I guess this is nice for shareholders and stakeholders and Ben Mulroney, but for audiences, and (dare I say it?) free speech and democracy, it’s rotten. That’s why America has laws against this kind of thing.
Still to come is CanWests’ move, or possibly Rogers’. So we’re looking at 2 big commercial media corporations in Canada, and us.
From where I sit, Canada needs a good CBC now more than ever. We just need to smarten up a bit.
I mean, really, when it comes right down to it, who are you going to trust? Us or them?
Thought so.
To be honest the answer doesn’t matter so much, just as long as we’re not all owned by the same guy.
5 Comments
The only thing I can think to do right now is e-mail my MP and the CRTC. I don’t know that they’re going to do much to satisfy my concerns, but I’ve given them my two cents of displeasure at the thought of this deal going through as announced.
We’ll see if there’s anything else I can do, I guess…
I agree this conglomorate buyout makes the CBC’s existence even more important by theory. Can you imagine only having two networks to choose from. I can just vision the outside giants smelling this newly formed Cdn monopoly media market that they themselves would never have been able to pull off with pending CRTC approval because they were not Cdn/Ma Bell . 2 years down the road who do you think they would want to buyout of Canada’s only existing two remaining private networks -CTV/Chum or Global.
But that’s down the road. For now what amazes me is the suspicion of the Tory govt’s involvement in this deal. 1st the CBC mandate review delay. Then as they halt the stock market on these companies (as they are suppose to before the announcement )they lock out @300 laid off employees (& programs)on a pre-meditated re-organisation plan while in reality they are suppose to wait for the proper protocol called CRTC approval – oops I guess that’s already been secretly decided behind Harper’s door & the upcoming CRTC approval will just be a formality.
What I smell is the private market’s re-orientation to be able to cover more Cdn territory that is presently on the CBC’s mandate & that will soon be trimmed according to the new market reach achieved from this deal on the private sector.
Long live the CBC’s ability to promote and develop Cdn culture (& not reality TV).
The unchecked expansion of a totally discredited management regime is actually a good thing in that it will hasten its pending demise. It might even be tidier, and spare reputations, to proceed with wholesale changes than having to argue cause in each case. Except for the most senior executives, there could be savings in class severance negotiations.
We just need to smarten up a bit.?!?!
What an understatement…
Unfortunately I don’t see that happening any time soon. Given the incessant stream of appointments, all these shiny new faces with their new responsibilities will need to blunder through their new jobs until they get the hang of it. Some may never do so because of the shapeless mandate/job they’re given, so they’ll do the next best thing; jump whichever way their boss tells them to.
Sound like blind leading the blind or a heirarchy of sycophants? Where will we ever find lucid management in this?
The solution is to have vigorous screening of applicants BY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE, which requires input from far more people than the few who presently do.
Sorry for the reality check, but I’m really tired of ‘politically correct’ compromising drop-dead hot broadcasting.
Makes it very difficult for the forthcoming Tory majority Govt. to wind up the CBC television network.