Origins

     The CBC was created by an Act of Parliament on 2 November 1936. It took over the facilities and staff of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, which had been the first attempt to provide a national broadcasting service. The CBC offered programs of mainly Canadian content in English and French. A few programs were relayed from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which had introduced its Empire Service in 1932.

     Shortly after the CBC's formation, a study of coverage and reception conditions across Canada showed that only 49 per­ cent of listeners, mostly in the large cities, could receive the CBC. A start was therefore made on network expansion. In 1937 two high-power stations were installed-CBL at Hornby near Toronto and CBF at Vercheres near Montreal-which increased coverage to 76 percent of the population. These stations were followed by CBK Watrous, Saskatchewan, and CBA Sackville, New Brunswick. These and subsequent high-power stations were publicly owned, with private stations used as supplementary outlets.

     In 1947 the Corporation broadcast the first CBC Wednesday Night, a program concept that was new to North America-a full evening of ambitious and more serious programming. The idea was borrowed from the BBC, and the program included operas and classical drama. But since most listeners preferred the popular music offered by private commercial stations, the program was short-lived. In the Montreal-Windsor corridor where most Canadians live, American stations offered a greater variety of program formats and choices. This is still true today.

     During World War II, listeners heard some of the most spectacular and successful news reporting in Canadian radio history. CBC was the first broadcaster to use broadcast vans, known as "Big Betsy," to make disc recordings on location. Some American correspondents also made use of these facilities for their own news reports. Art Holmes made the best recordings of the sounds of battle from the London Blitz, as well as from remote and dangerous warfronts. Listeners were glued to their radios each evening to hear news from correspondents such as Matthew Halton, Bob Bowman, Peter Sturs­berg, and Marcel Ouimet.

     After World War II, many private stations began to press for networks of their own, for better facilities, and for increased coverage by using high-power frequencies originally allocated to the CBC. They also believed that regulatory authority on licensing should not belong to a body that was itself engaged in broadcasting. Between 1936 and 1958 the CBC had also regulated private broadcasting, and therefore the Broadcasting Act of 1958 established the Board of Broadcast Governors. A further Act in 1968 established what is now known as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to "regulate and supervise all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system." The CRTC has wide regulatory powers and also has the authority to issue broadcasting licenses and prescribe their terms. It is located in Gatineau, Quebec, adjacent to Ottawa.

     After television was launched in 1952, CBC Radio gradually lost much of its audience and popularity. In the 1970s CBC Vice President Laurent Picard launched a campaign to revive radio. Local news and feature programming were increased, and longer network shows were introduced. This strategy recaptured much of the audience. Nevertheless, during the last decade the CBC, in common with other public broadcasters such as the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has had to downsize some of its operations. Television and radio production facilities in smaller centers have either closed or reduced their output.

     The CBC operates four radio services, two in English and two in French. The French division is known as Societe Radio­ Canada and has its head office in Montreal. The English networks originate from Toronto and are known as Radio One and Radio Two. Radio One provides a full service of general interest and information programs, whereas Radio Two offers mainly classical music and fine arts. In the far north there are periodic broadcasts in the various aboriginal languages throughout the day.

News and Current Affairs

     From its foundation, the CBC had made use of the entire Canadian Press news service, because it was free. Following the outbreak of World War II, the Corporation felt the need to have its own independent news service. This was inaugurated on I January 1941, with Lorne Greene as its first anchor. Greene joined the CBC in 1939 and became known as the "voice of doom" because of his deep, ominous voice. He was best known for his role as Ben Cartwright in the American television series Bonanza.

     Today, CBC Radio broadcasts news bulletins every hour." These are mostly five minutes in duration, but at peak listening times they run to ten minutes (e.g. World Report and Canada at Five). Each evening, the World at Six covers news stories in greater depth. Canadian politics is covered each weekend on The House.

Comedy and Variety

     The Happy Gang was one of Canada's longest-running radio shows (1937-59). Hugh Bartlett was the program's first host. The show's music and comedy were a source of lighthearted entertainment during the dark years of World War II, and the program caught the imagination of Canadian listeners over the years.

     In 1946 the comedy team of Wayne and Shuster joined CBC Radio. Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster were probably Canada's best-known comedians. They had already been performing for 15 years, initially with CFRB in Toronto and later touring Canada and entertaining Canadian troops during the war. The show was first called Johnny Home, and it ran for 52 weeks. The name was soon changed to Wayne and Shuster, the first time the Corporation had ever used performers' names in the title of a network show. The program was truly Canadian. One broadcast featured sportscaster Foster Hewitt and included a skit of a hockey game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the "Mimico Mice." Wayne and Shuster also did several sketches from Shakespeare's plays. The program switched to television in 19 5 4 and was often featured on American TV as well. Wayne died in 1990 and Shuster in 2002. The show may still be seen in reruns.

     Royal Canadian Airfarce was the CBC's premier comedy series, airing on radio from 1973 until 1997. Based on current news headlines, it is now carried only on television and stars Roger Abbott, John Morgan, Don Ferguson, and Luba Goy. In 1996 the CBC announced budget cuts that would seriously affect the show. Ivan Fecan, the former CBC executive who helped launch the television series, had left the Corporation and was an executive at Baton Broadcasting, one of Canada's major broadcasting groups. He offered the cast a lucrative contract with Baton. Realizing that this would cause a programming calamity, CBC decided to rescind the cuts. The show now has the highest rating on CBC television.

Telephone Call-in Programs

     Cross Country Checkup, a national call-in program broadcast on Sundays, began in 1965 from Montreal. It is something of a tradition, having been broadcast almost without a break since 1965. It is a vehicle for listeners to air their views on various Canadian issues. The program got its name from the topic of the first broadcast, which asked whether there should be a national publicly funded health care system. People liked it, so the name was kept. Since 1995 Newfoundlander Rex Murphy has hosted the program. Nearly half a million listeners tune in each week to hear or take part in a lively discussion with invited guests. The program now originates from Toronto.

     As It Happens debuted on 18 November 1968, initially as an experiment. The weekly program originated in Toronto and was broadcast "live" for two hours in each time zone across Canada. The first hosts were Harry Brown and William Ronald. They held a dialogue by telephone with politicians and newsmakers from across Canada and around the world. In 1971 Barbara Frum and Cy Strange joined the team. For the next ten years, Frum attracted a large and loyal audience before moving on to television. She was one of Canada's best­ known journalists and media personalities until her death in 1992 at the age of 54.

     In 1973 As It Happens changed to its current 90-minute format each evening, still with two hosts. Some of the events covered in the 1980s and 1990s included the formation of new Canadian political parties and the Quebec separation referendum. Among those on the team over the years have been Alan Maitland, Elizabeth Gray, Dennis Trudeau, and Michael Enright. The present hosts are Mary Lou Finlay, one of Can­ ada's most respected broadcast journalists, and Barbara Budd, broadcaster and actress.

Feature Programs

     Ideas, originally called The Best Ideas You'll Hear Tonight, began in 1965 and is a program of contemporary thought with a listening audience of 350,000. It is presented by Paul Kennedy each weekday evening. The program includes the Massey Lectures, which are sponsored by CBC Radio in cooperation with Massey College in the University of Toronto and which were created to honor former Governor-General Vin­ cent Massey.

     Richardson's Roundup debuted in 1997 and is broadcast on weekday afternoons on Radio One. It is hosted by Bill Richardson and originates in Vancouver. Richardson is much loved by CBC Radio audiences for his work as a host on both Radio One and Radio Two. The heart of the Roundup is its listeners, with their stories, music requests, letters, and phone calls. The storytellers are entertaining and sometimes outrageous. The music can be anything from the latest pop melody to songs of long ago.

     This Morning, hosted by Jennifer Westaway, is a show about Canada-a showcase of Canadian writers, musicians, and artists. It is a lively mix of drama, comedy, satire, and music. In the fall of 2002 the CBC revised its program schedule, and This Morning was reduced from a three-hour to a one-hour show.

     This Morning is followed by Sounds Like Canada, a 2-hour mix of in-studio and on-location production, where former This Morning host Shelagh Rogers seeks to fill the airwaves with the voices and sounds from all over Canada and bring them into the listener's home. The highlights of each day's program are rebroadcast in Sounds Like Canada Tonight.

Science and the Environment

     Quirks and Quarks, CBC's award-winning science program, has been on the air for more than 20 years. Each week, science journalist Bob McDonald features information about new scientific discoveries. He also looks at political, social, environmental, and ethical issues. The program has an estimated audience of half a million in Canada, as well as an international audience on shortwave via Radio Canada International (RCI). It continues to be the most enjoyed program on CBC Radio and was recently chosen as one of the top ten programs in the world by an international shortwave radio journal.

Drama

     CBC English Radio is a major producer of drama on Canadian radio. In 1998-99, close to original radio drama episodes were broadcast, most of them by Canadian writers and all of them with Canadian casts. (For full discussion of Canadian drama programs, see the Programming and Drama sections of this survey.)

Sports

     Live sports events are mainly featured on television; however, reports on games are covered throughout the day in the regular newscasts. Inside Track began in 1985 and includes interviews with Canadian and overseas sports personalities. The program covers topics ranging from the Olympics to national sports and has won several awards over the years for its documentaries.

Cross-Cultural Programs

     Because Canada is a bilingual country, the CBC attempts to build bridges between the two official language communities by providing a number of cross-cultural programs. C'est la vie is a weekly current-affairs program on francophone issues and life in French-speaking Canada, including short vignettes and interviews with people in the news. A popular feature of the show is "Word of the Week," where listeners can improve their French vocabulary. The program is hosted by Bernard St.Lau­rent, a former host on Cross Country Checkup. Another cross­ cultural program is A propos, featuring francophone music for English-speaking audiences.

Other Programs

     CBC Overnight, inaugurated in 1995, airs between 1:00 and 6:oo A.M. in each time zone. It includes information highlights from other public broadcasters around the world, such as the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Radio Australia, and South Africa's Channel Africa. There are CBC newscasts every hour. The program has become very popular, especially with night-shift workers.

Music and the Arts

     In 1998 English Radio presented approximately 80 orchestral broadcasts and 120 chamber music concerts. Canadian choirs are also heard regularly on English Radio.

     Gilmour's Albums was the longest-running CBC program hosted by one person. Every weekend for nearly half a century, the gentle, knowledgeable, and impeccable Clyde Gilmour presented a variety of music or spoken-word recordings, anything from Bob Newhart and Rosemary Clooney to the classics. Every record he featured on his show was from his own collection. Born in Alberta, Gilmour began his broadcasting and journalistic career as a movie critic, interviewing many famous personalities and reviewing movies. He died in 1997 at the age of 85, and his record collection now forms part of the CBC Music Library.

     Music for A While is a Radio Two early-evening program of chamber and orchestral classical music, hosted by Danielle Charbonneau, a well-known French radio announcer from Montreal.

     The Vinyl Cafe is an imaginary record store where the eccentric owner Dave lends program host Stuart McLean compact discs and vinyl albums for use on the show. A regular feature is the "Concert Series," where McLean visits concert halls across Canada and records material for broadcast each month.

Regional Broadcasting

     Each CBC region has local programming during the morning and afternoon drive times and at lunchtime. One long-running weekend morning show in Ontario and Quebec is Fresh Air, currently hosted by Jeff Goodes. It features a variety of music and interviews. A popular segment, especially with seniors, is "Adrian's Music," in which CBC music archivist Adrian Shu­man researches songs listeners have requested. The program lives up to its name, providing a breath of fresh air.

External Broadcasting

     RCI is the overseas service of the CBC, originating from Montreal. It broadcasts mainly on shortwave, using high-powered transmitters from a 316-acre site at Sackville, New Brunswick, on Canada's Atlantic coast. This location provides an excellent transmission path to Europe and Africa. In parts of the world where reception is difficult, airtime is leased on other international stations as part of a reciprocal arrangement. The first test transmissions in English and French were made on 25 December 1944 for Canadian forces in Europe, and the station officially opened on 25 February 1945.

     RCI's programming includes live relays of some domestic shows, such as the World at Six and As It Happens. Others, such as Quirks and Quarks and the Vinyl Cafe, are broadcast at prime-time hours in the listening area. RCI also produces its own programs, catering to an international audience. In addition to news, there is a weekly show, Maple Leaf Mailbag, in which listeners' letters and questions about Canada are answered. Business Sense takes an in-depth look at Canadian companies that are making their mark in the global economy. In Media Zone, Canadian journalists express their ideas about topical issues facing Canadians. Spotlight focuses on all facets of artistic and cultural life in Canada. Canada in the World looks at Canadian initiatives around the world and considers how Canada deals with other countries on a multilateral basis.

     RCI has an estimated audience of 5 million listeners each week and is heard in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East. It is on the air in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, and Arabic. Music and feature programs are also sent to about 200 radio stations in other countries.

     RCI is funded by a grant from the Canadian government. In recent years it has faced a number of potential closures due to budget cuts, but it has managed to survive.

Strategic Directions

     In recent years, many of the AM stations have moved to FM, which is cheaper to run and provides better audio quality. In 2002 the CBC's program services were distributed through satellite in combination with microwave and landlines, feeding 103 CBC-owned stations, 1,164 CBC rebroadcasters, 26 privately affiliated stations, and 282 affiliated or community rebroadcasters and stations.

     As mentioned above, during 2002 CBC Radio made several changes to its program schedules in order to attract more listeners to Radio One and Radio Two. Some programs were reduced in length, others were discontinued and new programs introduced. This Morning and Sounds Like Canada have already been mentioned. Another example is Dispatches, a weekly program in which veteran reporter Rick Mcinnes-Rae takes listeners to places they may never see, hear voices of people from these places, and provides insights and issues that they might never have confronted before.

     Radio 3 (note that the numeral is used here, unlike the other English networks) is unique. It was originally planned as the CBC's third off-air FM radio network, targeted at young people. In December 1999 it was felt that the timing was not favorable for the launch of a third off-air network, so in June 2000 Radio 3 was launched, producing on-air programming for 33 hours a week on Radio Two, and on the internet primarily as a small portal to several other core web­ sites. Radio 3 programs carried on CBC Radio Two include weekend programs RadioSonic, JustConcerts, NewMusic­ Canada and Radio On, along with the weekday program BraveNewWaves. Radio 3 is also exploring digital audio broadcasting in Vancouver from the existing DAB experimental transmitter.