Canadian Heritage Committee on March 22nd, 2007

[Robert Rabinovitch]

Well, it is fair to say that as our funds have contracted, our ability to develop new programs has contracted accordingly. At the same time, in trying to be good efficient managers, we have tried different techniques and ways to save money so that we can do more programming.

One of the areas I'm most proud is the $10 million, from the $60 million we have just received, which will again go into what we call cross-cultural programming, or programming between French and English, between radio and TV. By being able to develop the programming from first principles to be seen or heard on multiple services, you have to start right at the beginning as you're planning the program.

The best example is not ours. The best example, I think, is Bon Cop, Bad Cop. When you talk to the producer, they shot it and developed it with the idea that it would be for both markets; it wasn't done for one market and then translated into the next market. The show works because they did that.

[Tina Keeper]

Right.

[Robert Rabinovitch]

So we are learning in the process. And some of our things are failing, no question about it, when we try to take from one area and move it into another area. But that's what I mean by taking risks: if you don't take risks, you will not succeed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you for that.

Mr. Kotto.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Earlier we left off while talking about under-funding, and I would like to go back to that subject.

The CBC's mandate is increasingly broad, and, paradoxically, its funding is declining. Can you give us an idea of CBC/Radio-Canada's exact budget?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

I think we stated it in our presentation.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

I asked you the question on an exchange basis.

[Robert Rabinovitch]

I can give you the information by department.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

The CBC's budget stands at how much?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

The overall budget, with the money that comes from the commercial sector, is $1.6 billion.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

What is the value of the parliamentary envelope?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

The parliamentary envelope is valued at approximately $930 million, more or less. I could give you exact amounts, but it is approximately $930 million.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Can we have a clear idea of the allocation of that envelope between the CBC, one the one hand, and Radio-Canada on the other?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

The amount for English-language television is $510 million. For English radio, it's $138 million. For French-language television, it's $354 million, and it's $101 million for French radio.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

That's a 60-40 allocation.

[Robert Rabinovitch]

The allocation is normally approximately 60-40.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Perfect.

[Robert Rabinovitch]

Indeed.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Is it possible, out of a concern for transparency toward us, to access information on the use of that budget, to support the theory that the CBC is under-funded? In other words, is it possible to access your books to support the argument?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

Yes, it's possible.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Is it possible to send us that information?

[Robert Rabinovitch]

Yes. We can send you the detailed information as well as—

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

That will help our analysts.

[Robert Rabinovitch]

In addition, if other committee members wish, we are prepared to make individual presentations to explain the figures in detail.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

From your point of view, should public television, in this instance yours, ours, target the advertising field in order to survive today?