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On this date in 1965, Cross Country Checkup debuted with a debate on a national, publicly funded health care system. Years later, we have the national health care system and a radio program that continues to entertain and provoke. (Although I really do miss the standard two-question opener to each caller from years back: “Cross Country Checkup, where are you calling from? What do you think about ________”)
The former editor-in-chief of CBC News has been hired as the managing director for Al-Jazeera Television.
Tony Burman was recently with CBC News until, according to a recent print article in Ryerson Review of Journalism, he clashed with CBC Vice-President of English services Richard Stursberg.
In an interview with InsideTheCBC.com shortly before his departure, Burman played down the idea of working for a private network:
It’s too early for me to shut any doors, but I doubt if there’s any possibility of me wanting to work for a commercial news organization in Canada. My tribal passions for CBC News are too strong. I respect CBC’s competitors but now is not the time for me to switch horses. However, there is a lot to private broadcasting than simply ‘news’ so I’m always open to stimulating, intriguing ideas and initiatives.
Burman’s job won’t be easy. A number of journalists have left Al-Jazeera recently amid claims of a revolt over working conditions. It is also facing a potential £1m discrimination case brought by the former English head of planning.
Former CBC host and journalist Avi Lewis went to the network last year to host a program about the U.S. election.
I’ve always been a proud (and yes, like we all are, slightly snobbish) grammar geek. I’m proud to know the difference between a jail and a prison, that to evacuate hundreds of people would be reeeeeally messy, and that they actually feel “nauseated,” not “nauseous” by my grammar snobbish behaviour.
But one definition that has always eluded me is the difference between “more than” and “over.”
My gut feeling tells me that you use “over” when it’s in reference to physical measurement properties (over six storeys high, over eight feet tall, etc.) and use “more than” for non-physical references like (more than 600 people, or more than $400,000, etc.)
Anyone want to weigh in with their understanding of the right way to use these two?
The CNR Radio system dies in name only. The CRBC got the three CNR-owned stations, the Montreal studios and some extra control gear in Winnipeg for $50,000.
In 1928, children’s TV host Frederick McFeely Rogers (Mr. Rogers) was born in Latrobe Pennsylvania. After developing the Mr. Rogers personna with the CBC, his PBS half-hour Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was in production from 1968-2001. He died of stomach cancer Feb 27, 2003 at age 74.
Just weeks after leaving the CBC, former president Robert Rabinovitch is starting a new job as president of The Prix Italia, a respected international radio, television and web competitions. He succeeds the BBC’s Caroline Thomson for 2008.
Rabinovitch was elected by delegates of The Prix Italia’s member organizations, which comprise 90 companies spread over 40 countries and five continents.
The Prix Italia awards prizes for quality productions in the fields of drama, documentaries, the performing arts (television) and music (radio). The competition is held each year in the second half of September, accompanied by a series of major cultural events and performances.
CBC/Radio-Canada has fared well at the Prix Italia in recent years. CBC Radio won for Radio Music in 2006 with Spillville Then and Now. In 2005, CBC Radio won for Best Work on Music for an episode in the series The Change of the Sound in 2005, and CBC Television’s Sex Traffic won three awards: best TV drama, the President of the Republic’s Silver Cup, and the Special Students’ prize. And in 2003, CBC/Radio-Canada Radio and Television Archives won for best Web site in the Cross Media category.
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First, the background.
The Canadian Television Fund, a partnership between the feds and cable/satellite companies, essentially taxes those cable and satellite companies. The money gets redistributed to support producing and broadcasting Canadian content.
Broadcasters don’t get any money from the CTF, but rather the CTF directs it to the various independent shows they are ordering. The producers of those shows get the actual money from CTF, provided the shows meet Fund’s eligibility.
The CBC’s allocation is 37 per cent of the fund (minus administrative and other minor costs). In news releases, you’ll see allocation referred to as our “envelope.” (Why not just “allocation”? Who knows.)
The amount of money most broadcasters get changes from year-to-year based on things like audience success and regional activity. Over the years, audience success has become a more important factor to the CTF in determining how much of that pie you’re going to get (eat?).
The CBC’s 37% portion, though, doesn’t change. This is because, as the national public broadcaster, the CBC is mandated to deliver a wide range of Canadian content. So maximizing audience is not necessarily as big a goal as private broadcasters, for whom audience share (and, thus, advertising revenue and ultimately share price) is the primary consideration.
What the CBC proposed earlier this week.
According to the CBC, if our recommendations are accepted, it would “ensure the Fund remains the best vehicle to promote Canadian programming, and would ensure that Canadians are able to see high-quality independent productions on television in prime time.”
What caption is missing here? Add your suggestion in the comments!
Photo taken in 1991 at CHMR-FM, a campus station at Memorial University. Russell Bowers, now the northern B.C. CBC Radio One morning show host, is the guy in the tie and moustache. Bill Gregory is the guy behind the mic.
Entries so far:
“Bill, does this mustache make me look fat?”
“Uh, Russell, I’m about to go on the air…”
“Oh… OK, OK, may-maybe later then…”
“I’m going to need you to come in
on Sunday… mmmkay thanks”
“You think this mustache makes makes me
look like Burton Cummings?”
“So, is your Twitter doing?”
“Well, my doctor says it should be cleared up in a week.”
“Oh, you’re a left-hander? I’m from the union.
We already have several lefties who could be doing that job…”
“Uh Russell? Your fly is open and your ‘mic’ is on.”
Do you have a photo you think would make a great Add Your Caption contest? Email it to insidecbcblog@gmail.com
On this day in 1952, at 8.30 pm, Vancouver’s CBR 1130 became CBU 690. There was a 30-minute CBU Special at 8:30 followed by a Robbie Burns Special at 9:05 pm. The launch of CBU meant a power increase from 5000 watts to 10,000 watts. At this point CBC Radio had just 17 low-power relay transmitters throughout B.C.
On this day in 1930, CPR applied for seven 50 kW transmitters to be located to serve Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and either Halifax or Saint John. 15 kW transmitters were proposed for Fort William, Sudbury, Quebec City and Prince Albert. However, on April 2nd, eight of the applications were withdrawn “until a decision was made by Parliament” (on the future of radio). However, three applications were left standing for stations in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg but, apparently, never re-surfaced. On the same date, Canadian Pacific was issued a license for a “phantom” station (CHRY - later changed to CPRY) which would be based in studios in the new Royal York Hotel in Toronto and which would lease time for its programs from CKGW or CFRB.
On this day 25 years ago, CBC Television moved the national news to 10 pm and introduced a new public affairs program The Journal, hosted by Barbara Frum, which would last for a decade.
Also this day in 1927, singer & program host Gisele MacKenzie was born Marie LaFeche in Winnipeg. After having her own daily CBC radio show the high points of her career include starring on TV’s Your Hit Parade & playing the violin on the Jack Benny Show. She also had a top 10 hit recording, Hard to Get. She died Sep 5, 2003 at age 76
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