CBC/Radio-Canada to Implement Program & Job Cuts

CBC/Radio-Canada is planning to implement program and job cuts over the next year in order to manage approximately C$125 million ($92 million) in budget pressures forecast for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

CBC/Radio-Canada expects to cut about 600 union and non-union positions across the organization. It has identified about 200 currently vacant positions across that will be eliminated. CBC and Radio-Canada will each cut in the range of 250 jobs, with the rest coming from technology and infrastructure and other corporate divisions.

The corporation will also be reducing its English and French programming budgets for the next fiscal year, including approximately C$40 million ($29 million) in independent production commissions and program acquisitions. This will mean reduced renewals and acquisitions, fewer new TV series and episodes of existing shows, as well as fewer digital original series.

Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said: “CBC/Radio-Canada is not immune to the upheaval facing the Canadian media industry. We’ve successfully managed serious structural declines in our business for many years, but we no longer have the flexibility to do so without reductions.

“We understand how concerning this is to the people affected and to the Canadians who depend on our programs and services. We will have more details in the months ahead, but we are doing everything we can to minimize the impact of these measures.”

The pressures are a result of rising production costs, declining television advertising revenue and competition from the digital giants.

CBC/Radio-Canada is also managing forecast reductions to its parliamentary funding beginning in the next fiscal year, including the end of program integrity funding of C$21 million received annually since 2021.