Friends calls on Canadian Heritage to ensure that majority of any extra public funding given to CBC goes to regions

The broadcast watch group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is calling on Canadian Heritage minister Liza Frulla to ensure that if the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is given more money that the majority of it should go toward enhancing its regional TV programming. Friends wants at least 80% of any new funding earmarked for the regions. On December 9, Friends sent a letter to Frulla outlining its position. The letter was sent in the wake of comments made by CBC president and CEO Robert Rabinovitch to reporters following his appearance before a House of Common committee considering an extension of his job. He said that the CBC would need $100 million more in public funding to meet its Canadian programming objectives, excluding that needed to deliver regional TV programming. He said that $75 million over three years would be sufficient to boost CBC TV’s regional and local programming (CCR, Nov. 22/04). Below is the copy of letter sent by Friends to Frulla. As you know, the Broadcasting Act calls on CBC to "reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions." In June 2003, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on which you served determined that "it is incumbent upon the CBC to ensure that levels of local programming – based on local needs – are delivered to audiences." The committee requested that CBC "deliver a strategic plan with estimated resource requirements to Parliament...on how it would fulfill its public service mandate to deliver local and regional programming." We are troubled by recent statements to the press by CBC’s President Robert Rabinovitch indicating that CBC plans to ask you for additional funding to be allocated 80% for network services and only 20% for regional services. We believe that the Lincoln Committee (CCR, June 20/03) was correct in its recommendation that CBC’s local and regional capacity is the priority for new investment. In our view, any allocation of new resources should be at least 80% dedicated to improving CBC’s grassroots capacity across the country. A strong grassroots CBC would establish a balance between local and network programs. In communities across the land, CBC radio and television would increase the quantity and variety of grassroots programs. In addition to news, these programs would include current affairs, putting a spotlight on community issues, local drama, live performance, variety, music and other forms of popular culture, such as amateur sports. These programs would be presented during peak listening and viewing hours. On CBC Television, for example, at least one hour in the prime-time block from 7 to 11 p.m . would be presented locally. Grassroots production values would approximate those of network programs. Decisions about local programming would be delegated to CBC executives operating at a grassroots level. Priorities would be established based on an assessment of local needs, draw upon local advice, and would therefore vary from city to city, in style as well as content. Network programming would draw upon the best grassroots programs, chosen competitively and re-cast for a national audience. As well, we recommend that CBC should be asked to address geographic gaps in service. Major urban areas like Chicoutimi, Hamilton, Barrie, Kitchener and Victoria, as well as vast rural areas such as northern Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and rural British Columbia remain underserved. Even where services exist, many communities suffer from second-class service through affiliate stations. In all these areas, Canadians pay for CBC through their taxes. A strong grassroots CBC should serve all Canadians equally well, regardless where they reside. As you consider CBC’s proposals, we invite you to keep these values front and centre.

Friends calls on Canadian Heritage to ensure that majority of any extra public funding given to CBC goes to regions

Broadcast | December 20, 2004

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