OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada said that it would be prepared to drop advertising on all of its platforms in exchange for an addition $418 million in government funding.
In its lengthy submission to the Canadian Content in a Digital World consultations, the ‘pubcaster recommends increasing per person funding to $46, up $12 per Canadian from its current $34. Of that $12, continues the proposal, $9 would be put towards replacing ad revenue while the remaining $3 would be used to fund new investments “to face consumer and technology disruption”.
Removing ads would not only allow the Corp. “to focus squarely on the cultural impact of our mandate”, continues the submission, “it would also free up advertising revenue to help private media companies transition to a digital environment.”
The proposal also suggests that Canada develop a cohesive cultural investment strategy that engages the countries creators and creative industries, in the same vein as Britain’s ‘Creative Britain’ initiative, which it says has helped to promote British culture and the BBC as a global symbol of quality.
“The BBC offers a compelling example of how a strong, stable, well-funded public broadcaster can serve the interests of domestic audiences and diverse communities, support the global ambitions of its creative and cultural sectors, and provide a strong foundation for Britain’s creative economy”, reads the submission.
"A strong public broadcaster is at the heart of successful creative economies around the world", said CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, in a statement. "We believe that CBC/Radio-Canada can be that anchor for Canada's cultural ecosystem. Today, we're proud to share our vision for the future and start a conversation about how Canadian culture can thrive in the digital world."
