Radio-Canada anglais vu de l’intérieur.

The Tower of Babble

Sins secrets and successes inside the CBC

Richard Stursberg

Douglas & McIntyre

Vancouver/Toronto

(Disponible à la bibliothèque de Villle Mont-Royal)

In 2004, CBC television had sunk to its lowest audience share in its history. That same year, Richard Stursberg, an avowed popularizer with a reputation for radical action, was hired to run English services. With incisive wit, Stursberg tells the story of the struggle that resulted, a struggle that lasted for six turbulent and controversial years.

Shortly after Stursberg arrived, the corporation locked out the employees for two months. Four years later, he signed the most harmonious labour contract to date. He lost the television rights for the 2010-12 Olympic Games. He won the biggest NHL contract in history. He had unprecedented ratings successes. He had terrible flops. He enjoyed the best ratings for radio, television and online in CBC’s history. He fought endless wars with the President and the Board about the direction of the Corporation and ultimately was dismissed.

This is the story of our most loved and reviled cultural institution during its most convulsive and far-reaching period of change. It is for those who think the CBC has lost its way, those who love where it is, and those who think it should not exist in the first place.