CBC loses Intelligence and jPod

On March 7, the CBC cancelled two big-name–backed, made-in-B.C. shows: jPod, based on the Douglas Coupland book, and Intelligence, by Chris Haddock. The decision was based entirely on viewership, according to Katherine Heath-Eves, CBC’s media relations and issues management advisor.

“There’s a lot of Coupland fans around here,” Heath-Eves told the Straight in an interview from Ottawa. “But this is a reality of creating network TV programs.”

In an on-line petition ( www.ipetitions.com/petition/CBC_jpod/ ), a John Carter threatened, “If you cancel jPod I’ll never watch CBC again.” On Facebook, “Juan Sucio Sanchez Kim” chimed in on the group jPod, which has about 3,700 members. “Would go on a rant about the Canadians, but it does not seem to do any good”¦ Just was beginning to believe that they had some taste, but alas it was just a vaneer [sic].”

While CBC’s Rick Mercer Report attracts 987,000 viewers on average, jPod floundered at a third of that—318,000—according to Heath-Eves. The also-cancelled MVP ’s average was 279,000, compared to Little Mosque on the Prairie’s 822,000. And The Border attracts 624,000, compared to Intelligence’s audience of 267,000.

Heath-Eves said there are no plans for replacement programs, or whether they’ll be filmed in Vancouver.

Comments

4 Comments

mattk

Mar 25, 2008 at 8:39pm

no kidding - jPod lost viewers when they played the show, targeted for 24-35 year olds on Fridays at 9pm?

I am *shocked*. Most 24-35 year olds I know definitely stay home after a long work week and watch television all night long!

Geniuses at the CBC, Geniuses!

Mad in the US

Nov 10, 2010 at 9:06pm

Just caught the series "Intelligence" on Netflix. I LOVE IT! I can't fricken believe that it was cancelled and ended like that!!! This sux!

Terry Hamilton

Dec 23, 2010 at 2:55pm

I'm an old conservative ex-military guy in the USA. This would DEFINITELY make a big hit in the states! We WANT to see this kind of thing. I'll give it a 10/10.

jade

Jan 1, 2015 at 9:19am

this was a class A show. well written, high quality acting and pacing. unless the rights were owned by the canadian govt thru its pub broadcasting arm, i can,t believe the producers didn't/couldn't find a usa cable chanel interested in picking the series up. it's definately much better than what their showing now.