MONTREAL – Quebecor Media’s TVA Group was quick to poke holes in CBC/Radio-Canada's proposal for guaranteed funding, calling for a review of the public broadcaster’s mandate.
Julie Tremblay, president and CEO of TVA Group, added that CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate should be based on “distinctive programming” that is complementary to, rather than competitive with, Canada’s private broadcasters.
"The idea of removing advertising from CBC/Radio-Canada in exchange for increased, guaranteed public funding, without first reviewing the public broadcaster's mandate, is a bewildering suggestion which hopefully won't fool anyone”, Tremblay said in a statement. “CBC/Radio-Canada wants to have its cake and eat it too: more money, less financial risk, no commercial breaks and, most of all, no limits on its ability to compete with private broadcasters. It's the perfect recipe if you want to deal a fatal blow to other Canadian broadcasters."
