I have a confession to make: I like the CBC.
And what's more, I disagree with the assumption that the CBC is just one more relic of a dying age. Yes, it might come as a shock to some of you, given my political orientation, but the truth of the matter is that I really do enjoy the CBC's programming. And while I agree that there are parts of the CBC that should be eliminated, such as Kady O'Malley's salary and the program "Definitely Not the Opera", I believe that the latest budget cuts, totaling $115 million over three years, ought to be a wake up call to the audience, the staff, and the CEO that CBC needs some retooling. I've taken the liberty of writing a few of my suggestions here.
First, don't fix what isn't broken. It is a nearly universal opinion that the vast majority of CBC radio programming and personalities are incredibly solid. For very few tax dollars, Canadians have the ability to tune in to engaging radio shows and stay up to date with the news no matter where they live in our vast country. While many predicted that video would kill the radio star, the internet, satelite radio, and driving in one's car have all ensured that radio remains alive and well. Other than replacing "Definitely Not the Opera", I can't think of many ways to improve CBC Radio 1. But let's not forget about CBC's music only channels. In a world of top forty hits, CBC Radio 2 provides listeners of every age the chance to listen to classical music and emerging Canadian artists. The only thing that might improve the situation is if the CBC tried to actively promote more underground artists, but overall, CBC's talk and music channels deliver quality programming at an affordable price in what is still the farthest reaching medium.
Second, it's time for a game changer. The vast majority of Canadians do not watch CBC on television, with the Hockey Night in Canada and Republic of Doyle being the only exceptions. Luckily for the CBC, broadcast television actually is a relic of a dying age, like sending postcards or voting Liberal. At this point, only cable channels and Netflix produce any shows worth watching. The key then is for CBC to become a kind of Netflix North, putting all of its video material online and charging a small monthly fee for viewing it. This will help keep CBC's programming independent of advertiser's influence, and make CBC's content universally viewable. In fact, CBC could get really far ahead of the curve by providing a certain amount of "pre-scheduled" programming on the internet for the older folks: with the click of a button, all of CBC's pre-taped programming can be organized into a sequence just as it would be on TV. Older folks don't binge watch like kids do - so why not capitalize on that online?
Lastly, draw up plans for privatization. I don't believe in cutting the CBC wholesale from the government payroll and watching it sink or swim. But I do believe that Canadians are ready for a "public-private" broadcaster that has quality programming, a loyalty to viewers first, and a clean fiscal house. Viewers of all political stripes and all walks of life don't like bailing out large corporations with public funds, so why should the CBC be any different? The CEO and the directors need to come up with a five year plan to get CBC up on its own legs, with an intelligent plan for securing revenue. In the end this will also help protect and promote CBC's journalistic and creative integrity.
I believe these suggestions will be to the satisfaction of much of CBC's audience. We cannot turn back the clock, but if given the right push, the CBC can better adjust to the times than many of its competitors have. What I know for certain is that with a little bit of intelligence and a lot of elbow grease at CBC HQ, I can expect to enjoy its programming for years to come.
