Introduction
Considered as the oldest broadcasting network in Canada, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) has been experiencing a considerable decline in its viewership as of late. In comparison, BBC Canada has gained a considerable viewership making it one of the top rated channels that ordinary Canadians tune into when they want to watch quality prime time programming (Canada Newswire, 1). It is based on this that this paper will investigate the reason behind the decline of CBC and the rise of BBC Canada.
Isolating the Main Difference between the Networks
The main reason behind the decline in CBC’s viewership as compared to BBC Canada is in the type of programming that is available on the channel. Despite the fact that channel had a considerable amount of network dominance within Canada during the early 1960s to late 1970s, the fact remains that its network lineup has focused mainly on “made in Canada” programs. In comparison, BBC Canada not only has a line-up of popular British shows but it also has several popular American TV series in its channel line-up. While “made in Canada” television programs are produced under a high standard, they are generally considered less interesting as compared to their American and British television counterparts which have proven effective in drawing millions of viewers each episode.
Culture of TV Programming
The reason behind the sheer popularity of American and British programs has to do with the culture of TV programming that is systemic in their respective television industries. Plot lines within many of television series show instances of dystopia, systemic violence, sarcasm, and dark humor which generate considerable level of anticipate regarding the next episode in the series (Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada, 1 – 6).
Examples of this range from “Breaking Bad”, which is a top rated American drama, are series to “Doctor Who”, a similarly popular British made sci-fi series. In either television program, the aforementioned plot line aspects can be seen which helps to draw audiences into the series since it features elements and personalities which are simply not seen in an ordinary person’s life. In comparison, while the quality of Canadian TV production titles is superb, the plot lines, on air personalities and even the general behavior of the cast in the series is far too “nice” in relation to the “gritty” details and actions that are often sought by television viewers (Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada, 1 – 6).
What Does the CBC do well in Comparison to BBC?
While this paper has so far detailed the inadequacies of the CBC network, it is also essential to determine what it does well in comparison to BBC Canada. Presently, CBC does well when it comes to its sports coverage of international and local sports, its news network which is considered one of the primary news networks that local viewers tune into as well as its provision of services to remote locations that simply do not have access to cable television (Canada Newswire, 1).
External Competition
Unfortunately, despite the popularity of CBC as a source of news and sports related programming, it has continued to decline due to various sources of external competition. The sheer popularity of the internet has made it one of the most popular sources of information in relation to recent events and sports (Okalow, 1). Not only that, with the development of satellite TV series that reach even Canada’s remotest regions, many of CBC’s previous viewership have shifted towards other channels that have a greater variety of network content (Okalow, 1).
Works Cited
“Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada.” Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada (2012): 1-35. Print.
Canada, Newswire. “CBC/Radio-Canada looks to the future as it makes tough choices to balance its budget.” Canada Newswire 2014: Regional Business News. Web.
Okalow, Samson. “Cable TV Subscribers In Historic Decline.” Canadian Business (2013): 1. Print.