means of delivering digital/high definition programming to Canadians.  The Board endorsed the Corporation's proposed approach, which will permit CBC/Radio-Canada to finalize its submission for filing with the CRTC on September 27.  We will make a copy of this CRTC submission available to you upon filing.

- The Board received its annual briefing on CBC Television's strategy, and Richard Stursberg presented the role of public broadcasting in the current and future media environment, the many challenges and opportunities that a multi-platform future offers, and CBC Television's strategy for addressing them.  The Board had an extensive discussion, understanding that it is critical for CBC Television to address its changing circumstances.

Programming Highlights

What follows is a summary of programming highlights and other news that I shared with my Board colleagues.

- French Services is to be commended for its successful Fall launch, positioning the scope of its services in an integrated way and thereby growing the content choices it offers to Canadians.  Having this year decided to go with a new integrated positioning and format, the phased launch, which was built around four core themes ­ Information, Culture, Music, Youth ­ has yielded superb press coverage over the last three weeks.

- For Radio de Radio-Canada, the Spring BBMs confirmed our leading position in all large Francophone markets.  On the web, Radio-Canada.ca retains its position as the most-visited News media site among Francophones. Télévision de Radio-Canada unveils 10 new drama series this fall, a cultural magazine, two new youth programs, and Saturday nights dedicated to Canadian movies. Almost 30 per cent of prime-time programming will be in HD.  And RDI goes to air with a new format, offering continuous information programming live from all regions of the country.

- Since the end of the regular season on April 16th, 2006, CBC Television's prime-time share is at 9.2 per cent.  On September 17, CBC Television will bring Canadian television viewers the first chapter of its much-anticipated 10-hour documentary, Hockey: A People's History.  And CBC Television has garnered 194 nominations for this year's Gemini Awards, which is among the highest ever for the network.

- CBC Radio continues to extend its successful foray into podcasting, with about 200,000 downloads each week of such favourites as CBC Radio 3, Quirks & Quarks, Ideas, As It Happens, Editor's Choice, DNTO and The Current.  CBC Radio has also struck a new agreement with a public radio station launching in Seattle, KXOT, which will carry many CBC Radio shows, including As It Happens, Sunday Edition, Ideas, Tapestry, Dispatches, and Quirks & Quarks.

- CBC.ca retains the top spot as the news media website most-used by Canadians, with an average of 2.7 million unique visitors for 2005-2006.

- In late October, Radio Canada International (RCI) goes live with new Web services in eight languages intended for new immigrants to Canada.

- CBC/Radio-Canada performed exceptionally well as host broadcaster and media sponsor for the XVI International AIDS Conference, held in Toronto in August with more than 20,000 delegates in attendance.  Both CBC and Radio-Canada produced and broadcast a wide range of special programs, documentaries and News stories on HIV and AIDS leading up to and during the conference.

- CBC/Radio-Canada's Canadian Institute for Training in Public Broadcasting has inked two new contracts: one in the Ivory Coast, leading up to their federal elections; and, the other in Jordan, training Iraqi journalists.

The next Board meeting will be held on November 22 and 23 in Halifax.

Robert Rabinovitch
President and CEO

© CBC/Radio-Canada