CBC Boss Slams Harper over budget cuts

mentalfloss

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Looks like you're learning. The goal of private broadcasters is to make money. Every decision they make is with that end goal in mind. Since no party in power has ever given that goal to the CBC, expecting then to mirror the private sector would make no sense.

Ideologically they believe that private = good.

We should have a healthy mix of both private and public industry.
 

captain morgan

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Public sector operations that have the mentality that they are immune from market forces, transparency and scrutiny are nothing more than a fiefdom.

In essence, this is the CBC in a nutshell
 

mentalfloss

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No one suggested that they are immune to market forces, but the content is not primarily motivated by profit like it is with the private sector.
 

captain morgan

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If their content is not marketable, then they have failed in the attempt to achieve their mandate.

That failure brings into the equation the question of further financing at those prior levels
 

Cannuck

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Do you have any idea what the goals of the CBC are?

Chances are that they have not achieved them


The 1991 Broadcasting Act states that...

...the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains;

...the programming provided by the Corporation should:

be predominantly and distinctively Canadian,
reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions,
actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression,
be in English and in French, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, including the particular needs and circumstances of English and French linguistic minorities,
strive to be of equivalent quality in English and French,
contribute to shared national consciousness and identity,
be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose, and
reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada.

On the surface, I think the CBC does a pretty good job achieving their mandate. Where I and mental floss disagree is on what the mandate should be. It would seem that mental floss and Harper agree on what the mandate should be since Harper hasn't bothered to change the mandate.
 

captain morgan

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There is not one element within the definition you provided that isn't fully subjective. Further, there is no mention that this 'mandate' be funded with endless tax dollars without question or accountability.

Ultimately, this is what this entire issue is about
 

Cannuck

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There is not one element within the definition you provided that isn't fully subjective.

Of course. That's to be expected with cultural issues. My point though is that private companies don't have this mandate so trying to compare the CBC to Bell Media is ridiculous at best.

Further, there is no mention that this 'mandate' be funded with endless tax dollars without question or accountability.

Ultimately, this is what this entire issue is about

Actually it's not. To me, it's no different than my boss expecting me to do a particular job, not providing me with the resources to do the job and having one segment of the public whine when I ask for the resource and another whine if I don't because I can't do the job. I expect any government or boss to set the goals and objectives of the organization and provide the resources required to meet them. If they don't have the resources or don't want to spend them, then don't ask people to do the job.

So this entire issue is really about what mandate the CBC should have and it should be realistic based on the resources it's given. The Conservatives, like most governments are just being lazy.
 

taxslave

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The 1991 Broadcasting Act states that...

...the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as the national public broadcaster, should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains;

...the programming provided by the Corporation should:

be predominantly and distinctively Canadian,
reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions,
actively contribute to the flow and exchange of cultural expression,
be in English and in French, reflecting the different needs and circumstances of each official language community, including the particular needs and circumstances of English and French linguistic minorities,
strive to be of equivalent quality in English and French,
contribute to shared national consciousness and identity,
be made available throughout Canada by the most appropriate and efficient means and as resources become available for the purpose, and
reflect the multicultural and multiracial nature of Canada.

On the surface, I think the CBC does a pretty good job achieving their mandate. Where I and mental floss disagree is on what the mandate should be. It would seem that mental floss and Harper agree on what the mandate should be since Harper hasn't bothered to change the mandate.

ANd now the whole country has access to internet and satellite radio and tv.
 

Cannuck

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ANd now the whole country has access to internet and satellite radio and tv.

I'm not sure what your point is. If you think times have changed and the CBCs mandate should change then you and I are in agreement (although I've never been a fan of the mandate). That said, Flossy likes the mandate and so does Harper.
 

captain morgan

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Of course. That's to be expected with cultural issues. My point though is that private companies don't have this mandate so trying to compare the CBC to Bell Media is ridiculous at best.

The inability to fully define the 'mandate' (and flowery language within) is the root of the problem here.

All of the language used in the CBC mandate is nothing more than the ramblings of a Miss America contestant that will dedicate herself to world peace, cultural diversity and promoting understanding.

You see what I'm driving at here?

That said, the private broadcasters all manage to compete in the same space and in a manner that is subject to fiscal parameters, but clearly accommodate the myriad of cultural issues by virtue of appealing to a mass audience.


Actually it's not. To me, it's no different than my boss expecting me to do a particular job, not providing me with the resources to do the job and having one segment of the public whine when I ask for the resource and another whine if I don't because I can't do the job. I expect any government or boss to set the goals and objectives of the organization and provide the resources required to meet them. If they don't have the resources or don't want to spend them, then don't ask people to do the job.

So this entire issue is really about what mandate the CBC should have and it should be realistic based on the resources it's given. The Conservatives, like most governments are just being lazy.

Who says that the CBC doesn't have the resources?... You?

PS - ... and of course, the CBC Sr Management will blame all of their failures and inability on 'lack of resources'... Surely you don't expect them to man-up and admit that they are socialist tards
 
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Cannuck

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The inability to fully define the 'mandate'

You're confused. Your inability to understand the mandate in no way means it's not defined...or do you believe that your man Harper is handing over 100's of millions of taxpayers dollars to the CBC without understanding the mandate?

All of the language used in the CBC mandate is nothing more than the ramblings of a Miss America contestant that will dedicate herself to world peace, cultural diversity and promoting understanding.

That's neither here nor there. As has been established, the mandate is set by the government. If you're unable to understand it, that is something you should ask your government to clarify since they're the one that provide the CBC with its mandate

You see what I'm driving at here?

Yes, you're trying to lay blame on the head of the CBC when you've admitted that you don't really understand the mandate. Do you have any experience running a TV Station?

That said, the private broadcasters all manage to compete in the same space and in a manner that is subject to fiscal parameters, but clearly accommodate the myriad of cultural issues by virtue of appealing to a mass audience.

Private broadcasters are mandated by their shareholders to generate profits and that is all. As I said, it's apples and oranges.

Who says that the CBC doesn't have the resources?... You?

The boss of the CBC. Haven't you read the OP?
PS - ... and of course, the CBC Sr Management will blame all of their failures and inability on 'lack of resources'... Surely you don't expect them to m,an-up and admit that they are socialist tards

I don't know the man, nor do I know the first thing about running a network. I do know that our municipality expects certain things from the fire department and won't provide the required resources to make it happen. The Fire Chief may be a Socialist Tard (I've never asked him) but that doesn't take away from the municipalities unwillingness to provide the necessary resources to provide the service they are asking for.
 
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Cannuck

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No one suggested that they are immune to market forces, but the content is not primarily motivated by profit like it is with the private sector.

What's overlooked is the fact that their mandate directs them to offer French services on par with English. Given the number of Francophones and Anglophones in Canada, no private sector network would even consider such a thing.
 

mentalfloss

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Yes, this shows that it's not primarily about the market or profit.

That is the whole point about a public service like this.

It actually serves the interests of the people.
 

Cannuck

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It actually serves the interests of the people.

That's debatable. As I've said before, I'm no fan of the CBC. I think it should be run more like PBS or my favorited radio station CKUA. I have no problem with some government money going into it but I simply see no value from the 100s of millions currently being spent. That said, you can't blame the CBC. They're only trying to do what the government tells them they're supposed to do.
 

billshaver

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since they canceld the cbc broadcast on short wave...its going down hill without brakes....programing is gone, its about funding.....guess who control sthat, wonder why their is anti harpo matl on cbc..its suppose to equally broadcast politics from both sides...i can figure this out can you....cbc is another thing in canada harpo wants to liquidate to support his freinds .....
 

captain morgan

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since they canceld the cbc broadcast on short wave...its going down hill without brakes....programing is gone, its about funding.....guess who control sthat, wonder why their is anti harpo matl on cbc..its suppose to equally broadcast politics from both sides...i can figure this out can you....cbc is another thing in canada harpo wants to liquidate to support his freinds .....

Ever give any consideration that the programming has gone downhill due to the crappy management decisions?

How about the habit of a number of central personalities that believe the CBC exists as their personal platform and act as if they are untouchable (Gian Ghomeshi comes to mind)
 

Cannuck

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Ever give any consideration that the programming has gone downhill due to the crappy management decisions?

How about the habit of a number of central personalities that believe the CBC exists as their personal platform and act as if they are untouchable (Gian Ghomeshi comes to mind)

You're just being silly now.
 

taxslave

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That's debatable. As I've said before, I'm no fan of the CBC. I think it should be run more like PBS or my favorited radio station CKUA. I have no problem with some government money going into it but I simply see no value from the 100s of millions currently being spent. That said, you can't blame the CBC. They're only trying to do what the government tells them they're supposed to do.

Kind of how I look at it too. However CBC still seems to figure it has to impose Toronto(Ontario?) view on the rest of the country. There is a difference between radio and tv as well. CBC radio is totally useless in its present form. THe original mandate was to provide a link to remote parts of the country which was a good idea but the programing today is simply not relevant with the ready access to internet and satellite radio. PBS type funding would be a better vehicle for it.
Having to provide programing in two languages is just more waste of money.And in recent years the cbc has simply become the mouthpiece of the left with biased reporting and commentary.
 

AnnaG

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Meh. I couldn't give two hoots about CBC tv or most of what's on Radio 1. I do like the tunes on Radio 2 and 3, though.