Speeches and Interviews

May 16, 2000

Cost of CBC to Canadians

CBC's Operating Parliamentary Appropriation: approximately $750 M funds 2 national television networks, 4 national radio networks operating coast-to-coast-to-coast in 2 official languages and eight aboriginal languages
$250 M supports 4 commercial free radio networks
$500 M supports 2 national television networks, including 25 regional stations and national distribution system
$200 M supports French Television, $300 M supports English Television
Total appropriation represents cost to each Canadian of approximately 7 cents per day
Total revenues stable or declining
Increasing dependency on advertising revenues
Competition and convergence are decreasing audiences for all conventional broadcasters
Advertising revenues will decline as a result

Total Cost of CBC Television: $530 M

This pays for: network programming; 17 regional stations; 11 domestic bureaus and foreign correspondents around the world; the world's longest television distribution system; microwave, land lines and nearly 700 transmitters; plus buildings and production facilities, management and administration.
This does NOT include the cost of CBC Newsworld which is funded separately through subscriber and advertising revenue.
$300M (approx. 60%) in parliamentary appropriation, $230M (approx. 40%) in self-generated revenue, largely from advertising.
40% of CBC Television's budget is dependent on revenue earned.
CBC Television costs each Canadian less than 3 cents per day.
90% Canadian content in prime time; 80% across full day

Comparison to BBC

Public funding approximately $7.5 billion (CDN)
Radio and Television services in one language
A distribution and transmission system serving a land mass approximately 60% the size of Newfoundland

Canadians' Opinions of the CBC: Pollary, May 1999

7 out of 10 of Canadians believe CBC's current level of funding is just about right or too little
9 out of 10 Canadians believe that having a public broadcaster that receives federal funding is important
7 out of 10 Canadians believe that CBC Television does the best job of reflecting Canadian culture and Canadian values.