With president Richard Stursberg now leaving Canada's public broadcaster, the question becomes, What next?

Source: Globe and Mail

The timing said it all. Late on a summer Friday afternoon came the abrupt press release announcing that CBC English TV president Richard Stursberg was through. Quit? Resigned? Fired? Hard to tell. The terse language of the press release confirmed that this was less than a cordial parting for the man who'd pushed CBC to a more commercial image. Compliments were restrained in the announcement that the drama queen of networks was about to undergo another in its periodic fits of public self-assessment.

CBC types this weekend all expressed the view that the conflict was between commercial sensibilities (Stursberg) and artistic tradition of CBC (the board of directors). While Stursberg's regime scored ratings hits with Battle of the Blades, Dragon's Den, Being Erica and other shows, the tradeoff was deemed unsatisfying by those who champion the traditional news/features role of CBC TV – big losers in Stursberg's “new” CBC. There was also the matter of the disastrous lockout a few years back.

We'll leave the big picture to others, but Stursberg's sports legacy is decidedly mixed: During his regime, CBC lost the rights to the Olympics, the CFL and curling. It was forced to overpay an onerous $100-million a year to retain Hockey Night In Canada. Some say it was carelessness; others insist Stursberg was being practical with limited resources. Strong ratings for the 2010 World Cup and HNIC balanced the ledger somewhat in his favour – although part of the ratings' bump came from the new portable people meters, a jump not likely to be repeated this season.

The question now is which direction will a new president lead sports? If less commercial is the mandate, will Hockey Night In Canada push Don Cherry into retirement? Will the Corp re-commit to acquiring the Olympics after CTV's bold gamble to take the 2010/2012 Games? Will the plans for a dedicated sports channel be accelerated? More amateur sport? Hard to say yet. Most feel that sports vice-president Scott Moore is safe, despite being a Stursberg lieutenant. His work on the advertising side has given him increased profile within the Corporation, and if internal candidates are to be considered, he will receive consideration.

Clearly, all options are open with Stursberg and his loyal assistant gone or diminished in influence. The only certainty is that no one will be well served by the CBC until it solves yet another civil war for the soul of Canadian broadcasting.

© Globe and Mail