The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the public broadcaster of Canada, has announced the layoff of 600 employees. Last Monday, the CBC said it would cut 10 percent of its workforce, or 600 people, to deal with economic challenges caused by competition from digital news outlets and declining television advertising revenue.
The layoff process will begin soon, CBC said. This process will be completed within the next 12 months.
The company’s president and chief executive (CEO) Catherine Tait said in a statement, “We have successfully managed severe structural decline in our business for many years, but now have no choice but to make layoffs.”
It is reported that 250 people will be laid off from CBC’s English language network, 250 from French language Radio Canada, 100 from technicians and other support staff, and a total of 600 people will be laid off.
A statement said, apart from this, additional 200 vacant posts will also be eliminated. The public broadcaster will also cut English and French programming budgets for the next fiscal year. This will result in fewer renewals and acquisitions, new television series, and airing of existing shows. Also, the original series will be much less on digital platforms.
As a result, the company will have an opportunity to fill the budget deficit of 92.3 million US dollars. Radio Canada’s labor union called the layoffs a “dark day” for broadcasters and broadcasters.
The CBC has been particularly hard hit by declining television advertising revenue. The CBC announced early last October that the creation of new posts has been suspended until further notice. Those who have quit, will not be recruited for that position.
