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[Matlock]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/08/14/CBC_locks_out_employees20050815.html

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=301993039#post301993039

I predict an end to this sometime around the start of the 2005-2006 NHL season. This is not a coincidence. That lockout has had a very direct impact on the CBC's bottom line. I'd like to thank the fine folks at both the NHL and NHLPA for forcing me to look for a new job.

By the way, if you're a loyal CBC listener/viewer: programming will still exist, in a very scaled back form. Expect lots of movies on TV, and lots of national programming from Toronto on radio. I hope you don't like local content, because you won't get any.

And if anyone wants to picket with me, holla back.

Apparently the lack of NHL cut away from their audience and ad revenues.

 

[miyuru]

WTF

 

[temp]

This better not get in the way of my Simpsons reruns.

 

[TheOMan]

:O

I knew it was bad, but I didn't think it would come this. Not good

 

[miyuru]

Yeah, sports without commentary?

:S

 

[whytemyke]

damn. sucky shit.... especially now that I'm actually getting CBC again here in the states. I guess it'd be the equivalent of Fox losing it's NFL games for a year... it'd be a huge blow.

 

[spliced]

Oh boo hoo, so some guy can't feed his kids. The important thing is Bobby Holik can now afford his own private island.

 

[Shinobi]

CBC has been a joke for years...why the government still funds these turkeys is beyond me.

 

[Hitman]

Does this mean no more Air Farce and This Hour Has 24 Minutes?

WOOOHHHHH. JOYOUS DAY!

 

[Boogie]

Does this mean no more Air Farce and This Hour Has 24 Minutes?

WOOOHHHHH. JOYOUS DAY!

sigh. I remember the days when those shows were comedic genius.

 

[explodet]

sigh. I remember the days when those shows were comedic genius.

Seriously - I tried tuning in to more recent episodes and couldn't take 5 minutes. What the hell happened?

As for the rest of CBC, I hope the news coverage isn't affected too badly, I'd rather not have to go to Global for my national news.

 

[RaySpencer]

I wonder how much this will effect CBC Newsworld....i only have Newsworld and YTV as channels, (since they run free through the same wavelength or whatever as cable internet...and i dont have an antenna for my TV) ....its pretty much just bare bones news as it is ...hope it doesnt get changed !


and i hope they can work something out for hockey need commentary !

 

[Mike Works]

This is fucking AWESOME for the NHL

Don't any of you remember those fucking wicked retarded awesome Montreal games where there were no commentators because they were on strike last season? Jesus fuck, when that guy hit the post on a slapshot, the sound, since it wasn't rolled back under the announcer's commentary... so fucking awesome.

And honestly, while I love Jim Hughson, I hate Millen (and Cole/Neale), and I'll get more than enough Hughson with the Sportsnet Canucks broadcasts, so this has the potential to be awesome.

And with TSN getting the 2010 Olympics, what good is CBC now?

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

This is fucking AWESOME for the NHL

Don't any of you remember those fucking wicked retarded awesome Montreal games where there were no commentators because they were on strike last season? Jesus fuck, when that guy hit the post on a slapshot, the sound, since it wasn't rolled back under the announcer's commentary... so fucking awesome.

And honestly, while I love Jim Hughson, I hate Millen (and Cole/Neale), and I'll get more than enough Hughson with the Sportsnet Canucks broadcasts, so this has the potential to be awesome.

And with TSN getting the 2010 Olympics, what good is CBC now?

Half the CBC colour commentators are so old you wonder if they're talking about the game live or listening to it on a radio with a 5 second delay.

 

[Deku]

I am a regular CBC viewer but it's really sad watching the Canadian content rules strangle the living excrement out of the main channel as well as the Newsworld channel. Their Canadian content, outside of the news programs and Hockey just plain sucks.

While there are some truly great programming on the main channel, mainly Simpsons reruns and Hockey (when my favorite sports Basketball and Baseball aren't on) and the evening news is infinately more watable than the soundbyte hell known as the American news programs, the Newsworld channel is pretty devoid of quality. As a political centrist, I only found "The Hour" with George stromcan'tprounouncehisname watchable and he's the only guy who attempts to bring real balance of the viewpoints out there.

Most of the time, when they aren't showing news, their documentaries are either reruns of PBS frontline episodes or some cheap British left wing niche documentary that are hopeless biased complete with manipulative narration, sound editing and cuts. CBC needs a big overhaul and I don't mean just graphically, a lot of its editorial staff needs to be fired and replaced with people who have common sense.

 

[Draff]

the Newsworld channel is pretty devoid of quality.

I disagree. I think Newsworld's pretty great. The documentaries they show sometimes are incredible. And the rest of it is pretty much akin to other news channels so I don't see how those detract from the channel either.

 

[Instigator]

CBC has been a joke for years...why the government still funds these turkeys is beyond me.

Well, I would like to know how Global and CTV are that much better. Aside from local news, all I see are American sitcoms and dramas. The purpose of these channels seem to be to deliver commercials specifically for canucks with American programs as bait.

In that light, I'd rather watch American channels.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

as long as they still air the kick ass HNIC theme song before games its all good.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

damn. sucky shit.... especially now that I'm actually getting CBC again here in the states. I guess it'd be the equivalent of Fox losing it's NFL games for a year... it'd be a huge blow.

Didn't Fox lose the NFL? I remember a while back, they'd show Simpsons marathons all day.

 

[shuri]

I must say CBC is incredibly weak compared to SRC, their french canadian brother. It's really like all the money goes to SRC and CBC gets leftovers

 

[Instigator]

I must say CBC is incredibly weak compared to SRC, their french canadian brother. It's really like all the money goes to SRC and CBC gets leftovers

Nah, I don't think so. The problem is identity.

The SRC creates programs that many Frenchies can identify themselves with. The private channels in that province do the same (and usually better, based on ratings). The only thing they have to compete with are dubbed shows from the US, usually not too popular, and the very rare imports from Europe that nobody watch anyway.

The CBC competes with American programs head on and it is definitely at a disavantage there. And because of its mandate, it has to create shows definitely 'Canadian' which it turns out most find boring anyway. I give them props for trying, but they have their work cut out for them.

You have the same thing happening with movies. Canadian movies go nowhere. French Canadian movies rival and even exceed box-office returns from American movies (in that province).

 

[Truelize]

I dream that this would help us Canadians get more US content on our tvs. The only thing I hate about the government funding crappy tv like CBC is that they enfore stupid Canadian content rules for everything. Ugh. I can't stand Canadian tv.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

yea 95% of candian shows suck ass.



I miss the days of the edison twins and Danger bay.

 

[LakeEarth]

sigh. I remember the days when those shows were comedic genius.

Fuckin' A! I remember back in 96/97 or so when This Hour has 22 Minutes would contain non-stop laughter. I miss those days.

 

[Animal]

This is a sad sad day. CBC Newsworld was the best bloody channel on cable tv.

 

[bishoptl]

This is fucking AWESOME for the NHL

Don't any of you remember those fucking wicked retarded awesome Montreal games where there were no commentators because they were on strike last season? Jesus fuck, when that guy hit the post on a slapshot, the sound, since it wasn't rolled back under the announcer's commentary... so fucking awesome.

That's the first thing I thought of when I heard the news. Watching Canadiens games on RDS without any commentary was godly - all of the high-end television action, none of the inane patter and chatter from some doofus (Harry Neale, Bob Cole COME ON DOWN) trying to justify his paycheque with prattle.

My only problem with this? Losing Radio One on CBC in the mornings - between that and the Team 1040, I depend on those guys to get me going when I wake up. And what happens to As It Happens in the evenings? I've been listening to that show since I was 6 years old.

 

[Shinobi]

Well, I would like to know how Global and CTV are that much better.

Who said they were? There's a reason why my TV is on Speed Channel and the sports channels 90% of the time.

Though now that I think about it, CTV and Global (and Chum) are better then CBC for one simple reason...they're not being propped up on my dime.

The best thing that happened to Canadian televsion in years was when Bell Globemedia and Rogers got the Olympic TV rights for 2008 to 2012. It's a huge bill to pay even for those entities, but at least they're doing it with their money. CBC was paying for those rights with my money. That's just fucked up to me.

Like I said in the NHL thread, I wouldn't be too surprised if Bell, Rogers or both scoop up the HNIC rights from under CBC's nose. And it wouldn't bother me in the least.

 

[Deku]

Well, I would like to know how Global and CTV are that much better. Aside from local news, all I see are American sitcoms and dramas. The purpose of these channels seem to be to deliver commercials specifically for canucks with American programs as bait.

In that light, I'd rather watch American channels.

Well yeah,
CBC actually does news the best because it is government funded and I tend to agree with the council of canadians or whatever name those cultural protectionists want to be called when it comes to their argument that news shouldn't be a profit/loss equation. When news is funded by the government, BBC is a great example, it is better than commercial news.

That said, the cultural protectionists have never been able to justify their argument for Canadian content, which is usually just a cheap looking Canadian rip off of a popular drama format with Canadian locations, Canadian actors, but basically the same types of plot, only not as flashy and entertaining.

Global and CTV do well because they recognize the larger American entertainment market is far more dynamic than the Canadian market and that generally makes for better shows and or well funded shows. And even the law of averages would favour more American shows that are good simply because so many new shows are being made and tested each season. And they annoy the heck out of me by cutting into feed. The CRTC can't be satisfied having these stupid channels around, but when I'm watching Law & Order on NBC, I have to watch the CTV version of it. This can be frustrating when there's an American only commercial I want to catch, and or if I don't want to watch CTV or Global just because I hate their station IDs, and I don't care for some stooge called Sandy Renaldo telling me what they have coming up at 11:00.

 

[Instigator]

Well yeah,
CBC actually does news the best because it is government funded and I tend to agree with the council of canadians or whatever name those cultural protectionists want to be called when it comes to their argument that news shouldn't be a profit/loss equation. When news is funded by the government, BBC is a great example, it is better than commercial news.

That said, the cultural protectionists have never been able to justify their argument for Canadian content, which is usually just a cheap looking Canadian rip off of a popular drama format with Canadian locations, Canadian actors, but basically the same types of plot, only not as flashy and entertaining.

Global and CTV do well because they recognize the larger American entertainment market is far more dynamic than the Canadian market and that generally makes for better shows and or well funded shows. And even the law of averages would favour more American shows that are good simply because so many new shows are being made and tested each season. And they annoy the heck out of me by cutting into feed. The CRTC can't be satisfied having these stupid channels around, but when I'm watching Law & Order on NBC, I have to watch the CTV version of it. This can be frustrating when there's an American only commercial I want to catch, and or if I don't want to watch CTV or Global just because I hate their station IDs, and I don't care for some stooge called Sandy Renaldo telling me what they have coming up at 11:00.

Well, the news is obviously a good argument. I would also argue the CBC doesn't necessarily emphasize the entertainment or spectacle aspect of news, giving it a different feel to it. I remember one big issue in the TV news business was allowing or not allowing commercials and sponsors during news broadcasts since it can influence what is reported. Due to budget cuts, I believe the CBC had to compromize there.

Actually, I think the CRTC forces the CTV/Global feed of American programs because of CTV and Global complaining of lost ad revenue. So this is not cultural protectionnism, it's just plain old economic protectionnism in effect.

As far as 'Canadian' content is concerned, the CBC should provide an alternative to all those private channels. With a few exceptions, a lot of them are just content to buy foreign series and movies and play them on TV, it's just cheaper for them than producing stuff on their own. Plus they figure that people just want it. People running the CRTC might be cultural elitists, but they do have a point that a national TV broadcast station can define a culture over the long run, if only they can get people to watch...

I find it sad the CBC hasn't been able to do as well as the SRC. I think it is a lack of creativity on their part, perhaps a lack of risk-taking, but most importantly, their inability to exploit whatever is 'Canadian' into something people want to watch. As I highlighted before, you have the same problem with Telefilm Canada.

I also happen to like BBC Prime, just a great channel all around. As a publically funded channel, they found their schtick long ago. I would also argue that what finances their local programs in part is their ability to sell many of them to foreign markets. Europe has a lot of BBC programs dubbed or subtitled.

 

[Instigator]

Who said they were? There's a reason why my TV is on Speed Channel and the sports channels 90% of the time.

Though now that I think about it, CTV and Global (and Chum) are better then CBC for one simple reason...they're not being propped up on my dime.

The best thing that happened to Canadian televsion in years was when Bell Globemedia and Rogers got the Olympic TV rights for 2008 to 2012. It's a huge bill to pay even for those entities, but at least they're doing it with their money. CBC was paying for those rights with my money. That's just fucked up to me.

Like I said in the NHL thread, I wouldn't be too surprised if Bell, Rogers or both scoop up the HNIC rights from under CBC's nose. And it wouldn't bother me in the least.

Has anyone ever bothered to check if Shinobi is legally allowed to stay in Canada?

 

[Tiktaalik]

The CBC would do alot better if their prime time schedule didn't look like this

6:00 news
7:00 some sort of other news
8:00 coronation street
9:00 some other news show
10:00 news!!!
11:00 The News
12:00 dead air

I find it insulting that the CBC shuts off at 12:00. I wonder why our best entertainers must find work south of the border??

 

[distantmantra]

The best thing that happened to Canadian televsion in years was when Bell Globemedia and Rogers got the Olympic TV rights for 2008 to 2012. It's a huge bill to pay even for those entities, but at least they're doing it with their money. CBC was paying for those rights with my money. That's just fucked up to me.

Those of us down in the US who get the CBC (we get CBUT from Vancouver in Seattle) absolutely love their coverage of the Olympics. It's far superior to the crap "let's only show US athletes and talk over every damn thing" coverage that we get on NBC.

 

[explodet]

Looks like CBC Newsworld is now just BBC News World and Antiques Roadshow. *snore*

 

[Deku]

As far as 'Canadian' content is concerned, the CBC should provide an alternative to all those private channels. With a few exceptions, a lot of them are just content to buy foreign series and movies and play them on TV, it's just cheaper for them than producing stuff on their own. Plus they figure that people just want it. People running the CRTC might be cultural elitists, but they do have a point that a national TV broadcast station can define a culture over the long run, if only they can get people to watch...

I find it sad the CBC hasn't been able to do as well as the SRC. I think it is a lack of creativity on their part, perhaps a lack of risk-taking, but most importantly, their inability to exploit whatever is 'Canadian' into something people want to watch. As I highlighted before, you have the same problem with Telefilm Canada.

I agree generally. I think Canadian content shouldn't be Canadian dramas, which inevitably means Canadian versions of some popular drama formats.

Creativity in programming and risk taking is where I think the CBC excel at. That said, the underlying requirement for original Canadian content on all broadcasters generally lead to crappy filler shows. I know I've seen ads for some no name dramas when CTV and Global cut into my NBC, Fox and CBS feeds and none of them look all that interesting.

The fundamental flaw in the assumption is that a country of 32 million people and $1 trillion GDP is going to be able to compete effectively against the Americans which has close to 12 times the size of the Canadian econony and more than ten times its population.

And here's another thing. Culturally, places like Toronto, Vancouver and English Canada are quite similar to cities to the south, Detroit and Seattle respectively, so any kind of Canadian content developed for English Canada is going to look and sound a lot like an American show anyways, even if great pains is taken not to immitate an American format.

The British advantage is that they are culturally distinct from the Americans, they have noticably different sensibilities and that translates into different kinds of shows and they also happen to take a lot of risks with programming. Of course, I'm not arguing Canadians aren't distinct, I think there are places where there are differences, but then again, most cultural analysis of the US is quite simplistic, treating the US as a giant monolith when infact the US is quite culturally diverse inside its borders and when I took a trip through 20 of its 50 states, I estimated I effectively traveled accross at least 5 countries. Northern , Southern , Eastern, Western and Heartland. I actually there's more distinctions to be made, but that was my general impression. In that sense, the Canadian regions can be merged quite easily with their southern counterparts with Canadian culture generally being really a variant of American Northern culture with an East, West and Heartland split.

 

[COCKLES]

Canadians get Coronation Street on prime time? :lol

Apologies from the UK.

 

[Instigator]

I agree generally. I think Canadian content shouldn't be Canadian dramas, which inevitably means Canadian versions of some popular drama formats.

Creativity in programming and risk taking is where I think the CBC excel at. That said, the underlying requirement for original Canadian content on all broadcasters generally lead to crappy filler shows. I know I've seen ads for some no name dramas when CTV and Global cut into my NBC, Fox and CBS feeds and none of them look all that interesting.

The fundamental flaw in the assumption is that a country of 32 million people and $1 trillion GDP is going to be able to compete effectively against the Americans which has close to 12 times the size of the Canadian econony and more than ten times its population.

And here's another thing. Culturally, places like Toronto, Vancouver and English Canada are quite similar to cities to the south, Detroit and Seattle respectively, so any kind of Canadian content developed for English Canada is going to look and sound a lot like an American show anyways, even if great pains is taken not to immitate an American format.

The British advantage is that they are culturally distinct from the Americans, they have noticably different sensibilities and that translates into different kinds of shows and they also happen to take a lot of risks with programming. Of course, I'm not arguing Canadians aren't distinct, I think there are places where there are differences, but then again, most cultural analysis of the US is quite simplistic, treating the US as a giant monolith when infact the US is quite culturally diverse inside its borders and when I took a trip through 20 of its 50 states, I estimated I effectively traveled accross at least 5 countries. Northern , Southern , Eastern, Western and Heartland. I actually there's more distinctions to be made, but that was my general impression. In that sense, the Canadian regions can be merged quite easily with their southern counterparts with Canadian culture generally being really a variant of American Northern culture with an East, West and Heartland split.

I've already touched on the issue of identity with (English) Canada and it represents a challenge to come up with programming to compete with American imports. You may think the CBC takes risks, but I think they veer away from touchy subject matters.

Now, I don't run the CBC nor any of those government agencies subsidizing local programs, but if I were one of those and were ready to take a risk for something Canadian that might work, I'd go for issues that really matter to Canadians as part of their identity. Now, very quickly, here are some very rough ideas:

- I'd be interested to see something that deals with, say, health care. There are plenty of hospital shows in the US but universal health care and efforts to reinvest on a damaged system are totally different. How often do you see patients being foot a bill they can't pay in ER anyway? Shows still need characters you care about and this is where typical drama appears. I guess that's a concession, but the general theme would be different.

- Call me crazy but I think Canadian politics is fun. The dynamics are completely different to what you have in the US. Just thinking of a seperatist party at parliament, the constant screw-ups of the Conservatives, the corruption of the Liberals or just the fairly recent soap opera drama with Stronach and McKay and how can you not love it? How about all the shouting, grimacing and insulting you just can not see (but can sometimes hear) on parliament TV? Just create a mirror universe in a political drama, different characters but similar parties and issues. Educational and entertaining. I'd love to see the real-life politicians complain about how some fictional characters on the show are too close or perhaps damaging to their reputation. I'd know the show made an impact and it would get free publicity. A benchmark test to also show how independent the CBC is to government interference on top of that. :lol

- Canucks like to fancy themselves as peace-keepers with a goody image, yet they don't support their military monetarily. The US has military shows but they're usually glorified army recruitment videos and apologists for imperialism. Picture something different, picture a cash-strapped army sent wherever the shit hits the fan, they try to keep the peace in obsolete equipment, they become hostages, get hit by stray American bombs, some may even snap and start torturing locals. The show would be a scathing criticism of government policies and public apathy, but still a human drama that cares about the characters it sends into hell. If they'd have the guts to show this, I'd watch it every week.