Media Updates

CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Paul Attallah
October 15 2005

CBC is a public broadcasting service created in 1936 and operating in both English and French. From 1936 to 1952, it was funded by a special levy. Since 1952, it is funded by an annual parliamentary grant. Beginning in 1952, the CBC expanded from radio to television.
    The radio years, from 1936 to 1952, were especially successful. World War II (1939-1945) produced a spontaneous demand for news of Canadian troops and of Canada’s war effort. No foreign broadcaster was likely to supply such information on a regular basis and no private Canadian broadcaster possessed the financial or administrative infrastructure to take on the task. The CBC therefore found a large, ready and loyal audience. During this period, it also developed a very high level of expertise in news and public affairs. It also produced some stars. Its main newscaster, Lorne Greene, known as ‘the Voice of Doom’ had a successful acting career in the United States as the star of Bonanza (1959-1972). The comedy team of Wayne and Shuster likewise enjoyed a long career stretching into the 1980s. The Happy Gang, a musical and variety group, also became a popular culture hit. Finally, Hockey Night in Canada was also a staple of the radio years.
    In 1952, CBC television was launched. Despite some notable successes such as its news and information programming, sports coverage, and children’s programming, it has, in common with most Canadian television, failed to achieve the level of success of other public service broadcasters around the world.
    In 1989, CBC launched Newsworld, an English-language all-news channel. In 1995, it launched RDI (Réseau de l’information), a French-language all-news channel. It also operates an international service, RCI (Radio-Canada International) and broadcasts in several native languages. CBC distributes the Galaxie music service and has partnerships with specialty channels (The Documentary Channel, ARTV, Country Canada) and with Sirius Canada Inc. In 1994, in association with DirecTV, it launched TRIO and Newsworld International in the United States. Both have since ceased operation.
    Beginning in the 1980s, CBC underwent successive budget cuts even as it attempted to adjust to a radically altered media environment, characterized by an explosion of specialty channels, new distribution networks (DVDs, internet, IPTV), increased over-the-air competition, and new types of content such as video games. The CBC has also suffered several management/labour disputes.
    From 1936 to 1959, the CBC was not only a public service broadcaster but also the regulator of the entire broadcasting system with the power to grant and revoke licenses. Private broadcasters resented the situation and accused the CBC of being both a competitor and a regulator. In 1959, its regulator power was transferred to the BBG (Board of Broadcast Governors) which was itself transformed into the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television Commission) in 1968.
    As a corporation, the chairman of the CBC is appointed for a term of 7 years ‘at arm’s length’ from the government. This means that the government may not replace the chairman until the normal expiration of the term, thereby affording a measure of protection against direct political interference.
    The CBC is subject to the provisions of the Broadcasting Act and is governed by a President and an 11-member Board of Directors.