You should think of that every time you take a taxi to the airport. For that one trip alone, you’re probably paying anywhere from three to six times what you pay for CBC Television for a full year Overall, all of CBC/Radio-Canada services cost about $33 per capita in Canada compared with $154 per capita in Switzerland or $124 per capita in Britain. Let’s sometimes remember that in all of life, including broadcasting, you get what you pay for.
One of my proudest associations at the CBC over the years has been my work with CBC Newsworld which I think and many of you clearly agree has a special place in this country. In a world of many news sources, we shouldn’t forget that Newsworld, created in 1989, was only the world’s third all-news channel after CNN and Britain’s Sky TV. And today, CBC Newsworld has an audience share in Canada that is nearly twice that of its nearest Canadian competitor.
So it’s a Canadian and CBC success story, and it’s evident many of you want to make sure it remains so. What’s also unique about Newsworld is that you, as a cable viewer, pay directly for it as part of your cable bill. So that ensures an adequate source of revenue to provide high quality news, current affairs and documentary programming on Newsworld.
At the CRTC hearings several years ago debating whether Newsworld deserved a modest rate increase (which we got), there was worry expressed by some CRTC commissioners that the CBC might one day redirect a portion of the Newsworld money to other CBC services, and thus deceive Newsworld viewers about where their cable fees are truly going. Some of you have expressed similar worries in your e-mails to me. On this matter, the key thing to remember is that the CBC gave a formal commitment that this would not happen.
So, given that, it’s inconceivable to me that anyone at the CBC would try. On a concluding note, let me say that it has been a privilege to be in this role as CBC’s editor in chief. As responsible as Canada’s commercial broadcasters are, it’s unimaginable for me to envisage a Canada without a strong public broadcast CBC.
And I have felt very lucky to be part of that effort. For me, supporting the CBC will continue well beyond today. But, as Canadians, we are lucky about something else.
One of the greatest delights in being at the CBC for nearly 35 years has been working with its staff and contributors. They are a dedicated and gifted group who deserve our support, and it has been an honour to be among them for so long. From coast to coast to coast in Canada and in all our international bureaus CBC News is in great hands.
This discussion is now You should think of that every time you take a taxi to the airport.
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