CBC Drops the Drama Ball - Management must be held accountableFeb 17, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ottawa - CTV leads CBC by a wide margin when it comes to presentation of Canadian drama series in prime time, according to new data released this morning by Friends of Canadian Broadcasting and ACTRA. The latest data show that between September 2003 and August 2005, CTV presented 219 prime time (7 to 11pm) hours of Canadian dramatic series compared to only 122 hours during the same period by CBC. The data were assembled by Canadian Media Research Inc. "These numbers should embarrass CBC's management who appear to be ignoring CBC's mandate to showcase Canadian programs, especially in the powerful drama genre" said Ian Morrison, spokesperson for Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. "CBC management has joined private broadcasters in a race to the bottom in terms of Canadian TV drama. The CBC must be given the resources it needs to fill its mandate and raise the bar on Canadian content. The CRTC must then hold the private broadcasters to meet those raised standards by imposing minimum Canadian content and expenditure requirements," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's National Executive Director. The new data released this morning come on the heels of an announcement by CBC earlier this week cancelling three Canadian dramatic series - Da Vinci City Hall, This is Wonderland and The Tournament. "For the CBC to cancel three series that it admits were 'terrific' is disingenuous. The CBC is mandated to produce, promote and schedule programming that is 'predominantly and distinctively Canadian' - not to compete with private broadcasters for ratings on imported U.S. programming," said Waddell. Following the CBC's calculated decision to lock out more than 5,000 of its employees last summer and to fill its schedule with Hollywood blockbusters during the NHL lockout, Friends is renewing its call to end patronage appointments to the CBC Board. "We are calling on Prime Minister Harper to relinquish the government's power to appoint the CBC President and members of the Board. CBC management is unaccountable for their poor performance because of Prime Ministerial patronage," Morrison said. "Too often, appointments to Canada's most important cultural institutions have been made on the basis of partisan considerations, rather than merit and ability. This must change," Morrison said. CBC's current President, Robert Rabinovitch, was first appointed by Prime Minister Chretien and re-appointed by Prime Minister Martin. Based on publicly available data, Friends research reveals that almost 90% of appointees to the CBC Board since its creation have been affiliated to the governing party. "Canadians perceive CBC to be the leader in presenting Canadian content. At this rate, President Rabinovitch's legacy will be to drive this hard earned reputation into the ground," Morrison said, adding that "neither Rabinovitch nor Richard Stursberg, the English TV Executive Vice President he appointed in 2004 have any direct experience in television programming, scheduling or development". -30- For information: Carol Taverner Jim Thompson
Related DocumentsFebruary 28, 2006 - Toronto Star: Spin class by Antonia Zerbisias February 22, 2006 - Toronto Star: Size matters by Antonia Zerbisias February 21, 2006 - Letter to Toronto Star columnist regarding CBC drama performance February 21, 2006 - Toronto Star: Good TV not a numbers game by Antonia Zerbisias February 20, 2006 - Letter to Globe & Mail columnist regarding CBC drama performance February 20, 2006 - Globe & Mail: It's easy to bash CBC, but not always fair by John Doyle |
Apr 30, 2012 — Michaëlle Jean is the People’s Pick for CBC ChairFRIENDS says the CBC belongs to all Canadians and its leadership positions should be open to the best and brightest citizens, not just those on the government’s patronage pay-off list Apr 26, 2012 — FRIENDS launch People’s Pick for CBC ChairFRIENDS says the antiquated practice of political patronage for appointing the CBC Board and President is in need of reform. Mar 29, 2012 — Vindictive cuts break CBC promise and target Canadian cultureThe federal budget singles out the CBC for vindictive cuts that break the Conservative’s election promise to maintain or increase funding to the national public broadcaster. Mar 23, 2012 — Nanos poll shows Canadians want CBC promise keptA new Nanos survey has found a majority of Canadians support or somewhat support the position staked out by Heritage Minister James Moore one day after the election that the Conservative government will maintain or increase CBC funding. Mar 16, 2012 — BCE acquisition of Astral raises concernsFRIENDS says BCE Inc.'s bid to purchase Astral Media, the largest media merger in Canadian history, raises concerns about market domination. Feb 13, 2012 — Poll finds Canadian media too important to allow foreign controlAccording to a new opinion survey, 77% of Canadians see domestic media companies as too important for cultural and security reasons to allow them to be controlled by foreign interests. Feb 1, 2012 — Hamilton residents want their own CBC stationA substantial majority of Hamilton area residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs, and support the Conservative's pre-election pledge to maintain or increase CBC funding. Jan 31, 2012 — London residents want their own CBC stationA wide majority of London residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs and most hope their MP would champion the new station or not oppose it. |
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