One of the childhood lessons that I remember the most is my step-Father saying to me that is does not matter what you do in this world if you are the best at it you will be successful. This (well, he says good instead of the best, but this is the CBC, it takes a while to change mindsets you know) is what CBC Radio host Jesse Brown proposes today in the National Post.
...It won't be that hard - we're part-way there already. We're good at news. Our documentaries? Really, really good...Our comedy is either quite good or pretty bad, so I suggest we do more of the good kind...
Has it ever been a bad strategy to do things well? In the end what Jesse Brown is talking about is focus. The CBC cannot be all things to all people. No Canadian broadcaster can. The closest thing we have to a "supermarket" broadcaster and the bulk of their programming is American with Canadian commercials inserted in.
My only issue with this is that what I think the CBC does well could easily live on CBC Newsworld only.
Comments (5)
Jesse Brown is yet another step down the road to the all Rex Murphy all the time format the CBC is considering under the new government (last night, Jesse invited the seldom heard and refreshingly new voice, Margaret Wente on his program to trash Multiculturalism — cutting edge stuff. I never realized Margaret didn’t care for Multiculturalism. What a revelation that was!). CBC management really is craven. It sucks up to whoever holds power. If the NDP ever gets in, I expect the CBC will air “The Corporation” on a 24 hour loop.
Posted by Greg | July 6, 2006 11:04 AM
Posted on July 6, 2006 11:04
“another step down the road to the all Rex Murphy all the time”
Yeah, Jesse Brown said they would focus on stuff that is good. Conservatism is good ;)
Posted by Greg Staples | July 6, 2006 11:11 AM
Posted on July 6, 2006 11:11
But if we dismantle the non-news apparatus of the CBC, how will we ever manage to give underprivileged East Coast comedians (CODCO, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer Report) the chance to shine before a national audience?
Posted by Chris Taylor | July 6, 2006 12:23 PM
Posted on July 6, 2006 12:23
what I think the CBC does well could easily live on CBC Newsworld only.
Then auction off the sports, dramas, and comedies and hand over all of CBC TV’s transmitters to Newsworld.
Posted by anon | July 6, 2006 12:39 PM
Posted on July 6, 2006 12:39
the CBC has become a propaganda machine for the political left. it is a billion dollar crown corporation that does nothing. soviet style public television that has become unwatchable. the CBC sucks.
Posted by Bruce | July 15, 2006 8:22 PM
Posted on July 15, 2006 20:22