Basically no one in Canada is tuning into CBC to watch its documentaries, says federal in-house research..Blacklock's Reporter says the data shows only two in 100 Canadians watch CBC docs..The low viewership follows the launch of a CBC corporate plan to put “the audience at the heart of everything we do.”.Asked, “Where do you go to watch documentaries?” a total 25% named Netflix followed by YouTube (12%), Amazon Prime (4%), Disney (4%), the Discovery Channel (2%), and the History Channel (2%)..The CBC rated 2%..Asked, “When you think of companies or organizations that produce documentary and animated films, which ones come to mind?” the most popular responses were Disney (37%), Pixar (17%), National Geographic (11%) and Netflix (10%)..CBC rated 9%..The findings were detailed in a Department of Canadian Heritage report. Results were based on questionnaires with 1,500 people. The department paid Léger Marketing $46,711 to conduct the survey..Poor audience reaction followed the CBC’s 2019 launch of a corporate plan entitled Your Stories Taken To Heart. .“Everywhere I go, Canadians tell me how much the public broadcaster means to them,” CEO Catherine Tait said at the time..“Our relationship with them can’t be taken for granted. It’s something to be cherished and nurtured.”.“It’s about strengthening the emotional attachment Canadians have with their public broadcaster.".The CEO in 2019 testimony at the Commons heritage committee said the network was “putting the audience at the heart of everything we do.”.“We will do more to reflect all of the richness of contemporary Canada — multicultural, indigenous, urban, rural and regional,” said Tait..“We will do this in the stories we share on our airwaves.” CBC would “showcase the best Canadian stories,” added Tait..Canadian producers testifying at 2015 hearings of the Senate communications committee complained the CBC had little interest in Canadian films and documentaries..“CBC spent valuable programming dollars showing Toy Story 3,” said Mark Slone, then executive vice president of Entertainment One of Toronto..“Is this really the mandate of a national broadcaster?”.“If German, French, Italian, Mexican, Brazilian, and Israeli audiences can all see their movies on TV, why can’t we? Broadcasters enjoy a huge advantage — privileged access to the public airwaves. They are protected. In exchange for their protected status, they carry a big responsibility — showcase Canadian culture.”
