Shuffling the Chairs at CBC

SO THE BIG news today is a shuffle at the public broadcaster that will have a significant impact on creative development at the CBC.

From the press release:

Over the last few years, CBC Television has experienced significant success with its new shows," says Richard Stursberg, Executive Vice-President of English Services. "They have drawn bigger domestic audiences and sold well internationally, despite our continually diminishing available resources. This recent success gives CBC an opportunity to increase its position in the international television marketplace. It also helps us to move into the new multi-platform world from a position of strength."

Fred Fuchs, former Executive Director, Arts & Entertainment for CBC Television, has been appointed General Manager, Production Enterprises, with responsibility for strengthening the international relationships and financing of CBC's Arts and Entertainment, Documentary and Factual Entertainment shows.

At the same time, Sally Catto, former Creative Head for CBC Drama, joins the senior network programming team as Executive Director, Arts and Entertainment for CBC Television and will lead the creative development and execution of all programming in Comedy, Drama, Variety, Performing Arts and Children's Programming.

This is a big step forward for CBC, and recognizes Fuchs' background in international deals (he was involved with the setup of The Tudors before coming to CBC, and also worked for Francis Ford Coppola.) With shrinking resources, it probably is good for the CBC to be thinking co-pro. Now creatives just have to keep the heat on and make sure that some Above the line Writers from this country get love on these shows -- not just Editors and Directors and stuff.

This goes hand in hand with this announcement that CBC made yesterday about a new partnership with Telefilm to bring Canadian films to the broadcaster quicker.

The second part of today's announcement is also something I'm really enthusiastic about. Sally Catto is a really great, smart executive who is incredibly enthusiastic about TV. So here's hoping that those initial positive steps into series over the last few years hit a new gear now. With Mercer pulling record numbers and, "oh yes we're just the girls and horses show" Heartland slaying the ratings in that family hour that CBC used to own on Sundays, there's plenty of Up that can be mined from this.

Here's coverage of today's shuffle from CP, and The Hollywood Reporter.