Canada Ping!
Posted on 09/16/2012 2:04:24 PM PDT by Squawk 8888
OTTAWA - CBC may be willing to take $1 billion from taxpayers each year to produce its news content, but the state broadcaster is tight-lipped about what it earns selling that same material to some of the biggest companies in the world.
In a move that continues to pit the government-subsidized CBC against other privately owned media companies, CBC recently renewed an agreement to sell its news stories to Microsoft. Microsoft then posts CBC news stories on its website.
An access to information request for details of the contract included several pages that were close to blank with all pertinent material removed.
According to CBC, whose own newsroom seeks information on all kinds of government contracts, the material on the Microsoft deal is too sensitive to release.
The state broadcaster claims that releasing the Microsoft contract "could reasonably be expected to prejudice the competitive position of a government institution."
CBC also claims privacy, third-party information and that releasing the information could aid in the commission of a crime.
Despite calls for openness from the government it covers, CBC has consistently received poor to failing grades for its handling of public disclosure.
Canada Ping!
*from* the people...
“CBC may be willing to take $1 billion from taxpayers each year to produce its news content, ....”
The billion dollars isn’t just for news. It also covers the cost of producing politically-correct propaganda shows that almost no one watches* (e.g. “Little Mosque on the Prairie”).
The CBC is the mouthpiece/propaganda arm of the Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, Green Party, etc., etc.. Way back in 1938, or whenever it was, when its radio service (the first of its services) first aired the Liberal Party was in power. The CBC is run by a board of directors appointed by the government. By sheer coincidence, of course /sarc, the Liberal Party has dominated since that day.
The CBC today is exhibiting extreme anxiety that the Conservatives may be in power for longer than they want. Most of us Canucks want the thing privatized or dismantled, but so far our political class seems unwilling to address that issue, for fear they will be seen as censoring the critics. We have several competing broadcasting networks which have to actually offer something people are willing to watch or listen to, while the CBC goes merrily along pandering to their favourite political parties without a care as to whether they have an audience.
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