RE: Good TV not a numbers game (Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star, Feb. 21, 2006)
Hello Antonia!
The CMRI data measured all "drama series" aired in the 2004 and 2005
broadcast years. The definition is from CRTC, not CBC. CBC's total includes
21 episodes of "Ciao Bella", a show which was made for Radio-Canada. The
data compare apples to apples over the two broadcast years (September 2003
to August 2005) and they are correct.
Our conclusion is that CTV has substantially out-performed CBC in series
drama over the most recent two broadcast years. CBC-TV has aired only an
average of one hour of drama a week (including repeats) over the two-years.
During the same period, it aired 550 hours of prime-time foreign drama
series and movies, an average of five hours per week.
We think management should be held accountable for these results.
Regards!
Ian Morrison
Spokesperson
FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting
February 28, 2006 - Toronto Star: Spin class by Antonia Zerbisias
Columnist admits being misled by numbers released by CBC in response to ACTRA/FRIENDS press release on CBC's drama performance.
February 22, 2006 - Toronto Star: Size matters by Antonia Zerbisias
Text of Toronto Star columnist's blog discussing the accuracy of data on the number of hours of prime time drama aired by CBC in comparison to CTV, updated to show that figures provided by CBC to counter data released by FRIENDS/ACTRA were misleading and do not allow an "apples to apples" comparison.
February 21, 2006 - Toronto Star: Good TV not a numbers game by Antonia Zerbisias
FRIENDS, ACTRA argue CBC management drops ball on drama after data show CTV presented more prime time drama hours than CBC between 2003 and 2005.
February 20, 2006 - Letter to Globe & Mail columnist regarding CBC drama performance
FRIENDS responds to column questioning the veracity of data on the number of hours of prime time drama aired by CBC in comparison to CTV.
February 20, 2006 - Globe & Mail: It's easy to bash CBC, but not always fair by John Doyle
Columnist criticizes critics of CBC management, takes issue with statistics released by FRIENDS, ACTRA showing CTV presented more prime time drama than CBC between 2003 and 2005.
February 17, 2006 - News Release: CBC Drops the Drama Ball - Management must be held accountable
FRIENDS and ACTRA decry CBC's dismal performance in presenting Canadian drama series during prime time and call for CBC management to be held to account.
