CBC: It's time for a switch

PATRICK WATSON

The CBC's current paralysis has displayed to the whole country a profound management ineptitude of which the industry at large has been aware for a long time. It is interesting but not surprising to find that millions of citizens are relatively indifferent to the absence of CBC television: It has been so busy behaving like, and competing with, the private sector that for most of us it was often difficult to know when we were actually tuned to the allegedly public service. Old American movies in prime time on Saturday evening -- movies that you can rent cheaply at your local video shop -- are a prime example of the network's attitude toward public service. And the French network's recent replacing of the 6 p.m. news with a popular sitcom is an indication that the ratings-and-revenue-driven mentality isn't confined to the English television service.