CBC, Leafs do it again
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As the web editor here for BCLocalNews.com, I spend an incredible amount of time on the internet (mostly) doing my job.
So the other day, I came across an interesting article in the Toronto Star's online edition.
The headline reads: 'Leafs blamed for CBC cancellations'.
It goes on to say that another Leafs-less playoffs, which will supposedly cost the public broadcaster $10 million in ad revenues, is to blame for the axe falling on three shows: MVP, jPod and Intelligence.
With Hockey Night in Canada being one of the few (or only) programs run on the channel that doesn't lose money, the network was allegedly asking producers to slash costs on their shows or risk being cancelled.
MVP failed to attract any audience, drawing a miserable 349,000 viewers in its debut episode in January, and significantly less in subsequent weeks after its time slot was changed.
Add to it that the show was terrible, and it was a failure.
I was disappointed to hear about the demise of jPod -- not because I watch it, I don't --, but because it saw Alan Thicke get his first acting job unrelated to Kirk Cameron in 20 years.
Intelligence is another case of the network failing to adequately promote an excellent show, putting it in a time slot when it competed with major American ratings hits, and not giving it time to mature.
This is the third time Chris Haddock has gotten the proverbial knife in the back from the CBC; with the first being the cancellation of the outstanding Da Vinci's Inquest, followed by Da Vinci's City Hall, and now Intelligence.
It's no surprise he has looked increasingly southward with his productions in recent years, because CBC hasn't been doing him any favours.
But above all else, what this points to is extremely poor financial planning by the network.
The fact that CBC has to rely so much on what is by all accounts an awful Toronto Maple Leafs team to bring in money for them is puzzling, and why it affects other programming so much is another question, especially when their new TV contract with the NHL gives them another $30 million+ after this season.
What does this all mean for people who enjoy CBC programming? Another year of turkeys like 'The Week The Women Went' and 'Heartland'.
COMMENTS
Posted by: Don Fraser
Date: Mar-16-2008
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