Senate politicians want CBC to drop HNIC

[wolverine]

OTTAWA -- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is "in danger of losing its way," must get rid of Hockey Night in Canada, and should stop competing with the private sector to fulfil its mandate, urges a major Senate report released Wednesday.

The rest of the Vancouver Sun article is subscription-only, sorry.

Anyway, so some politicians want to give average citizens even less of a reason to watch CBC? Despite its faults, the cancellation of HNIC will result in a Canadian Revolution, mark my words.

 

[dirtydan]

The thing is IF the CBC were to go commercial free then obviously the network would not be able to afford something like HNIC or CFL on CBC for that matter. So in that way it makes sense. However I strongly disagree with the Senate committee's assertion that there is too much sports on the CBC. I think the "mother corp" does a good job covering sports, particularly less popular sports.

In fact I think the committee dropped the ball in not suggesting that the CBC expand by buying Sportsnet. Why should TSN and Sportsnet be owned by the same company? I think what is needed is a channel that carries a lot of amatuer sports, something the CBC does far better than anyother network in Canada. So a CBC owned Sportsnet would make sense to me.

BTW, love the cartoon!

 

[gravitas]

IF the CBC were to go commercial free

its defacto commercial free already....I watched game 7 on CBC (couldn't tolerate NBC, my how the yanks can fuck up that game) and in the final period every single commercial was for either another piece of shit anne of green gables cancon program or a PSA for one gov't agency or another

if those useless leftwing fuckers at the CBC can't round up advertisers for the final game in the final series of the stanley cup then patient's dead and pull the plug

 

[JustAGuy]

If it resulted in asshole Don Cherry being sent to the unemployment line, I'd be all for it.

 

[mustangjoe]

fuck off...

It's all a cheap publicity stunt...

CBC will never dump HNIC

 

[Ray]

Hockey is the only thing worth watching on the CBC. Everything else is crap.

 

[dirtydan]

its defacto commercial free already....I watched game 7 on CBC (couldn't tolerate NBC, my how the yanks can fuck up that game) and in the final period every single commercial was for either another piece of shit anne of green gables cancon program or a PSA for one gov't agency or another

if those useless leftwing fuckers at the CBC can't round up advertisers for the final game in the final series of the stanley cup then patient's dead and pull the plug

Where were those useless rightwing fuckers with all the money to pay for the commercials. Surely getting commerical time on one of country's most popular shows at the moment when it extremely popular would have useless rightwing fuckers falling over each other to buy that time. In other words it should be an easy sell.

 

[dirtydan]

Hockey is the only thing worth watching on the CBC. Everything else is crap.

And what exactly are the programs on the CBC you think are crap? Then, what are the programs on the other networks you think that are not crap?

 

[gravitas]

In other words it should be an easy sell.

Nothing is easy to sell, things are easy to buy. The national economy is booming and companies are spending money faster then ever on marketing and business development. If the private sector doesn't see value in the CBC as a advertising venue then the CBC should go down the path of user supported public television.

If that means that the CBC could no longer cover the broadcast rights for HNIC then it goes up for bid to another Canadian carrier/network.

G

 

[twoblues]

They should go the way of the PBS. Be self supporting and remove all government contribution. Or at least raise half the money and have the government match the other half. That way, they'd at least have to smarten up and get rid of useless programming.

On another note, apparently during the strike, when they showed only movies during the HNIC time slot, they actually were more profitable. This was due to the movies being cheaper to broadcast than a live event.

 

[Hardatwork]

If that means that the CBC could no longer cover the broadcast rights for HNIC then it goes up for bid to another Canadian carrier/network.

You got it gravitas! I don't think the average Canadian really cares which channel HNIC is on as long as they get that channel. Nowadays most people have at least basic cable so going from channel 3 to channel 11 doesn't make a diff in the world.

A privately owned station like Sportsnet might actually care that most westerners don't want to see the Leafs every Saturday and might actually try showcasing some other Canadian teams like the Canadiens and Senators once in a while.

 

[lenharper]

its defacto commercial free already....I watched game 7 on CBC (couldn't tolerate NBC, my how the yanks can fuck up that game) and in the final period every single commercial was for either another piece of shit anne of green gables cancon program or a PSA for one gov't agency or another

if those useless leftwing fuckers at the CBC can't round up advertisers for the final game in the final series of the stanley cup then patient's dead and pull the plug

Actually... you're wrong. The only promo for programming during the Stanley Cup finals was for a CBC "buy" called "Hustle" a British hiest show starring Robert Vaugn. How that relates to Anne of Green Gables is unclear but anyway...

The other commercials during the game were for the usual suspects, beer (kokanee largely featured), Tim Hortons, Mastercard (the dude on the Zamboni), Yaris, the other little car -- the two dudes go in circles until they're dizzy and Viagra.

There may have been some promo's for CFL coverage on CBC but considering they are broadcasting to sports fans that kinda makes sense.

But let's not let facts get in the way of a screed.

 

[ValleyGuy]

From what I`ve read and heard over the past year, CTV (which is a part owner of TSN) wants to OUTBID CBC the next time television rights go up for bid ( I think its next year). I think there is a good chance of this happening as CTV also outbid CBC for the 2010 Olympics

 

[gravitas]

Actually... you're wrong. The only promo for programming during the Stanley Cup finals was for a CBC "buy" called "Hustle" a British hiest show starring Robert Vaugn.

The other commercials during the game were for the usual suspects, beer (kokanee largely featured), Tim Hortons, Mastercard (the dude on the Zamboni), Yaris, the other little car -- the two dudes go in circles until they're dizzy and Viagra.

Don't know where you watching but I had on Calgary channel 6 and with not a word of a lie there was nothing other then previously described.

How that relates to Anne of Green Gables is unclear but anyway.

The CBC has a history of provided programming that targets a very narrow demographic. Beech Combers (which I actually enjoyed), the various incarnations of Degrasi, Anne of Green Gables, everything hosted by Adrienne Clarkson and even HNIC. I'm not denying that each of their programs have an audience but its a relatively small audience and I take issue that our tax dollars go to support something that the majority don't benefit from.

 

[lenharper]

Beachcombers is one of the few Canadian shows that has actually provided a ROI to the various funders behind the show.

Anne of Green Gables turned a profit while it was still being shot (a rarity for ANY TV production) becuase of the lucrative foreign sales deal. Foriegn sales for Anne has been one of the high water marks for Canadian production -- even its spin off made money because of the Disney connection.

As for Degrassi, it is currently on CTV and "N" in the States (not CBC) and is their most sucessful program -- one could argue that the decision by CBC to allow CTV to outbid them for the rights to current incarnation of Degrassi was a major mistake.

As for Adrianne Clarkson it has been many, many, years since she has been on TV and the cash expenditure on the Clarkson Show was extremely low.

 

[planetsmurf]

why do we even have a senate. if the best idea they can come up with is to get rid of the only decent canadian produce programming on there network, then why don't we save the millions we spend to have these useless old bastards who basically sit on there ass and do nothing and fire the son of bitches

 

[wilde]

I lost what little respect that I have left for HNIC when they decided to show the Tie Domi 1,000 games ceremony live. When a few weeks later, the number retirement ceremony for the late Boom Boom Geoffrion was given a 30 second spot. It's a fucking disgrace, they should be ashamed of themselves. I actually wrote to the CRTC to complain but so far haven't heard anything back yet.

.

 

[dirtydan]

They should go the way of the PBS. Be self supporting and remove all government contribution. Or at least raise half the money and have the government match the other half. That way, they'd at least have to smarten up and get rid of useless programming.

On another note, apparently during the strike, when they showed only movies during the HNIC time slot, they actually were more profitable. This was due to the movies being cheaper to broadcast than a live event.

The problem with PBS from time to time is their corporate funding can mean views aired that are not unbiased, but rather heavily skewed in favour of whatever corporate donor.

Also, just what are the programs on the CBC that you find useless?

 

[Rain Man]

Also, just what are the programs on the CBC that you find useless?

It's really simple. Get the TV guide, highlight everything but Saturday night from September to May and you have your list of useless shit. If it wasn't for hockey, 1/2 the population of Canada wouldn't even know the CBC exists.