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Shaw Questions CBC and CTF Accountability TMCnet Contributing Editor Shaw Communications Inc, Canada’s leading voice, video and data services provider, is rejecting a statement made by Richard Stursberg, executive vice president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, that “withholding payments to the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) will ‘unravel’ the Canadian broadcasting system.” Jim Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications Inc., is demanding an independent accounting to explain how CTF and CBC spent their budget that is being funded by Canadian citizens and cable operators. In 2005, Canada’s Auditor General had questioned the governance of the fund and CTF’s ability to demonstrate the public policy objectives underlying its creation. CTF’s main objectives include producing high quality, distinctively and culturally significant Canadian programming for television. Shaw said he believes that CTF is incapable of meeting those objectives as it favors American programming over Canadian shows. He blatantly challenged both CTF and CBC to show their accountability. Last month, Shaw expressed his dissatisfaction over television programs that do not get good ratings. He refuses to share the five percent of his annual revenues with CBC. He also disagrees with giving 37 percent of CTF’s budget to CBC. He argued that CBC already receives over $1  .2 billion from Canadian taxpayers. Shaw, however, made it clear that he will still support relevant, self-sustaining, and market driven Canadian programming.The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) is a non-profit, independent corporation that plays a pivotal role in the creation and broadcast of Canadian programming for television. Since its creation in 1996, it has supported over 4,000 projects including Degrassi: The Next Generation, Da Vinci’s Inquest, The Collector, Francoeur, Vice cache, and Les Bougons. Don't forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.--------- Beverly Maniago is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page. |