Taxpayer-funded CBC spends $24 million on HD broadcasting trucks

Rest assured, Canadians -- your tax dollars are hard at work. So long as you consider the delivery of more HD hockey "work," that is. Believe it or not, the taxpayer-funded CBC has thrown down nearly $24 million on a pair of broadcasting trucks "so it can show hockey games and cultural events in high-definition." According to CBC spokesman Jeff Keay, it decided to purchase them because doing so provided "better value for the taxpayers" given that it would "cost more to lease them." Granted, it does cost around $55,000 total to broadcast a hockey matchup in high-def, but still, $24 million is a lot of cheese. Ah well, one more reason to buy into HD, right? Wait, you sort of already have if you're Canadian...

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 2:21PM]

I would actually rather see more HD than some of the crap we spend our tax money on now.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 2:55PM]

They aren't little Mickey Mouse trucks
http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/mobile/nosmobiles.html

[TVGenius Posted Oct 29th 2008 6:57PM]

Yeah, I figured they were actual production truck, not just an ENG/SNG truck like the pic shows, since even a nice uplink-only truck at most should be under $5M.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 3:05PM]

CBC's HD hockey broadcasts look great, so I guess it was money well spent. And at least they spent it on hockey - something Canadians actually watch - instead of wasting the money on more Canadian dramas that no one care about.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 3:26PM]

Hockey Night in Canada in HD. A good thing.

Front Page Challenge in HD. Not so good.

At least they're going to use them for hockey coverage, which the CBC actually makes a profit on.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 3:41PM]

I'm sure Hockey Night in Canada is not hurting for money, advertising time on HNIC broadcasts is the most expensive air time in Canada. Keeping the demand for HNIC broadcasts high will continue to generate revenue for the CBC.

Also, in Canada this is a public good

[LiqwidZero Posted Oct 29th 2008 4:01PM]

APT (Alabama Public Television, a branch of PBS) went HD, and it makes me very happy that they did. I love watching historic documentaries in HD, it makes the experience that much better.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 5:16PM]

Why in the hell are our tax dollars still being wasted on some archaic 20th century business model for a media corporation that steals money from our pockets to show and promote whatever they feel like regardless of the truth, 2% ratings or will of the people?

You know there is a newer model for this, it's called PBS. CBC get off your ass and go get donations like any other broadcaster. Stop expecting me and fellow Canadians to be on the hook for your existence. Sell some advertising, and buy your own damn truck.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 6:00PM]

"Sell some advertising, and buy your own damn truck."

While it's true that the balk of CBC's operating budget is funded by the tax payers, CBC Television does sell between $250-300 million dollars in advertising a year. CBC radio 1 and 2 are run as essential services and as such are commercial free.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 7:02PM]

For those slamming the non-hockey CBC programming... while yes, it does kinda suck, the point of it is to push money into the Canadian arts sector to make us a more culturally rounded country. While I'll admit I watch American dramas infinitely more than Canadian ones, the fact that we *have* them in the important part.

Plus I have a huge crush on Peter Mansbridge.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 9:03PM]

One other thing, a few recent Canadian dramas have actually received some international fame. Examples include Flashpoint (CTV / CBS), The Border (CBC), Little Mosque On The Prarie (CBC - The format has recently been sold to FOX, I believe), Corner Gas (CTV), The Listener (CTV - Upcoming), Even The Guard (Global). Cheers.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 30th 2008 11:37AM]

I'm not slaming CBC programming in general. I think the CBC has come a long way from "Front Page Challenge". That show was always a sore spot for me. The show was on forever and it was the more boring thing I've ever seen (admittedly, I was just a kid at the time).

Any news on when The Hour with George Stromboulopos will go HD??