Hubert Lacroix reinforces public broadcaster's mandate amid $171-million shortfall, loss of Olympics

Source: Vancouver Sun

Despite the CBC's loss of exclusive Olympics coverage to rival CTV for the 2010 Games, CBC president and CEO Hubert Lacroix is still seeing gold.

"I hear a lot of people pining for the supposed golden age of CBC/Radio-Canada, an age when everything we did was relevant, compelling and Canadian," Lacroix said. "Here is the reality: That golden age is now."

Speaking to members of Vancouver's Board of Trade at a private luncheon on Thursday, Lacroix boasted about the Mother Corp.'s current direction: to make the CBC a multi-platform outlet focused on new media technology -- "a 'total media' organization" -- with original Canadian content.

Lacroix was also in town to celebrate the opening today of CBC Vancouver's new broadcast centre.

However, Lacroix was quick to point out the public broadcaster's precarious situation: a $171-million shortfall due in part to a combination of declining ad revenues and increasing costs, compounded by a dire economic situation brought on by the recession.

He also delivered strong words regarding the fight between broadcasters and satellite and cable-TV companies, which have been lobbing accusations at each other over the past year.

On the one hand, the CBC and the private broadcasters argue that the carriers are not paying their fair share and forcing broadcasters to make drastic cuts.

On the other, cable and satellite companies say it's a question of mismanagement, that TV stations are solely responsible for their own shortcomings and are simply looking for a "bailout."

Both parties will begin stating their case before the CRTC next week.

"Yes, this is a money issue," Lacroix said. "But more importantly, it is a culture issue. Local TV really does matter. As it stands now, making Canadian television doesn't make business sense."

The CBC recently had to slash 800 positions across Canada (41 in Vancouver) while eliminating programs, freezing salaries and selling some of its assets in order to meet its financial obligations.

As far as the Olympics are concerned, however, Lacroix promised to make Vancouver's new broadcast centre its programming hub during the Games.

"If you think that we're going to take a back seat as the city and the country host the world, think again."

For the duration of the Games, Peter Mansbridge, Rex Murphy, Anna-Maria Tremonti, Jian Ghomeshi and other CBC personalities will be broadcasting from Vancouver, and Lacroix promised that the cultural and social life of the city would feature prominently in the CBC's programming on TV, radio and online.

"These next few months will prove just how valuable CBC is to this country," he said.

The new CBC Vancouver headquarters will be open to the public all day today. It is at Hamilton and West Georgia streets in downtown Vancouver.

© Vancouver Sun