The news that the CBC would lose 10 per cent of its budget — $115 million over three years — was worrying to both CBC employees and the millions of Canadians who watch, listen and read what it produces. But now we know who will feel those cuts most acutely.
The details of the CBC cuts are outlined in this post on the Canadian Media Guild website. Some key points:
Job losses: English services will eliminate 215 positions this year, 256 positions by 2015. Eighteen jobs will be lost in the documentary unit and at least 88 news jobs at the network and local levels. A CMG post last week indicated the jobs lost will be concentrated in larger markets such as Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.
TV takes a hit: $21.3 million cut from non-news TV.
News cuts: $12 million cut from news on all platforms. Jobs lost: 34 at local stations, 44 at the network level, and 10 jobs cut from news administration. Two “pocket bureaus” in Africa and Latin America will close.
Programming changes: Connect on CBCNN and Dispatches on CBC radio will be cancelled at the end of this season; CBC’s TV network will commission 175 fewer hours of original programming; Sports Weekend will lose 14 jobs and narrow its focus to snow and ice sports in the winter and signature programs only in the summer. Radio 2 will reduce the number of live concert recordings by as much as two-thirds and close six regional recording facilities.
Anyone’s guess? According to the CMG, “CBC management is targeting $12 million in administrative and technical ‘efficiencies.'”
CMG expects that some employees will start receiving redundancy notices at the end of this month and reminds its members that these are not layoff notices but could result in reassignment or displacement. Read more about the process [PDF].
Do you expect these cuts will affect you? Do you think they will hurt freelancers who work regularly with the CBC? Are you worried about the future of the CBC as a whole? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If you’re a CBC employee with questions/concerns about the cuts, contact the Guild by email (info@cmg.ca) or phone (416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149).
