CBC cancels shows, slashes 88 news jobs
Connect, Dispatches among programs lost to budget cuts
CBC News
Posted: Apr 10, 2012 3:46 PM ET
Last Updated: Apr 11, 2012 1:20 PM ET
CBC English Services will cut $86 million of its budget, including $43 million worth of programming and 256 full-time jobs.
((Mark Blinch/Reuters))
The one-hour TV news program Connect with Mark Kelley, the radio show Dispatches and drama programming on Radio One will be eliminated as part of cost-cutting measures to CBC English Services to cope with planned budget cuts, the public broadcaster announced Tuesday.
There will be six fewer series on the CBC television network, meaning 175 fewer hours produced, the network announced, but no specific programs were mentioned as decisions are still being made.
The result of the cuts will mean more repeats in primetime and fewer specials.
In last month's budget, the federal government announced that the CBC would lose $115 million in funding over three years.
Last week, the CBC announced 650 positions in total would be cut throughout its English- and French-language programming over the next three years, after a drop in funding from the federal government.
Kirstine Stewart, executive vice-president, English Services, said $86 million of the English Services budget would have to be cut, including $43 million in programming and 256 full-time jobs.
On Tuesday, it was announced that CBC News will cut $10 million from its budget and eliminate 88 news jobs.
Along with the cancellation of Connect, which airs on CBC News Network, and the radio show Dispatches, which will take effect in June, documentaries will be reduced and the South American and Africa bureaus will be closed.
"There's no real way to sugar coat the impact of the cuts," said CBC News editor in chief Jennifer McGuire.
"These are great programs we are losing. The sad truth is we had to go there to meet the number."
CBC Radio faces a $3-million funding cut and the loss of 18 jobs.
The number of live music recordings will be cut along with all drama programming from Radio One.
CBC Sports will also take a $4-million hit, with Sports Weekend becoming a seasonal program and reduced amateur sports programming on the weekends.
Kids' CBC will also see a reduction of four hours per week to programming.
"It's not a good day for CBC," said Marc-Philippe Laurin, president of the Canadian Media Guild's CBC branch.
"Canadians are really going to see a difference on the TV screen and hear a difference on CBC Radio."
Heritage Minister James Moore discussed the cuts in an interview with CBC Television's George Stroumboulopous Tonight.
"I think that the talent that CBC has and the way that you're going to be able to absorb these cuts over three years is going to, I don't think, at the end of the day, affect the quality of programming the CBC has," Moore said in the interview, which airs Tuesday night.
"I think CBC will be fine. It won't be easy but I think CBC will continue to do well."
With files from The Canadian PressShare Tools
Top News Headlines
- Oklahoma residents begin to return home after deadly tornado
- Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of nine children.
more »
- Video forensics: How easy would it be to fake a Rob Ford video?
- Two media outlets reported last week that they had seen a cellphone video of Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack, a claim that has gone global. If a video does surface, how easy would it be to determine its authenticity? CBC News asked video forensic analyst David McKay. more »
- Tim Bosma memorial today in hall that hosted his wedding reception
- The widow of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man killed after taking two strangers on a test drive in a truck he had listed for sale online, will say goodbye to her husband at a public memorial today in the same hall where they celebrated their marriage just three years ago. CBCNews.ca will livestream the event starting at 11 a.m. ET. more »
- Eritreans in Canada say consul still demands cash from them
- Evidence obtained by CBC News suggests Eritrea's top diplomat in Canada is again soliciting taxes from the Eritrean community despite a threat by Canada eight months ago not to renew his credentials if he kept at it. more »
- How the weather info that storm chasers use can keep you safe
- Radar imagery and a stream of weather information are readily available to the public when severe weather bears down. more »
Must Watch
Latest Canada News Headlines
- Tim Bosma memorial today in hall that hosted his wedding reception
- The widow of Tim Bosma, the Hamilton man killed after taking two strangers on a test drive in a truck he had listed for sale online, will say goodbye to her husband at a public memorial today in the same hall where they celebrated their marriage just three years ago. CBCNews.ca will livestream the event starting at 11 a.m. ET.
more »
- Senate sends Duffy expense audit for 2nd internal review
- The Senate decided to send Senator Mike Duffy's audit report back to its internal committee for a second review, despite objections from the Liberal Senate leader, who argued the RCMP should be tasked with the job. New travel rules for senators will be announced today. more »
- Video forensics: How easy would it be to fake a Rob Ford video?
- Two media outlets reported last week that they had seen a cellphone video of Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack, a claim that has gone global. If a video does surface, how easy would it be to determine its authenticity? CBC News asked video forensic analyst David McKay. more »
- What is 'Tornado Alley'?
- A tornado that generated winds as strong as 320 km/h and killed more than 20 people in Moore, Okla., on Monday fell in a geographical area of the U.S. generally known as 'Tornado Alley.' Here's a closer look at this storm-plagued region — and its counterparts in Canada. more »
- How the weather info that storm chasers use can keep you safe
- Radar imagery and a stream of weather information are readily available to the public when severe weather bears down. more »
The National
The Current
- Director James Cameron on deep-sea exploration May. 22, 2013 9:16 AM Film director and deep sea explorer James Cameron on piloting submarines, finding new species and experiencing mechanical trouble 11 kilometres under water.
- Video forensics: How easy would it be to fake a Rob Ford video?
- Jodi Arias asks for 'second chance' during jail interview
- Microsoft unveils Xbox One
- Only 1 set of human remains found at Millard farm, police say
- Search for Oklahoma tornado survivors nearly complete
- Deadly Oklahoma tornado confirmed as most powerful type
- Tim Bosma memorial today in hall that hosted his wedding reception
- Children's mouths allegedly taped shut at N.S. school
- Yukon couple hold record for longest marriage in country

