Since this isn’t the proper forum, I won’t explain why I think public broadcasting has intrinsic value (though it does pain me that the CBC has to supplement its income with advertising dollars). The CBC has already lost The Hockey Theme to the private sector (though I do enjoy the new theme). Let us ensure that this is the only asset that Hockey Night in Canada loses.
From Friends of Canadian Broadcasting:
CBC’s creative people have just been through the week from hell.
The cuts announced last week will leave our beleaguered public broadcaster a shadow of its former self, especially in smaller communities where CBC is often the only option.
This is all so unnecessary, yet this may be only the beginning.
More cuts to CBC news are expected mid-April. And if Stephen Harper’s hand-picked President cannot raise enough through a firesale of CBC assets, he says that even more cuts will be required.
But there is a glimmer of hope. I urge you to join with me to stoke it.
Viewers and listeners have been outraged by the events of the past week. We have bombarded our MPs with calls, letters and emails demanding action. A storm of protest has erupted in the House of Commons as a result, and the government is under intense pressure to prevent the announced cuts.
There is a simple and inexpensive solution to CBC’s funding shortfall.
Among modern industrialized nations, Canada in near the bottom when it comes to investing in public broadcasting. The average is $80 per citizen and countries like Great Britain, Germany and Norway invest even more.
In Canada, our government provides only $33 per citizen. That’s just not enough for CBC to serve as the public broadcaster Canadians want and need. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has recognized this and called for an increase of $7 per person – to $40.
Please join me to urge our government to bump up Canada’s investment to at least half the average. That would mean only a $7 increase for each Canadian. Per year!
If we don’t act today, the pressure on the government and the momentum we have built will be lost.
Seven dollars is a small price to pay to keep our CBC.
