CBC locks out

Canada's best (I know, I know...that statement will get me in trouble) media corporation is locked out. According to the CBC's website, "the CBC will continue to broadcast CFL football and NHL hockey games – but possibly without any play-by-play commentary or colour analysis. Local radio morning shows will be replaced by a single national broadcast. TV newscasts will be pared down, and there will be more acquired programming and movies". As of 12:40 a.m. on Aug 15th, 2005, attempts to access CBC's local websites (i.e. CBC Saskatchewan, CBC Toronto, etc.) were met with a screen saying that local coverage is unavailable due to labour unrest. In an open letterCanadian Media Guild (CMG) president Lise Lareau stated that the CBC's actions are "unthinkable, unnecessary, [and] wasteful" adding that "[it] is an aggressive move". Lareau also accuses the CBC's bargaining committee of demanding unrealistic concessions. The CBC counters with it's own website devoted to the lockout in which the CBC describes their own offers as "fair, competitive, and realistic". Also the CBC's accuses the union leadership of not having any urgency in the dealing with the CBC". All in all it looks to be a long, nasty fight. I truely hope that this is resolved soon. I am a news junkie, and I rely on the CBC for the majority of my news. Without the CBC I am left with the Asper family media juggernaut, which usuall just makes me angry with it's blatent (although I do give them credit, it is also admitted) right-wing skew, or CTV and it's nightly news anchor the Dark Lord Skeletor...I mean Lloyd Robertson. Locally I my options are the Leader Post, part of the Asper fold, Newstalk CJME (right skewed), and the Prarie Dog magazine, a weekly so far left that Tommy Douglas would blush. Sigh...it's tough being stuck in the middle with no news.