The publicly funded French-language broadcaster's annual "Bye Bye" comedy television show drew more than 4 million viewers, but also 1,300 complaints about the racial references, Sun Media reported.

In one segment, a comedian said having a black person in the White House "will make it much easier to shoot him" because of the color contrast. It continued with comments that all blacks look alike and a phony interviewer asking a black man if blacks have large genitals, the report said.

In a statement in response to the avalanche of protests, Sylvain Lafrance, executive vice president of CBC/Radio-Canada French Services, acknowledged things went too far.

"Were we overly lenient in the case of the latest 'Bye Bye?' The answer we've been receiving from the public is a resounding yes, and we've taken note," he said.