Source: 680 News

TORONTO - CBC has announced the sudden departure of English Services chief Richard Stursberg, a controversial figure who oversaw a massive overhaul at the public broadcaster that brought in more U.S. programming to hike ratings.

CBC president Hubert Lacroix announced the change in a statement issued to staff on Friday but gave no reason for the departure. The change was to take effect immediately.

"When Richard was appointed executive vice-president of CBC Television six years ago, he brought with him a revolution that shook the foundation of the organization and eventually of the whole of our English services," Lacroix said in the statement.

"He challenged every premise, attacked conventional wisdom, and uprooted whole parts of the internal culture. Six years later, the institution is better off than it was. I want to acknowledge his success in turning CBC Television around and thank him for his contribution."

The network said Kirstine Stewart, general manager of CBC Television, will fill in on an interim basis.

Stursberg put the public broadcaster on a more commercial path by revamping Radio 2 and adding U.S. imports "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" to the prime-time TV lineup. He also reached audiences with new homegrown hits, including "Battle of the Blades," "Dragons' Den," and "Little Mosque on the Prairie."

Ian Morrison, a spokesman for the watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, says Stursberg was appointed "as a complete outsider" with no previous radio or television production, scheduling or marketing experience.

"He has been very much disliked, loathed, even, by many thousands of CBC employees," says Morrison.

"Under him, CBC has lost the Olympic Games, the Grey Cup, curling and its audience share in television has dwindled."

"I'm trying to think of something positive to say about him and I really can't. In a sense, the fact that Stursberg is out cannot help but be a good thing for the institution of public broadcasting."

Stursberg could not immediately be reached for comment, but a CBC spokesman insisted that English television flourished during his tenure. Bill Chambers said prime time programming in particular saw a 30 to 40 per cent ratings gain on the main network.

He refused to discuss why the shakeup occurred, saying only that it involved a five-year plan being drafted to look at how the corporation can meet its mandate in a rapidly changing media landscape.

"There was no dust up," says Chambers. "It was considered an opportune time to bring in new leadership."

Stursberg's tenure has been a rocky one.

He navigated the English service through massive staff and programming cuts to cope with an $85-million shortfall. Layoffs included up to 180 employees in 2009.

Union leaders also blame him for taking a hard line against staff with a bitter seven-week lockout in 2005.

His programming changes included last year's rebranding of CBC Newsworld to CBC News Network, which featured a revamped schedule, onscreen graphics and new personalities.

"I always sort of considered him the Dick Cheney of the CBC because he was just so abrasive, the guy with the plan," said Lise Lareau, national president of the Canadian Media Guild.

"With his departure I think everyone's wondering, 'Well, what now?' He was an easy guy to demonize and you're hearing that from a lot of people, but I think his legacy, it's going to take months and years to figure out what that really was."

Previously, Stursberg served as executive director of Telefilm Canada. He was also president and CEO of Canadian Satellite Communications and Star Choice.

In the 1980s, he worked in the federal government's department of communications.

The internal memo said CBC would begin a search to replace Stursberg immediately.

© 680 News