There’s an interesting discussion underway at the blog of Toronto Star media columnist Antonia Zerbisias. Antonia doesn’t agree with the CBC’s decision to cancel Street Cents in favour of focusing on online content:
For one thing, a public broadcaster is a public broadcaster, not a webcaster, and it has an obligation to broadcast programs that are non-commercial and even anti-commercial. For another, not every kid has a computer, or easy access to one — but just about every kid watches TV and too damn much of it.
Some of the discussion:
- [W]hy *shouldn’t* the CBC be a webcaster? Is there anything in its mandate that says “Thou shalt continue to broadcast on the radio spectrum and *only* on the radio spectrum, in perpetuity or until the return of the Holy Frum”? If the CBC can come up with interactive programming via the web, then shouldn’t it get the chance?
- “its demographic (pre-teen and teen) is increasingly and quickly moving to interactive digital platforms for news”: Wonder how many other (CBC) shows that would apply to. Shall we cancel them all?!?
What do you think? Broadly speaking, should the CBC produce content for web-only audiences? Personally, I think CBC’s mandate is to “broadcast” where Canadians are. Which, increasingly, is as much online as television or radio.
That said, I think we missed an opportunity with the announcement — we probably should have announced, at the same time, what youth and/or consumer initiatives we were planning to launch to replace Street Cents.
If we truly are.
Ball’s in our court, I guess.
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Tod: “I think CBC’s mandate is to “broadcast” where Canadians are. Which, increasingly, is as much online as television or radio. ”
I couldn’t agree with you more.
Todd, I think you’re doing a great job here.
“Which, increasingly, is as much online as television or radio.” What leads you to this conclusion? TV viewing is at historic high levels, even among kids, so wouldn’t one want to put primary resources on TV and secondary emphasis on the web?
Is there proof that teens are turning off their televisions in favour of the web or was CBC looking for an exterior excuse as to why the ratings for Street Cents were low?
What did the CBC do to win that audience in the last year? Did they promote Street Cents? Did they give it a decent timeslot?
I’m not denying the power of the net, I just feel as though this is being used as a convenient excuse to ditch Street Cents, a show that isn’t exactly a huge breadwinner. I would like to see the CBC’s web initiatives that will replace Street Cents, but I have a feeling they will be lacklustre and uninspired.
If the CBC doesn’t think teens/youth are watching television why did they push “The One” so hard, push back the time slot of the National and hire George Stroumboulopoulos to host ‘The Hour’? Aren’t these changes indicative of a network that believes there is a youth market? It seems pretty convenient that the CBC decides that youth aren’t watching television when it decides to dump Street Cents.
Broadcasting now is on TV, Radio AND The Web.
What makes CBC think a successfull concept like Street Cents couldn’t be extended to the web to reach its audience on-line, supporting and complimenting the over the air version. Welcome to the 21st century.
Let’s face it - the official story is BS - as usual.