Media News
The First Church of Robotics by Jaron Lanier
Op-ed author says that by portraying the Internet as capable of "creative thinking, problem solving and connection making", devalues human thought.
Tune in any time, anywhere by Gillian Shaw
New technology allows viewers to decide when and where to watch their favourite programs.
Sudan suspends license for BBC Arabic radio in the north over alleged agreement violations
Sudan's government alleges that a BBC crew smuggled satellite equipment for live transmission into the country and began working in south Sudan without proper approval — both in violation of a broadcast agreement.
Still trying to break the mould by Gordon Pitts
Competition lawyer claims Canadian content rules are rendered useless by an Internet that is unconstrained by time and space.
Access Copyright's 1300% Tariff Increase - Deadline to Object is August 11, 2010
You can learn more from Sam Trosow's detailed presentation on the tariff proposal and its implications. The Canadian Library Association has posted its objection to the tariff, which includes its concerns. Knopf notes that anyone can file an objection by emailing gilles.mcdougall@cb-cda.gc.ca with the following information:
- Indicate who you are and generally and why you are objecting - i.e. if you think that the amount sought is excessive and exorbitant, that AC is seeking to license rights it doesnât have in respect of repertoire it doesnât have, etc.
- You donât need any detail. Details come much, much later. Anything much longer than one or two pages is longer than necessary at this stage. And it wonât have any effect on the outcome. The objection is simply a necessary step to full participation.
- Provide your full contact information.
PBS is what CBC could be: marginal and obscure by John Doyle
Columnist says lack of public investment makes PBS a marginalized broadcaster in the US - important as a token alternative to the frippery of commercial TV, but existing strictly on the sidelines.
CBC to stay the course of departed boss by Ashante Infantry
FRIENDS says the CBC should have separate executives in charge of TV and Radio.
CBC says switch to digital too onerous to make deadline by Susan Krashinsky
Network executive says the CBC doesn't have the funds necessary to meet the August 2011 cut-off date for the transition to digital TV signals.
Sports fans, beware of CBC shakeup by Bruce Dowbiggin
Columnist says Richard Stursberg's sports legacy includes losing the rights to the Olympics, the CFL and curling and overpaying to retain Hockey Night In Canada.
CBC switching to over-the-air digital TV
CBC/Radio-Canada unveiled its plan Friday to switch over to digital transmission from the analogue service it currently provides.
Controversial CBC boss leaves network by Cassandra Szklarski
FRIENDS says under Stursberg's leadership, CBC's audience share in television has dwindled.
CBC ousts revolutionary after six years by Randy Boswell
FRIENDS says a high-level CBC source has indicated Richard Stursberg was dismissed "over irreconcilable policy differences regarding CBC's strategic plans for the next five years."
Richard Stursberg leaves CBC
CBC Vice President of Communications, Bill Chambers declined to say whether Stursberg had been fired, saying the change is "not about where we are" but "all about the future and the way we are going forward."
Richard Stursberg’s CBC departure trending on Twitter
Richard Stursberg: early thoughts about a demonized man and his impossible job
"Hubert T. Lacroix, president and CEO of CBC/Radio Canada, announced today the departure of Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president, English services, from CBC/Radio-Canada effective today."
Stursberg has been the head of English-language programming since 2004. I often thought of him as the Dick Cheney of the CBC, in the way he approached his power, his influence and the way he was openly derisive of different points of view. He took on battles that changed peoples lives, yet he seemed oblivious to the impact he had.
Most significantly, Stursberg took the CBC -- our public broadcaster -- down a very commercial road. It was his way of dealing with tepid funding and unreliable support from the federal government. Programs were judged as successful only by ratings, not by the value they may contain for public discourse or the public record. In fact, he rarely talked about the CBC as a public broadcaster. He once referred to programs about Rene Levesque and Pierre Trudeau as "goddamned legacy programming" in one heated discussion with me about his approach to public broadcasting.
Under his tenure, the CBC locked out its employees in 2005, shut down the CBC design department in 2007 -- ending the CBC's own ability to make sets and create costumes and props, and hired U-S based TV consultant Frank Magid to advise local news programs about how to be quick and snappy -- and talk alot about crime and weather.
Yet it should be said that Stursberg resuscitated local TV programming too by creating the 90-minute supper-time newscasts and the 10-minute late night newscasts -- even if wasn't necessarily because of the value of local journalism but because of the chase for the elusive eyeballs. He brought a lot of in-house production back to the network (even if he dismantled the department that supported that production).
He was a lightning rod for all kinds of opinion, a man easy to demonize. He was mercurial and surprisingly undiplomatic in meetings with staff.
Yet at the end of the day, what matters is why he's leaving.
"We are in the midst of developing a new strategic plan that will guide CBC/Radio-Canada through the next five years. This is the opportune time to bring new leadership...." the release says.
It seems apparent by reading between the lines of the CBC release is that the "new strategic plan" is linked to his departure/firing. What is that strategic plan? Let's hope it's a departure from the overly commercial approach that Stursberg pushed for so many years. Let's hope the new strategic plan values programming that's made in the public interest as much as for the potential "eyeball" numbers. Even better, let's hope this marks the end of the "Ottawa isn't going to give us any more money, so let's just deal with it" approach that's particularly depressing. It's time for this CBC administration to move forward post-Stursberg by embracing its public mandate, by reaching out to Canadians and working with them to make a strong case for a really public public broadcaster.
CBC won't meet digital TV deadline
The public broadcaster said it will require 27 transmitters to make the switchover nationally, but only 15 of them will be active by Aug. 31, 2011, the deadline imposed for major markets by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Controversial CBC boss Richard Stursberg leaves network after six years by Cassandra Szklarski
FRIENDS says Stursberg was appointed "as a complete outsider" with no previous radio or television production, scheduling or marketing experience and that his departure "cannot help but be a good thing for the institution of public broadcasting."
Dismissal of top boss could portend turmoil over direction of CBC by Randy Boswell
FRIENDS says it was announced within the corporation that CBC President Hubert Lacroix dismissed Stursberg "over irreconcilable policy differences regarding CBC's strategic plans for the next five years."
Top CBC executive leaves broadcaster by Guy Dixon
National President of the Canadian Media Guild, Lise Lareau says it's become harder to distinguish the CBC from its commercial counterparts with Stursberg’s choice of programming.
Richard Stursberg out as head of CBC by Ashante Infantry
FRIENDS says Richard Stursberg was appointed “as a complete outsider” with no previous radio or television production, scheduling or marketing experience.
