Moving The National: ‘strange’ rumours ‘unfounded’ and ‘ludicrous’
Despite multiple denials from the CBC, the lobby organization Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is insisting the CBC has a secret plan to move The National from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. weeknights.
In a press release issued this morning the organization described a “closely guarded secret plan,” to move the show an hour later.
The CBC flatly denies there is any such plan. “The rumours are not true, Mr. Morrison has it completely wrong,” Chris Ball a spokesperson for the CBC said today. “The National will remain at its current timeslot.” He said the CBC has requested that the press release be retracted.
Ian Morrison, spokesperson for ‘Friends’ said the plan to move The National is being discussed at high levels within the corporation by “a very limited number of people around [Richard] Stursberg’s office,” he said.
But one of the people that would presumably be involved in those discussions denied that they ever happened. “There has never even been any discussion of moving The National,” Kirstine Layfield, General Manager of CBC English Television said in a letter she sent to Morrison this morning. She said the rumours were “unfounded” and “strange.”
“Let me be clear, this is the furthest from our plans and strategy as one can possibly conjure,” Layfield wrote. She added that the idea of filling the time slot with imported entertainment programming is “ludicrous.”
Morrison said he heard about the plan from two anonymous sources, which he said were reliable, “We don’t fly off the handle on rumours, we’ve checked it out,” he said. Nevertheless Morrison conceded that the plan may not happen, “it’s a discussion and a plan,” he said “they want it to happen.”
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Well, we all remember the “success” of PTN.
Wouldn’t surprise anybody if the current bunch from the 7th floor only entitled to 50% of their bonuses would try a scheme like this by moving The National to 11 & have Peter get a make over from Strombo’s stylist.
Maybe they are opening up the 10:00 p.m. slot for another brilliant programming choice like Canadian version of “The One” than never even man it to air.
Nice move Richard.
“Let me be clear, this is the furthest from our plans and strategy as one can possibly conjure,” Layfield wrote. She added that the idea of filling the time slot with imported entertainment programming is “ludicrous.”
That’s some serious defending going on.
And if it happens, it will either mean:
1. She’s a liar
or
2. She has no real power over the schedule
I hope she’s right. If not, it’s time for some popcorn!
Or perhaps she is telling the truth?
I’ve always wondered… does it get it get drafty up there in the cheap seats?
I hope she is as well.
But someone is truth twisting, either Friends, the “source” or the official CBC story, regardless of where you sit.
I would not mind the move, I time shift on the dish and watch at 11:30 or 12:30 nl time I never watch at 10 but the rumor of U.S shows in prime time does concern me.CBC show be 100% Canadian in prime time.