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Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
DCHP-2 (Sep 2012)
Spelling variants:CBC, C.B.C., Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
n.
the national public broadcaster for radio and television in the official languages English and French.
Type: 1. Origin — The CBC, officially the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada or the CBC/Radio-Canada, is the oldest existing broadcasting network in Canada. It succeeded the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission and its original radio network that was established by the Canadian National Railways.
The CBC was created as a Crown company on 2 November 1936 (see the first 1936 quotation). Its primary function has been to provide a public service that will "safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada," as decreed in the 1991 Broadcasting Act (see also the third 1936 quotation). Creation of the CBC stemmed from the need for Canadian content on the airwaves in the 1920s when American broadcasting was threatening to dominate the Canadian market. The CBC’s current radio and television programming -- in both English and French -- continues the tradition of providing Canadian content, with 85 per cent Canadian content in the 2010-2011 television broadcast year and even 99 percent Canadian content in radio broadcast (see CBC/Radio Canada reference), a significant increase since the 55 percent reported in the 1973 quotation.
See also Images 1 and 2, showing the original and current CBC logos.
The CBC was created as a Crown company on 2 November 1936 (see the first 1936 quotation). Its primary function has been to provide a public service that will "safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada," as decreed in the 1991 Broadcasting Act (see also the third 1936 quotation). Creation of the CBC stemmed from the need for Canadian content on the airwaves in the 1920s when American broadcasting was threatening to dominate the Canadian market. The CBC’s current radio and television programming -- in both English and French -- continues the tradition of providing Canadian content, with 85 per cent Canadian content in the 2010-2011 television broadcast year and even 99 percent Canadian content in radio broadcast (see CBC/Radio Canada reference), a significant increase since the 55 percent reported in the 1973 quotation.
See also Images 1 and 2, showing the original and current CBC logos.
See: Crown company,Canadian National Railways,Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission,Mother Corp.,CBC ((1))
Quotations
1936
MEMBERS OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR C. B. C.
Leonard W. Brockington, barrister of Winnipeg, has been named as chairman of the board of governors for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation according to an announcement by Prime Minister Mackenzie King giving the membership of the board.
1936
The government to-day had before it the names of Major W. E. Gladstone Murray of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and Dr. Augustin Frigon, chairman of the Quebec electricity commission, as suggestions from the board of governors for appointment to the posts of general manager and assistant general manager of the new Canadan Broadcasting Corporation. Formal recommendation will be made when the board of governors comes into existence legally Nov. 2.
1936
"I intend to put Canada on the air in a big way," said Major Gladstone Murray, newly appointed general manager of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, told The Star to-day. "It is not for me to say much about policy, as policy under the constitution rests in the hands of the board of governors. My job will be to interpret policy according to the broad lines laid down by the governors. Nevertheless I believe that with maturity the Canadian broadcasting system could become the best in the world, considering the artistic and other resources available. Canadian broadcasting cannot possibly become a copy of the B.B.C. Its mission must be to interpret Canadian spirit and cater to specific Canadian tastes and interests."
1938
Louis Crerar will be pianist for the series which will originate in the Toronto studios of the CBC each Sunday night for the next ten weeks.
1958
The once very popular CBC Fishermen's Broadcast once again stands ace high with the fishing fleet with word from director Tom Leach that the program has returned to its early morning schedule.
1967
The Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists said the CBC and CTV networks spent nearly $20 million last year to buy American TV series, but did not even try to sell Canadian programs in return.
ACTRA said in a brief that, with the recent sale of the Wojeck series to a British network, the CBC showed that it can produce "a filmed series of superior quality and of appeal to audiences all over the world."
1973
They asked the CBC to put more emphasis on entertainment and said the present 55 per cent Canadian content rule restricts service and is supposed to be geared to “Canadianize” people.
1975
What is it that symbolizes Canada to itself, the sort of thing known by most Canadians from one end of the country to the other? A list might include the CBC, beavers, Mounties, the maple leaf, two solitudes, John Diefenbaker – and certainly the game of hockey.
1984
The Conservatives appointed the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, which began national broadcasting on a regular basis in 1933.
When the Liberals returned to power in 1935, they converted the CRBC into the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
1986
If any network can and should meet the new challenges creatively and productively, it is the CBC. Its creation of The Journal and Le Point is only the most obvious sign that great talent is available and can be used in uniquely Canadian ways by the old Mother Corp., who is not so stodgy when she is given her head.
1992
Faced with the introduction over the next several years of up to 200 TV channels delivered by American direct-broadcast satellites -- the so-called death stars --
and by new cable TV technology, Veilleux has struck eight committees to rethink CBC strategy.
1995
During the last federal election, the Liberal party told Canadians that Canada would be diminished without the CBC -- that the links between Canadians in all corners of this country would be weaker and more vulnerable.
2008
"I go way back with the CBC - I got my start with the beloved Mother Corp so to see what it's evolved into is pretty cool," he says, singling out new winter shows like The Border and MVP.
2012
CBC/Radio-Canada has a mandate to serve everyone when it comes to distinctively Canadian content. Across the whole range of everything we do, one will find a broad range of services and program offers that seek to build audiences and grow popularity among Canadians without sacrificing cultural meaning, relevance or quality.
2016
Submissions for the 2016 CBC Poetry Prize are now open!
Send us your original, unpublished works of poetry (between 400 and 600 words, including titles). It can be one long poem or a collection of poems.
You could win $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, publication in Air Canada enRoute magazine, and a 10-day writing residency at The Banff Centre. Finalists win $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and publication of the entry on our website.
References
- CBC/Radio-Canada • "Who We Are, What We Do"
Images
Image 1: Original CBC logo, circa 1940. Source: Wikipedia Commons. Image: H. Binette
