CBC radio continued its winning streak with the latest spring 2009 book. Although down slightly from the winter 2009 survey, CBC Radio One’s overall share 19 per cent higher than this time last year.

Of the seven markets surveyed both CBC Radio One stations and their respective morning shows rank either first or second. Both World Report (at 7 a.m.) and As it Happens had an outstanding book, with share increase of more than 30 per cent over this time last year.

Here’s a graph of the CBC Radio One share since last year in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver:

CBC Radio in Vancouver had a particularly good showing, passing CKNW for the market lead. ”This is the highest ranking we’ve had in recent memory, in the last 20 years, and as far as I remember this is the first time we’ve been the top station overall,” said Johnny Michel, managing director of CBC British Columbia told the Vancouver Sun. 

Here is Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg:

BBM defines share as the estimated total hours tuned to one station as a percentage of total hours tuned to all stations. Of course share only captures people who listen to radio.

CBC Radio 2’s share is about the same as the last survey.

The full survey is available here.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2	Posted at 4:40 pm (03 Apr 2009)

In a letter to the Ottawa Citizen, former CBC President Tony Manera, said he objected to ads on CBC Radio.

The possibility of advertising on CBC radio is not a new idea. It has been considered and rejected in the past, for valid reasons.

The traditional distinctiveness of CBC radio would be further eroded by the presence of commercials. That insidious process, unfortunately, has been underway for some time. In a well intentioned, but poorly executed effort to broaden the traditional base of CBC radio listeners, many of its most loyal supporters, upon whom the CBC’s survival as a public broadcaster depends, have become disenchanted, discouraged, disengaged and pretty darn unhappy…

One of the most irritating features, on both CBC radio and television, is the incessant running of “promos” and “trailers” telling us what’s coming up next, or later, or tomorrow, or next week.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2, Executives, People	Posted at 4:24 pm (11 Feb 2009)

In response to Heritage Minister James Moore comments on advertising on CBC Radio, Michel Tremblay, senior VP of corporate strategy said today that advertising on CBC Radio “is not currently being considered.”

But others say that Moore’s comments amount to an invitation for CBC management to look at advertising on CBC Radio as a way to make up the looming budget shortfall.

Charlie Angus, the NDP heritage critic, who raised the issue with on Monday told the Globe that he was surprised by Moore’s comments. “He revealed his government’s inclination to support the introduction of commercials on CBC Radio.”

A CBC press release said Moore’s comments come on the heels of a series of meetings between the CBC and the Feds “to obtain some flexible financial measures” that will help the corp “to alleviate the burden of the recession.”

The CBC has long pressed for more flexible mechanisms to raise revenue, including last year’s failed bid to introduce subsriber fees. A submission to the CRTC in 2007 said “In the Corporation’s view, no service should be subject to regulatory constraints which would preclude it from generating sufficient revenues from the service it provides.”

Advertising on CBC Radio would require CRTC approval, and there’s some speculation that Moore’s comments may have been intended to encourage the CBC to submit a request.

Both the Globe and the Star have more on the subject.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2, Parliament, The CRTC	Posted at 12:05 am (11 Feb 2009)

Heritage Minister James Moore hinted yesterday that advertising on CBC Radio “is an option.” The Minister made the comments during an exchange with NDP heritage critic Charlie Angus, but then seemed to back away from them. Below is a transcript of the exchange:

Charlie Angus: Would you consider opening CBC Radio One and Radio Two up for commercial advertising?

James Moore: Yeah I mean, CBC has a lot of pressure… Look we’re working with Hubert Lacroix and people at CBC in order to get a full sense of the scale of the problems that they have. Commercial advertising is an option  that has been talked about for some time. I would frankly consider anything so long as the end result is to have a strong national public broadcaster that serves Canadians as best as possible.

Charlie Angus: So you would consider opening advertising onto Radio One and Radio Two? That has been discussed?

James Moore: It has not been discussed with CBC - Radio Canada. It’s not something that I’m looking at doing. But we are very conscious of the needs of the CBC - the pressures that they’re facing. I would work with them on any option that they think would work to best serve their mandate in serving Canadians.

The Minister made the comments during a heritage committee hearing that’s online here, scroll along to the 1:12:11 mark to watch it.

Advertising revenue currently accounts for about 20 per cent of total CBC funding. Although some advertising already exists on CBC Radio, such as podcast sponsorships and ads on radio web sites, CBC Radio earns very little money from these deals. CBC Radio’s total budget for 2009 is around $140 million, of which less than $1 million is from self-generated revenue.

Ian Morrison, spokesperson for the watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, told the Citizen Radio One and Two ads could generate up to $95 million a year.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2, Parliament, The CRTC	Posted at 12:44 pm (10 Feb 2009)

CBC Radio cleaned up in the latest audience measurement report released by BBM.

In radio they call it the book, and it was an outstanding showing, overall CBC Radio One:

• Set an all-time record for total audience share of 11.1 per cent, which is up from 9.9 per cent a year ago;
• Achieved a national audience of 3.5 million listerners, which is up almost a quarter million;
• Set records in Toronto. For the first time ever, CBC Radio One is now the top-ranked station, with a reach of 1.1 million listeners, and again producing the top-rated morning show in the largest market in Canada;
  
• Is in the top three of 20 of 22 markets in the morning show slots.

A bunch of shows had historic high points, including The Current, The World at Six, DNTO, Vinyl Tap, Cross Country Check-up.

This latest book is for September and October. For the full BBM results, click here.

Unfortunately the format changes at Radio 2 were not as well received. It saw its share of 2.9 per cent drop slightly.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2	Posted at 8:37 pm (28 Nov 2008)

Beginning in September, CBC Radio’s arts show Q will follow The Current, and air from 10 to 11:30 a.m.  with a two-hour expanded broadcast on Friday mornings. Q will continue to air at 10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. NT) each weeknight., and Jian Ghomeshi will continue to host.

Taking Q’s former mid-day time slot will be Aamer Haleem, who is new to the CBC and radio. Haleem is currently a VH1 personality and host of the show Bands Reunited. He was host of VH1’s Top Video Countdown, interviewing celebrities like Madonna. Haleem was born in London but raised in Canada, attending the University of Toronto and the the Humber College School of Journalism.

CBC Radio icon Shelagh Rogers will be back this fall with a new program exploring the best in Canadian literature. Rogers will speak with renowned writers and future literary stars, and examine the issues having an impact on books in Canada. It will air Saturdays at 3:00 p.m.

Both new shows will originate from Vancouver.

(Both times +30 min in NT)

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	CBC Radio 1, Personalities, Q, Sounds Like Canada	Posted at 5:14 pm (25 Jun 2008)

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 ________”)

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	Asides, CBC Radio 1, Cross Country Checkup, Today In CBC History	Posted at 11:08 am (16 May 2008)

The Irrelevant Show is set to debut on CBC Radio One on June 26. This Edmonton-based show will showcase local talent and offer listeners Pythonesque sketch comedy that shows that Alberta is about more than oil sands and cowboys.

The show has commissioned 120 sketches, which calls for a lot of funny from Edmonton’s hottest comics and sketch comedy writers. It will air Thursdays at 7:30pm.

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	Alberta, CBC Radio 1	Posted at 10:39 am (14 May 2008)

The CRTC has approved CBC/Radio-Canada’s application operate nested FM transmitters in Windsor. The CRTC received several favourable interventions regarding the application, and that it rejected oppositions filed by Neeti Ray and CTVgm. The CBC has two years to get the transmitters in order. (Hat tip to Gary.)

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	Asides, CBC Radio 1, Ontario, The CRTC, Transmission	Posted at 9:57 am (13 May 2008)

CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two together captured record spring share of 13.3%.

• Radio One now reaches nearly 3.2 million Canadians
• Radio Two reaches 1.1 million listeners (consistent with past spring reach levels)

Radio One gained over 50,000 new listeners versus a year ago and now reaches 3.2 million people while Radio 2 reached 1.1 million listeners overall, which is consistent with past spring reach levels.

CBC Radio’s excellent performance extends to the regions as well with Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria breaking their own records.

• Calgary is now ranked #1 overall with at 9.8 % share up from its 7.3% share captured a year ago. The morning show, which continues to show significant improvement, is also ranked #1 with an impressive 14.6 % share, up four share points from S1 2007.
• Vancouver’s overall ratings jumped two full share points to a 10.7% share and maintained its #2 ranking in that market. The morning show maintained its #1 ranking and also saw a year-to-year share jump from 13.8 to 15.4%. In the noon period the station achieved a 7.8% share…its highest this decade.
• Victoria continues phenomenal growth reaching an 11.7% share overall… up nearly 3 share points from last spring. The morning show ranks #1 with a 17.1 % share… up close to 7 share points from a year ago. In the afternoon drive period, Victoria has nearly doubled its share.

CBC Radio now has 13 of 18 morning shows ranked in the top three in their markets and seven are #1 including the key markets of Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa.

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2	Posted at 8:34 am (08 Apr 2008)

After ten years on CBC Radio, Don Genova’s popular Food For Thought column has left the airwaves.
“It’s one of those ‘CBC’ things,” Genova writes on his blog. “Lots of shows across the country have used the [column] over the past ten years, and enjoy using it, but the department that syndicates the column says they’re not really supposed to be funding me and it’s time for them to develop new columns so something had to go. That’s me.”

Genova encourages listeners to email the CBC’s radio syndication department if they “have something to say about the cancellation.”

He has prepared an audio retrospective of his column [MP3], and is now seeking sponsors for his podcast.

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	CBC Radio 1, Personalities	Posted at 3:40 pm (28 Mar 2008)

Zero hour approaches.

Wednesday at midnight (okay, technically speaking midnight is on Thursday, but you know what I mean) is the deadline to get letters of support for CBC Radio One on the FM dial in Vancouver into the CRTC.

You can keep it simple. Just tell them how much you like CBC Radio programing, and that you think it’s crucial for the Lower Mainland to have access to the national broadcaster on the FM dial. And feel free to pester your friends. They’ll thank you for it later.

To do this, go to the form on the CRTC website and click on the button #2007-18. Check the box beside #200714239 (in the list, this is the second CBC application) and go to the bottom of the page and select next. Then just follow the instructions to complete your letter of support. (Please copy CBC on your e-mail at regulatoryaffairs@cbc.ca)

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	CBC Radio 1, The CRTC, Vancouver	Posted at 12:14 am (23 Jan 2008)

You’ll be seeing advertisements on CBC Radio web pages soon.

The increase is necessary to pay for increasing costs in streaming CBC Radio online and producing and distributing podcasts, CBC Radio head Jennifer McGuire told staff yesterday.

“We cannot grow in these spaces at the expense of our existing programs and schedules,” she said in a staff memo. “To date, we have managed to keep in step with technology and listener/user demands by stretching existing resources to cover other platforms. As a startup strategy this has served us well, but it is not sustainable and is certainly not a formula for growth. The hard reality is that we need additional revenue to do this important work.”

To gain that revenue, McGuire says CBC will be extending the banner ads you currently see on CBC.ca pages, such as the News and Entertainment pages.

Traditionally, CBC Radio has kept itself free of any commercials or sponsorships. Last year, CBC Radio began adding short sponsorship messages at the beginning of some podcasts, also to help pay for them.

CBC Radio currently has 54 podcasts, making it the largest single podcasting organization in Canada. The CBC Radio 2 portal page, with Concerts on Demand and live streaming, attracts more than a million page views per month.

What do you think? Given that CBC Radio just can’t produce and distribute podcasts at no cost, was this the right way to increase revenue? If not, what revenue source would you have found if you were in charge?

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	CBC Radio 1, CBC Radio 2, Podcasting	Posted at 11:40 am (15 Jan 2008)

Amidst all the hoopla around CBC Television’s decisions on budgets given for promotion, some CBC Radio shows are independently producing their own viral videos and putting them online.

CBC Radio 3 has a headstart in this respect, with its popular and entertaining R3TV video podcast. But some Radio One shows are also quietly hitting the web.

Jonathan Goldstein, host of Wiretap, produced this short video around the holidays. What I like about it is it maintains the dry humour of the show, shows a bit behind the scenes, and… okay I’ll say it, it features a pug.

It’s not the only foray into video that Wiretap has made and probably won’t be the last. But the first Wiretap video came as a surprise to Goldstein and his producers. Some fan posted a bizarre video shot, apparently, in his home while listening to Wiretap. “I must admit when I initially watched it it sort of freaked me out,” he told me. “The radio is playing and it’s sort of a shaky cam, this guy shooting in his house. And I felt from everything I’ve learned from CSI Miami, I thought the final shot would be someone tied in a corner or something.”But Jonathan’s crew has gone on to produce a number of other videos. Jonathan says they check in periodically to see how many people have watched it, but “Howard’s mother-in-law kept checking and updating him most every time someone new watched it.”

Who needs the BBM?

Has your radio show used viral video to spread the word about your program? Was it successful?

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	CBC Radio 1, Wiretap	Posted at 1:47 pm (07 Jan 2008)

I grew up on AM Radio. I had a Fisher Price turntable/AM radio combo. I would slip it under my pillow every night and listen to Jack Webster and Pat Burns on CJOR.

Burns used to place his horse bets with Hastings Racecourse live on air.

Somehow, it was endearing.

I lit a candle for Burns when he died.

Listening to AM radio as a kid convinced me. I had to go into radio. I wanted desperately to be one of those people.

Technically speaking, the AM signal is the true ambassador of radio. It can snake around buildings and hills (FM is primarily line-of-sight) and bounce off the ionosphere. I can still occasionally pick up San Fransisco superstation KGO just with a regular AM Radio. You could even rock the dial slightly off-frequency to improve the treble response of the signal.

Sadly, though, over the years AM radio has become the bastard child of, well, all broadcast media. It’s resigned to primarily talk formats — hard to argue considering music sounds awful on AM, and it’s mono only (unless you count the crazy-ass attempt at AM Stereo some years ago).

But even some AM stations, notably the ones past about AM 1000, sound okay. Everything below that sounds like it’s been scrubbed in mud before being aired.

And that’s where CBC Radio One in Vancouver languishes. We’ve been at AM 690 since the Stone Age. And, despite excellent work from our technicians and engineers, the transmitter’s signal just sounds… well, muddy. There’s no treble at all and for many people in apartment or condo building, they can’t even pick up much of the signal at all, owing to AM’s hate of cement and steel.

But now, CBC Radio in Vancouver is trying to change that. CBC Radio has asked the CRTC for permission to move its signal to the FM band. And we need your help.

We’ve asked the CRTC to broadcast at 88.1 FM in the Vancouver area. Like most other FM stations, we’d put our transmitter on Mt. Seymour. Hell, Radio One is currently available on FM in every major city in Canada except Vancouver. This transition to FM is loooong overdue.

Here’s why we want to do it:

• We asked Radio One listeners in Vancouver (Foundation Research, 2004) if they had problems picking up our AM signal — nearly 40% of respondents had problems picking up the signal at home, at work or in their car. Not cool.
• Tuning to the AM band is in decline and has been for years. Four out of ten Vancouver radio listeners do not listen to the AM band at all. Making the move to FM is an investment in Radio One’s future.

But we need your help to make this happen. We can’t just string up a transmitter. We have to get permission of the CRTC which regulates (for good reason) the public airwaves.

How You Can Help

Tell the CRTC you want to listen to CBC Radio Vancouver on the FM band. The easiest way to do this is through their web site.

1. Go here.

2. Click on the button that reads

3. Put a checkmark in the box at then click “Next” at the bottom of the screen. Make sure you’re putting a checkmark beside 200714239. (Hey, they’re the CRTC’s rules, not ours! {grin} )

4. Pull down the menu and select “Support”:

5. Type your comments into the form below and click Next. You can click Next through the next three screens if you don’t want to appear before the CRTC.

If you want, you can also write a letter and fax it to the Secretary General at 819-994-0218, or mail it to CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2.

Whatever you do, please copy us on your intervention by email at REGULATORYAFFAIRS@CBC.CA.

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	CBC Radio 1, Transmission, Vancouver	Posted at 8:18 pm (27 Dec 2007)