Canadian Media Guild “Shocked” Over CBC/Radio-Canada Plan To Cut 10% Of Workforce & Reduce Program Spend

deadline.com:

Canada’s media guild has reacted with shock following the announcement CBC/Radio-Canada will cut approximately 10% of its workforce and bring down its program spend by C$40M ($29.6M) to reduce a major budget shortfall.

The Canada Media Guild (CMG) said that though it was braced for cuts, it was “shocked” by the depths of the plan and was “dismayed and frustrated by the enormous impact these budgetary cuts” on its members, who include producers, journalists, technicians and program production staff.

Around 600 union and non-union roles will be shed across CBC/Radio-Canada, while another 200 currently unfilled positions will be closed, with the organization forced to “manage approximately C$125M [$92M] in budget pressures forecast for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.” Both the English-language CBC and French-language Radio-and Canada will eliminate around 250 roles, with most coming from Technology and Infrastructure and corporate positions, with some layoffs taking place immediately.

Furthermore, the corporation will cut spend on indie programs and acquisitions by approximated C$40M. It says this will result in ” reduced renewals and acquisitions, fewer new television series and episodes of existing shows, as well as fewer digital original series.” The announcement will come as a bitter blow to Canada’s TV sector, which has been hit by a slowing ad market and other financial pressures on its main networks this year.