The End of the CBC? is about three overlapping crises: the crisis that has enveloped the CBC, the crisis of news, and the crisis of democracy. The emergence of platforms such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Netflix, the hyper-targeting of individual users through data analytics, the development of narrow online identity communities, and the rise of an attention economy have changed the media landscape in dramatic ways. Describing the failure of successive governments to address problems faced by the public broadcaster, this book explains how the CBC lost its place in sports, drama, and entertainment. Taras and Waddell propose a way forward for the CBC - one in which the corporation concentrates its resources on news and current affairs and re-establishes a reputation for depth and quality.

Fewer Canadians than ever are lacing up skates, swimming lengths at thepool, practicing their curve ball, and experiencing the thrill ofcompetition. However, despite a decline in active participation,Canadians spend enormous amounts of time and money on sports, as fansand followers of sporting events and sports culture. Writing from avariety of perspectives, the contributors to this collection set out toexplore the impact of the media on our reception of, and attitudestoward, sports-to unpack the meanings that sports have for us ascitizens and consumers. Well-known hockey writer Roy MacGregor delvesinto the influence of big media and big sports on the practice ofobjective journalism; Richard Gruneau examines the worrisomerelationship between sports participation and socioeconomic class;blogger Derrick Newman investigates the impact of fantasy leagues onsports coverage; sociologist Harry Hiller looks at the iconicdimensions of the Vancouver Olympics..