CBC

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CBC
Radio-Canada
CBC Television Transformation
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CBC Mandate from the Broadcasting Act

• 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
  in 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.

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CBC English Television Diagnosis

• 1. Identity Crisis.
• No shared understanding of purpose and value.
• Public broadcaster or commercial broadcaster?
• Insufficiently distinctive from other networks.
• Declining audiences.
• Over-reliance on commercial revenue
  (reduces distinctiveness and quality).
• 2. Financial Crisis.
• Rising costs.
• Stable government funding.
• Increasing competition for commercial revenue.
• We must balance the books.
• Plus fund necessary improvements.

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ETV Transformation Goals

• 1. Increase the value of CBC Television.
• Canadian Public Television.
• Canadian largely achieved.
• Now emphasize Public.
• More distinctive higher quality
  less commercial.
• 2. In a way which is financially responsible.
• Absorb cost pressures and revenue losses.
• Balance the books.
• Financially sustainable.

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Schedule Characteristics

• Pan-Canadian Service.
• All Canadians see themselves on it, feel
  ownership in it.
• Expanded reflection of Canada to Canadians.
• Programs produced across the country.
• Embodies public broadcasting values.
• A public broadcasting look to the entire
  schedule.
• Excellence and distinctiveness.
• Clearly superior in quality.
• Clearly different from anything else available.
• Predominantly Canadian.
• Supplemented with Best of the World.
• Greater audience impact.
• In terms of both usage and value.

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Major Features

• Improved regional reflection on the network.
• Journalistic presence in more locations.
• Revitalized 6 and 10 pm flagship information
  programs.
• Expanded Childrens and Youth programming.
• More Arts and Documentaries.
• Renewed public affairs, investigative journalism.
• Continued excellence in Comedy and Drama.
• Sports continued amateur and journalistic
  initiatives.
• More high-impact specials.
• More room for innovation and risk-taking.
• Reduced commercial presence and clutter.
• New, consistent network look, personality and
  brand.

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Key Issue Commercial Reduction

• 200M per year 40 of ETV budget.
• Two reasons to reduce it
• Public policy rationale
• Over-reliance on advertising compromises public
  service broadcasters (1999 McKinsey Report).
  
• Public and key stakeholders support change.
• Clearly signals public broadcasting commitment
  clearly differentiates CBC from other
  broadcasters.
• Business case
• Ad revenue bound to decrease through ongoing
  audience fragmentation and industry competition.
• Advertisers rebelling at clutter.
• Remaining advertising has greater value.

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Key Issue Regional Reconfiguration

• Current Situation Local Supper Hours.
• Financially unsustainable.
• Relatively small audiences in most locations
  seen as insufficiently distinctive.
• Resources concentrated in too few locations
  large parts of country not well covered.
• Production at multiple locations increases
  cost per viewer per hour on the schedule.
• Local presence drives up infrastructure costs.
• Fundamental change is required.
  Tinkering is not a solution.

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The Plan Summary of Benefits

• Solves financial crisis sustainable in long
  term.
• Stops downward spiral of across-the-board cuts.
• Reduces high fixed infrastructure costs.
• Meets public broadcasting mandate.
• More distinctive, high-quality programming.
• Better regional reflection on the network.
• Expanded journalistic presence across the
  country.
• Reduced commercial inventory and clutter.
• Increased impact, value, relevance.
• Deserves public support.
• Builds for the future.