Suggestion #1: Funding

Just to throw it out there here is a proposal for the future of the CBC that primarily deals with the issues around funding, and also makes the CBC more regionally relevant.

First, we need to start with a pool of about 2.7 billion, or about 3 x the CBC's current government funding. Plus possibly some additional funds initially to help with the digital transition.

Where does all this cash come from? Well - Tea Makers once suggested

First off, broadcast licences are too cheap. They are the cheapest in western civilization. So that needs to be cranked up, and we'll take that extra money. We're going to gouge you guys on this, but you can afford it.

In return we're going to get out of the advertising game. That's about $400 million worth of ads we won't be running, and those clients will be coming to you. Play your cards right, and you'll do well.

So maybe that's part of the answer, maybe not - if the entire amount came from tax revenue it would raise the average Canadians monthly bill to 7.50 a month, which is still considerably less than what the average Brit pays for the BBC. So, once the money is there what does the average Canadian get for their $7.50?

1.5 billion (about what the CBC operates on now, including advertising) would go to the CBC National service. The CBC would continue to operate it's cable channels, but would turn over the main CBC broadcasting to regional branches.

1.2 billion would go to set up regional 'branches' of the CBC: semi-autonomous stations operating in each province. The provinces (who would largely control their regional 'branch' would have the option of adding additional funds and/or combining the efforts of the CBC with existing public broadcasters (such as TVO in Ontario and the Knowledge Network in B.C.). Additionally mechanisms would be set up to allow for private and foundation donations to provincial and national CBC operations.

The CBC would, in return for the additional funds and facilities, drop all advertising and all foreign content (with the exception of international news coverage), this means no more BBC series, no more BBC news, and no more American movies.

The provincial CBC branches would be run by boards of directors, appointed by provincial or territorial governments. The chair of each branch and a chairman appointed by the PM and ratified by the Heritage Committee would make up the National Board. The boards would, as they do now, hire management. If they happen to be reading this 10 years from now, I have one suggestion: It is easier to have a creative manager with a CFO to reign in their enthusiasm than it is to try to get a bureaucrat to think creatively.

Back to the subject at hand: The national CBC would make national programs and acquire programs for nationwide distribution, the provincial branches would make regional programming.With the exception of any programming mandated to be carried by the board, such as perhaps 'the National' or other programming deemed key to the overall brand, each regional branch would be able to build it's own schedule made up of it's own programming, programming created or acquired by the National CBC or programming created or by other provincial branches.

An afterthought

In addition I'd add this to the CBC's new mandate, if I was writing it - a minumum of 20 hours a week of purely instructional programming, this would be available to schools, or individuals who wanted to further their education without returning to school - via the internet, for free.

Topics might include such subjects as

Languages such as French, English or Mandarin

Basic Economics such as - primers on income tax, home budgeting and the stock market for beginners.

Canadian and World history primers

Backgrounders on political issues

Health and Wellness issues

etc.,

etc.,

Stations would be able to use these (and they could be either audio or video) on the air, or they could be downloaded (in the case of audio) in MP3 format or in video formats for cell phones etc., so that people could learn a language, or increase their knowledge on various issues while they commute, ride the street car, etc.,