TORONTO – The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. will air a ten-hour, commercial free block of programming on Christmas Day.
This is not a dry run, however, as the CBC continues under pressure from conservative critics to return to its roots as a commercial-free pubcaster that airs TV shows not offered by private sector rivals.
The CBC instead is relying on corporate sponsorship by mobile phone retailer TBooth to offset the lost revenue from airing a host of classic Christmas Day programming from noon to 10 p.m. on December 25.
That lineup includes Disney Parade, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas, Lassie and Miracle on 34th Street.
The pubcaster will only air its own promos during the ten-hour block as it goes without commercial breaks.
