I wholeheartedly support this petition. Over the past year the programming on Radio Two has become abysmal. Beginning September 2nd., it will only be getting worse. Although it can't be an option for everyone across the nation, those listeners in Southern Ontario will have an over-the-air point of refuge. On Friday August 29th., at precisely 18:00, I will remove Radio Two from my receiver's pre-set station index and replace it with Buffalo's WNED-FM (94.5 MHz.) It will be strange to hear the local temperatures given in Fahrenheit, and I'm sure I will never feel entirely comfortable with announcers pronouncing "noos: and "Toosday," but it's a small price to pay to escape the promised pop, R&B, World Music and herds of unheard-of songwriters.
Can't wait to see the BBM numbers for autumn!
I am not happy about the changes you are making to Radio 2. I listen to Tom Allen's classical program every morning before going to work. I like classical music; I don't enjoy pop, R&B, "songwriters," or any of the other genres that you are proposing. You are destroying the only opportunity I have to get my daily dose of commercial-free classical music. This is going to have a serious impact on my daily routine and lifestyle. This feels like the death in the family. There was nothing wrong with Radio 2, so why are you destroying this great service?
If this plan is aimed at attracting a younger audience the CBC should be aware that there are many young people who are studying and performing classical music. They, along with the general audience who listen to classical music, deserve to have access throughout the day and evening.
I support this petition. I am particularly anxious about the current CBC 2 tendency to "dumb-down" everything on the pretext that they wish to reach a "wider" group of Canadians.
I consider CBC 2 Managenment to be both anti-excellence but anti "the old" as well.
Horrors ! These changes send
dreadfully alarming concerns!
CBC has been so unique and
erudite for years ; but in
recent months this tradit-
ional excellence has shown
signs of cultural decay and
pollution - parallel to what
is observed in education and
government and in the media,
generally.
What Canada does NOT need is
more mediocrity and cultural
cut-backs ! We need to main-
tain standards of excellence
as domestic and global exam-
ples - rather than bending to
trends of the insensitive and
unthinking masses + amusing
the unchallenged street men-
talities . . .
If a segment of the populat-ion is wanting "gutter-smut"
there is an ample supple of
such 24 hours a day on both
sides of the border. CBC does
NOT need to supply this rot!
Smarten up CBC !
I support this petition. The kind of classical music programming that CBC has previously done brought together people from all over the country and gave a sense of unity to those of us who were listening. The changes being wrought upon Radio 2 destroy this long tradition. The new programming is vapid and Radio 2's audience does not accept it. Put the new programming on an internet station where it belongs and leave Radio 2 to continue doing what it has done best.
I support this petition. I now turn the CBC off at 6PM. Come September, I will be turning it off at 3PM. And I may not be tuning in the new morning show. If the ratings are improving, I suppose I cannot complain. If the ratings are not improving, cut off the funding to the CBC!
I support this petition. The programming changes to CBC Radio 2 and now Espace Musique are dreadful. The CBC says it wants to capture a younger audience. Then why not give them the music they want on their new medium(s); the i-pod/internet! Keep the classical, jazz, art music on the analog airwaves where the majority of experienced FM radio listeners prefer to get their musical culture.
I support this petition.
Hearing familiar voices assured us that we were "at home". Most of that is gone already. Shame to the CBC! They certainly succeed in alienating an important part of their listeners. I personally have already bought an internet radio and logged into WDR 3, DR Klassisk and France Musique. But, while it eliminates the irritation of listening to the "new" CBC, it cannot replace the informative, entertaining and Canadian (a mari usque ad mari!!!) familiarity of the "old" CBC2.
I support this petition wholeheartedly! Canada is world renowned is the quality of it's classical musicians and artists and CBC Radio has always been in the forefront of the promotion of our up-and-coming artists. Stopping the current programing that they have on CBC Radio 2 is basically a slap in the face for all the artists that they have ever or ever will support; myself included.
The CBC is saying that they no longer care about the hundreds of thousands of classical musicians and classical music lovers in this country!
I support this petition, though have little faith that my concerns will be acted on. Please prove my misgivings unfounded and have the wisdom to retain programmes such as Jurgen Gothe's Disc Drive.
I support this petition. I will be listening to CBC Radio 2 MUCH less without this show. The CBC scorched-earth policy of trashing every popular programme will finally rid every last listener from the network. The Conservatives have won. CBC is dead.
I strongly support this petition. I'm devastated at the changes. It wasn't broken so why try to fix it? I will be listening to Radio2 a lot less. Actually, petitioner 5324 Barbara Luckhurst 15 July 2008 says it all quite succinctly for me!
I support this petition.Cbc certainly knows how to shoot itself in the foot! The terminating Jurgen Gothe weekday afternoon show is very disappointing I've enjoyed it for years. The young audience you're hoping to attract are all listening to their iPods. A heartless move as he(Jurgen Gothe)will be Short of celebrating 25 yrs.in 18 mos.Is it possible these changes are deliberate so as to lose their faithful listenerseso they will then have reason to abolish CBC due to low no. in listeners Shame!
I support this petition.
My family and I were avid CBC 2 listeners. However, over the past year the radio has been switched off at 6pm. The fall of 2008 promises to be even more disappointing. The short sightedness of CBC brass is shameful.
I support this petition. I will greatly miss Tom Allen and Sound Advice and many other of the programs that you are replacing. I have already stopped listening on Sunday. I do not want to stop listening completely. Bring back classical please.
I support this petition.
When I moved to Canada in the early eighties, the CBC was a great cultural resource. Like a lifeline across vast reaches of non-culture, it provided a sense of comfort and belonging, tying the country together.
Isn't it time that the CBC showed some cultural leadership? With the latest programming changes, fewer young people will have the opportunity to discover classical music. And the older audience will feel deprived. We need more classical music, not less.
I support this petition. I am appalled at the recent programming changes to CBC Radio 2. I have listened to Radio 2 for the past 30 years since moving to Edmonton. My sons and niece developed an appreciation for classical music because they heard CBC FM/Radio 2 all the time during their formative years. Now as adults they enjoy and appreciate a very broad and diverse range of music thanks to the educational and stimulating programs they were exposed to during their childhoods. I still deplore the previous loss of the mellow sounds of David Wisdoms's 10:00 p.m. evening show "Pearls of Wisdom"(one of my sons used to fall asleep listening to it after he had finished his nightly homework) and the recent loss of the educational Saturday morning's 11:00 a.m. " I Hear Music" - our family learned a great deal about what to listen for in various kinds of music by listening to this program. Now I will have to do without Tom Allen's wonderful morning show, which really made getting up worthwhile, and Jurgen Goth's "Disc Drive", which made the drive home from work fun! In their places I am now subjected to the self-indulgent narcissism of Gregory Charles, the raucous janglings of Katie Mallic's "Tonic", and the crap of "The Source". When these programs come on, I now either switch to the French CBC FM station or play a CD. The talking heads of CBC are slowly losing the cultured, educated audience that has sustained and supported their previous worthwhile programming; the younger adults that they hope to attract are not interested in the "new" CBC TWO as young people have their IPODs or listen to the more "hip" radio stations. Radio 2 will never be mainstream; it should continue to do what it has always done well - provide stimulating, educational, intelligent, and - yes - relaxing classical music and mellow. It would seem that CBC assumes that anyone who is interested in this type of music is either reti
I support this petition. Tom Allen's Music and Company is one of my favourite radio shows (as well as my 7 year old daughter's) I cannot believe it has been taken off of the air. Bring it back!!!!!
I support this petition.I love Tom Allen's morning show and will miss it terribly. I am also unhappy about jazz on CBC2, jazz on CBC1 and jazz on Radio Canada at certain times in the day (especially around/after dinner)? Why do we have the same type of music at the same times?? You are cutting valuable, interesting programming. Also, like most others, I WORK during the day. This means I will hear NO classical programming. I'm not interested in hearing concerts on demand; I can listen to CD's for this or attend concerts. Please rethink the programming!
I support this petition. It will be a tragedy if the light goes out of a major star in the cultural constellation. Education, entertainment, excitement - to provide these things was the mandate of CBC 2 - Please do not diminish the already slender remains of a once glorious venture. Do not deny us the possibility of discovering new talent, of enjoying old favorites. And above all, do not allow the CBC to lead the the race toward mediocrity that afflicts much of society.
I support this petition. The CBC has a moral and cultural responsibility to provide an alternative to commercial radio. Radio 2 has been a part of my life for over 30 years, but I cannot continue if these changes are implemented. The CBC is going to lose many more listeners than it hopes to gain. A foolish move, indeed.
I support this petition. I have now heard about some of the new programming and hosts - this is a bad move from so many angles. CBC will lose dedicated listeners and those they hope to attract are already listening (happily) elsewhere. Also if anyone is going to avail themselves of web-based alternatives (eg Radio 3,4,5, etc)they are those young, new listeners - not the current bulk of your audience. If new technology is required to continue to listen to classical music, most won't make that leap. Leaving aside any discussion of musical merits, this is a bad business decision. It leaves me thinking that the same tactic is being used here as for universal health care, if you undermine it, it will fail and no one will object when you move on completely to non-publically funded alternatives.
I support this petition.
As a latecomer to classical music, I have found CBC Radio Two invaluable in introducing me to this treasured art form. Programs like 'Sound Advice' and 'I Hear Music' greatly enhanced
my appreciation of classical periods, composers, works, and performers. I lament the
cancellation of these programs. And now other cherished programs like
'Here's To You' and 'Studio Sparks' are on the chopping block.
CBC management's plan to revamp Radio Two is doomed
to failure. It will serve only to alienate CBC Two's
current loyal audience while
failing to attract many new listeners. And tragically,
opportunities for Canadian
classical composers and performers to showcase their work will be seriously curtailed. For classical music to thrive as part of Canada's cultural fabric, Radio 2 must remain devoted to it. CBC should establish at least one other radio channel to promote other musical genres (e.g jazz, folk, roots) which receive little attention in
commercial radio.
I am 36 years old and have been an huge fan of CBC Radio Two for over 20 years.
I am disappointed to hear that CBC Radio Two is reducing its programming of serious (“classical”) music of the past 500 years. I believe this may compromise Canada’s ability to be a leader on the international culture/arts stage, and will limit Canadians' access to, and awareness of, the rich human heritage of western classical music. Five hundred years of composers and musicians have performed music to accompany all aspects of life: to express emotion; inspire dance; communicate political ideas, move the spirit and praise the divine; challenge listeners; make us laugh; and, change the way we experience the world around us. I sincerely hope the CBC will reconsider.
I support this petition. Radio Two provided a unique haven of profoundly beautiful and intelligent music, and interesting and informative commentary. Please don't replace it with the mindless pap available everywhere else.
I support this petition. Make no mistake, Radio Two is now a full-blown and publicly-funded commercial station; its ads, delivered by one irritating and insipid-voiced pitchboy, promote the new line of CBC lightweight broadcast products. By providing what is readily available on dozens of other private commercial stations, Radio Two has become indistinguishable from them. The station will soon lose its former small but loyal audience, be unable to build up a new one to replace it, and eventually be cancelled itself, hopefully soon. Thank God there's Internet and Satellite radio. With the old Radio Two,at least, CBC Radio had one level of programming on par with the BBC and NPR. That's where I'm going.
