General

Is the CBC dumbing down?

Some say that if it’s not light and fluffy, the CBC doesn’t want it

The CBC’s ratings are up, with four shows that draw over a million viewers, as well as good numbers for scripted dramas like Heartland and Republic of Doyle. But there are charges they’ve increased viewership the old-fashioned way: by turning away anything that isn’t fluffy and mainstream. Ken Finkleman, who created The Newsroom for the CBC, says that Canada’s public broadcaster turned down his latest edgy half-hour comedy, Good Dog, which he had to take to cable instead. “Forget about dark and edgy,” Finkleman told The Globe and Mail, “the CBC only seems to want warm and friendly.”

The Globe and Mail