Ok, the below article is just a springboard to launch into some conversation regarding the CBC. Lately I've been hearing allot of debate regarding it, and personally feel the concerns are unsubstantiated and willfully instigated by a certain 'group'.
Liberal flirts with sale of CBC
Source
ANTONIA ZERBISIAS
With the Ontario Liberal government now holding up the prospect of selling Polkaroo off to the highest bidder, the last thing proponents of public broadcasting want to hear is that CBC may also be on the auction block.
As reported in the Star, TVOntario could be in play to pay off the $5.6 billion mess left behind by the Tories. Almost like former premier Mike Harris is getting his wish to privatize TVO.
Meanwhile CBC, which recently received a $60 million cash infusion from the feds, continues to be a favourite target of conservatives, Conservatives — and columnists at CanWest Global newspapers.
It's hardly surprising that they would support the privatization of CBC.
But when a member of Prime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet calls the public network a "monster," while suggesting that potential foreign buyers could be regulated into ensuring it remains — to borrow a laughable Fox News phrase — "fair and balanced," then that's news.
It all happened last Wednesday evening on CBC Newsworld's counterSpin, which invited NDP leader Jack Layton, Conservative Party finance critic Monte Solberg and National Revenue Minister Stan Keyes to face off over the $250 million sponsorship scandal.
During a commercial break, with the tape still rolling, Solberg compared CBC to Canada Post and then, as is his oft-stated position, started to say that while Newsworld has its purpose, the main network was an expensive and unnecessary proposition.
The exchange continued, with Keyes, a former broadcaster at Barrie's CKVR and Hamilton's CHCH, charging that CBC "has become a monster, quite frankly."
"Yeah, it's a huge expense," agreed Solberg, adding that "ratings have fallen like a stone."
Then, according to a transcript, which arrived in a plain brown E-mail, Keyes said: "It's a billion dollars we have put towards CBC television and we witness direct competition between a public broadcaster and the private sector."
(You'd think that the national revenue minister would know that billion bucks also covers French TV, northern services plus four radio networks, no?)
At this point Layton, clearly disgusted, sarcastically said, "We'll have Fox take over the whole media operation.
"Good God, George Bush's mouthpiece: I mean really, they'll buy it if it's up for sale."
"No, we can regulate it and make sure that doesn't happen," insisted Keyes.
Retorted Layton, "No, but you are changing the regulations precisely to allow them."
Which, if private broadcasters get their way, will happen: Exactly a year ago, CanWest president Leonard Asper urged a House of Commons committee to allow foreign media companies to buy Canadian broadcasters. Having big fat and new sources of capital would help CanWest with its massive debt.
A government decision on foreign ownership of cable companies is reportedly expected this month. If outsiders are permitted to buy up chunks of Rogers and Shaw, you can be sure that it won't be long before they can buy up TV stations here.
Which is why Keyes' comments about CBC being privatized, as casual as they may appear, are important to put on the public record right now.
=============================
A few questions about the issues raised in this. Despite having an 80% approval rating among it's audience, why is it conservatives want to gut the CBC (they call it reviewing it's mandate) and have even claimed it as being left wing and anti-American. How do you view the CBC?
Despite Paul Martin claiming his support[url] of the CBC, this flirting with the sell off of it has me concerned. Anyone know the legalities behind this? Do you support a levy based public broadcaster?
Personally I love the CBC. 99.1 is fresh, and CBC newsworld does real news. This idea of privatizing it is IMO flirting with disaster, and personally I'd pay more to keep it on air. It seems from a certain camp that competition is only relevant among privatized entities as anytime a public service has some success, the idea of privatizing it keeps popping up.
Liberal flirts with sale of CBC
Source
ANTONIA ZERBISIAS
With the Ontario Liberal government now holding up the prospect of selling Polkaroo off to the highest bidder, the last thing proponents of public broadcasting want to hear is that CBC may also be on the auction block.
As reported in the Star, TVOntario could be in play to pay off the $5.6 billion mess left behind by the Tories. Almost like former premier Mike Harris is getting his wish to privatize TVO.
Meanwhile CBC, which recently received a $60 million cash infusion from the feds, continues to be a favourite target of conservatives, Conservatives — and columnists at CanWest Global newspapers.
It's hardly surprising that they would support the privatization of CBC.
But when a member of Prime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet calls the public network a "monster," while suggesting that potential foreign buyers could be regulated into ensuring it remains — to borrow a laughable Fox News phrase — "fair and balanced," then that's news.
It all happened last Wednesday evening on CBC Newsworld's counterSpin, which invited NDP leader Jack Layton, Conservative Party finance critic Monte Solberg and National Revenue Minister Stan Keyes to face off over the $250 million sponsorship scandal.
During a commercial break, with the tape still rolling, Solberg compared CBC to Canada Post and then, as is his oft-stated position, started to say that while Newsworld has its purpose, the main network was an expensive and unnecessary proposition.
The exchange continued, with Keyes, a former broadcaster at Barrie's CKVR and Hamilton's CHCH, charging that CBC "has become a monster, quite frankly."
"Yeah, it's a huge expense," agreed Solberg, adding that "ratings have fallen like a stone."
Then, according to a transcript, which arrived in a plain brown E-mail, Keyes said: "It's a billion dollars we have put towards CBC television and we witness direct competition between a public broadcaster and the private sector."
(You'd think that the national revenue minister would know that billion bucks also covers French TV, northern services plus four radio networks, no?)
At this point Layton, clearly disgusted, sarcastically said, "We'll have Fox take over the whole media operation.
"Good God, George Bush's mouthpiece: I mean really, they'll buy it if it's up for sale."
"No, we can regulate it and make sure that doesn't happen," insisted Keyes.
Retorted Layton, "No, but you are changing the regulations precisely to allow them."
Which, if private broadcasters get their way, will happen: Exactly a year ago, CanWest president Leonard Asper urged a House of Commons committee to allow foreign media companies to buy Canadian broadcasters. Having big fat and new sources of capital would help CanWest with its massive debt.
A government decision on foreign ownership of cable companies is reportedly expected this month. If outsiders are permitted to buy up chunks of Rogers and Shaw, you can be sure that it won't be long before they can buy up TV stations here.
Which is why Keyes' comments about CBC being privatized, as casual as they may appear, are important to put on the public record right now.
=============================
A few questions about the issues raised in this. Despite having an 80% approval rating among it's audience, why is it conservatives want to gut the CBC (they call it reviewing it's mandate) and have even claimed it as being left wing and anti-American. How do you view the CBC?
Despite Paul Martin claiming his support[url] of the CBC, this flirting with the sell off of it has me concerned. Anyone know the legalities behind this? Do you support a levy based public broadcaster?
Personally I love the CBC. 99.1 is fresh, and CBC newsworld does real news. This idea of privatizing it is IMO flirting with disaster, and personally I'd pay more to keep it on air. It seems from a certain camp that competition is only relevant among privatized entities as anytime a public service has some success, the idea of privatizing it keeps popping up.