God Bless the CBC

There are some who argue that the government should not play a role in the mass media. In particular, the idea of the CBC is shocking to them. What is the government doing owning and running --at arm's length--an actual television network? Why are taxpayers funding a large agency that produces entertainment in competition with CTV, Global, and the American networks?

In the U.S., thanks to years of Republican majorities in Congress, the PBS has been gutted and is now forced to seek corporate sponsorship of many of their programs. As a result, they produce almost no hard-hitting documentaries or daring dramas. Anyone want to take on Monsanto or Microsoft or Exxon? How can you, when you now depend on the largesse of these same corporations to fund harmless pap like docu-dramas about the civil war? Even Sesame Street now has a corporate sponsor.

The result is that Americans almost never see a television program that takes a hard, critical look at any of our society’s dominant institutions. If you can remember as far back as the 1960’s, you will recall that there was a time when even CBS, ABC, and NBC occasionally produced some outstanding public service programs, including some powerful documentaries on exploited migrant workers, civil rights, and poverty.

The CBC produces some marvelous programs, including Fifth Estate and The Passionate Eye. CBC news often features in-depth analysis of important social and economic issues, which is more than you can say for CNN, the 24-hour a day sex scandal station.. CBC radio is a gem. Sure, it can get boring and tedious sometimes, and even pretentious, but who else in Canada would produce a program devoted to "ideas"? Who else would play "The Arrogant Worms"? Who else provides so many hours of solid public affairs programs?

Well, back to that government funding argument. Consider this: in order to raise one dollar of advertising revenue, the commercial networks must spend an average of 55-65 cents. These are the costs of soliciting advertising, producing the ads, and maintaining an entire department of people whose sole pursuit is to persuade corporations to put their ads on the air. This is for so-called "free" television and radio. Where does this money come from? Nowhere... if you really believe that commercial television and radio is free. But the truth is that the money comes from you and me! All of that money becomes part of the cost of every product you buy. And that cost is not insignificant. A good portion of that $3.25 you pay for corn flakes goes to advertising. Given a choice, wouldn’t you rather have your "Buffy the Vampire- Slayer" free, and your corn flakes for $2.50?

The CBC, on the other hand, spends almost no money soliciting advertisements for their commercial-free programming. So, though you are paying for 100% of the cost of the programming with your tax dollars, you are getting 100% worth of programming for your money. Your $3.25 buys almost exactly $3.25 worth of television and radio. Best of all, it’s free of those insanely annoying interruptions!

It took me a while to get used to CBC radio myself. I kept trying some of the local "alternative" stations, until I got totally fed up with having to listen to five boring songs for every interesting piece they played, and putting up with a commercial every three minutes, and not getting any really useful information. About five years ago, I switched to CBC stereo FM and never switched back. I’m not always excited about what I hear, but even a brief taste of the alternatives drives me right back to it.

God bless the CBC.

March 16 , 1999