Timeline of the Canadian Broadcasting

Corporation
This is a timeline of the history of the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation.

Contents
1901–1939
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
See also
External links

1901–1939
1901
First transatlantic wireless signal from Cornwall to Newfoundland.
1902
First wireless telegraphy station at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
1905
Canada's first Wireless Telegraph Act.
1913
Radio Telegraph Act includes voice transmission.
1919
First broadcasting licence issued to XWA Montreal (later CINW).
1922
First licensing of private commercial stations.
1923
Canadian National Railway starts radio service to trains.
 1924
CN Radio opens its first stations (Ottawa and Moncton) and gradually develops service on
about 15 stations.
1927
First national broadcast: July 1, Diamond Jubilee of Confederation.
1929
Aird Commission recommends setting up a nationally owned company to operate a coast-
to-coast system.
1930
Canadian Radio League is organized.
First Canadian television experiments are conducted.
1932
First Parliamentary Committee on Broadcasting. Canadian Broadcasting Act creates the
Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC).
1933
The CRBC acquires CN Radio facilities, improves coverage and continues program
development.
1936
November 2, the Canadian Broadcasting Act replaces the CRBC with a Crown
Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC takes over CRBC staff and
facilities (eight publicly owned or leased stations and 14 private affiliates).
1937
Opening of the French station CBF Montreal.
New transmitters in Toronto and Montreal increase national coverage to 76% of the
population from 49%.
The North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (Havana Treaty) gives Canada
better frequencies (ratified 1941).
1938
Farm broadcasts begin on the French radio network.
1939
Full coverage of the six-week visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Declaration of war: a CBC reporting unit goes overseas, and all departments begin special
wartime broadcasts.
Farm broadcasts begin on the English radio network.

1940s
1940
Low-power relay transmitters installed for remote communities.
First provincial school broadcasts begin in Nova Scotia and B.C.
The CBC symbol showing radio waves and a map of Canada is adopted.
 1941
Formal opening of CBC News Service. Special broadcasts
include Winston Churchill's speech from the House of Commons
in Ottawa.
1942
A total of 43 hours of French and English programs are broadcast
daily, compared with 10 in 1936. Special broadcasts
include the opening of the Alaska Highway.
1943
Establishment of English School Broadcasts
Department.
1944
The basic national network is renamed the Trans-
Canada Network. The Dominion Network is formed,
linking CJBC Toronto with 34 private stations to offer an
alternative lighter service.
1945
Official opening of CBC International Service, later
becomes Radio Canada International in 1972.
1946 Winston Churchill

Opening of first CBC FM stations in Toronto and

1950s
1950
First issue of the program guide La Semaine à Radio-Canada.
Special coverage of the 1950 Red River Floods
1951
Massey Commission endorses regulatory role of CBC.
Special coverage of the four-week visit of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
1952
Opening of Canadian TV service (CBC): CBFT Montreal (bilingual) September 6, CBLT
Toronto (English) September 8.
 CBC supplies radio programs to Canadian troops in Korea.
First Canadian urban cable TV is launched in Guelph, Ontario.
1953
Opening of CKSO-TV in Sudbury, first private television station in Canada and first CBC TV
affiliate.
CBFT Montreal begins full French service with opening of English station CBMT.
CBC is host broadcaster for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.
1955
First telecast of the opening of Parliament.
CBC Television is available to 66% of the population.
1956
Special coverage includes the Hungarian uprising, the Suez Crisis, and the Springhill
mining disaster.
1957
The Fowler Commission on Broadcasting recommends transferring regulatory authority
from CBC to a separate body.
Major political coverage includes the five-hour federal election telecast and the first opening
of Parliament by a reigning monarch.
1958
New Broadcasting Act establishes the Board of Broadcast Governors (BBG) to regulate all
Canadian broadcasting.
First coast-to-coast live TV broadcast with completion of the microwave network from Nova
Scotia to British Columbia.
Opening of Calgary delay centre for western time zones.
CBC Northern Service (radio) is established.
CBC begins broadcast of the children's program, The Friendly Giant starring Bob Homme
on September 30th.
1959
The microwave network is extended to Newfoundland.
Special programs include the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

1960s
1960
BBG recommends licensing second TV stations in major cities and invites applications for
Canada's first private network.
Opening of the CBC shortwave service to the High Arctic.
Experimental bilingual FM network links Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. (Suspended
temporarily in 1962)
1961
CTV Network begins broadcasting.
CBC issues proposals for satellite use in Canada.
1962
 The Trans-Canada and Dominion networks are consolidated.
1963
CBC hosts the three-week Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference.
1964
The FM network resumes in English, adding Vancouver by tape; local French FM continues
in Montreal.
CBC Corporate Headquarters now to CBC Building in Ottawa, now called the Edward
Drake Building
1965
The Fowler Committee on Broadcasting recommends a new regulatory and licensing
authority.
Government announces colour TV policy.
First regular CBC stereo broadcasts from a single station in Winnipeg.
1966
Colour TV introduced in Canada.
1967
CBC is host broadcaster for Expo 67 in Montreal and Pan American Games in Winnipeg.
First taped television in the North.
CBC children's program Mr. Dressup, starring Ernie Coombs, began broadcasting.
1968
New Broadcasting Act confirms CBC's role of providing the national service and
establishes the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) as the regulatory and
licensing authority, including cable systems. Government issues White Paper on satellite
communications.
Pre-release facilities are installed for Atlantic time zones.
First televised national debate among Canadian political party leaders: a CBC/CTV
coproduction.
1969
Radio-Québec is established.
CBC discontinues tobacco advertising.

1970s
1970
CRTC introduces Canadian content regulations (60% overall)
for public and private TV.
TVOntario is established.
The Report of the Special Senate Committee (Davey) on
Mass Media is published.
The CRTC issues network licences to CBC for the first time.
1971
Canadian content regulation (minimum 30%) in force for AM
radio music.
 First French-language private TV network (TVA) opens.
Experimental radio and TV from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
1972
CRTC invites proposals for future development of pay television.
Anik satellite launched: CBC rents three channels for radio and TV network distribution.
Special coverage includes Canada-Russia hockey series.
CBC's International Service is renamed Radio Canada International (RCI).
1973
First live TV to the North, via Anik satellite.
Official opening of La Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal.
Government issues a position paper entitled Proposals for a Communications Policy for
Canada.
Access Alberta is established.
1974
Introduction of new CBC symbol based on "C" for Canada, designed by Burton Kramer.
Opening of French FM stereo network.
CBC discontinues most radio advertisements.
Government announces Accelerated Coverage Plan to extend CBC radio and TV to small
unserved communities.
Global Television Network opens.
1975
English FM stereo network opens.
Airing the Juno awards the first time on TV
1976
CRTC becomes Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
CBC is host broadcaster for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
1977
CRTC hearings on pay TV.
CBC designs and installs broadcast facilities in the House of Commons of Canada at
Speaker's request.
1978
CRTC denies pay TV applications.
First TV production facilities in the North (Yellowknife).
CBC is host broadcaster for Commonwealth Games in Edmonton.
1979
Clyne Committee publishes report on implications of telecommunications for Canadian
sovereignty.
Start of live TV coverage of House of Commons via satellite and cable.

1980s
1980s - present
 Its believed that around the 1980s, the CBC began converting
low-power, medium and high-powered transmitters from the
AM band to the FM band in which the trend continues today.
1980
B.C. Knowledge is established.
1981
CBC introduces closed captioning on Canadian TV
programs.
CBC is asked to manage the installation of a
telecommunications system (OASIS) in Parliamentary offices.
Government announces a three-year CBC trial of Canadian teletext system (Telidon).
1982
The Report of the Applebaum-Hébert Committee is released.
Opening of Cancom to provide remote communities with additional TV services by satellite.
1983
Government creates Broadcast Program Development Fund.
Opening of first pay TV (general channels).
1984
CBC stereo networks start 24-hour broadcasting and supplementary cable distribution.
CBC is host broadcaster for the 12-day papal visit.
First pay TV specialty channels open.
Federal-provincial committee publishes report on future of French-language TV in Canada.
CBC and other broadcasters join TV5, a European French-language satellite service.
1986
Federal Task Force on Program Review (Nielsen) publishes recommendations on culture
and communications.
Opening of 2nd private French TV channel (Quatre Saisons) in Montreal.
The Federal Task Force on Broadcasting Policy (Caplan/Sauvageau) publishes its
recommendations.
A commemorative postage stamp is issued for CBC's 50th anniversary.
1987
The CRTC licences 10 new specialty channels: nine on basic cable at the option of cable
distributors (CBC All-News Channel (CBC Newsworld), Vision TV, YTV, MeteoMedia:
Weather Now, TV5, Le Canal Famille, Musique Plus, Le Réseau des sports, MétéoMedia:
Mété-Instant), and one pay TV service (Family).
The CRTC also authorizes distribution of The Sports Network (TSN) and MuchMusic on
basic cable.
1988
The CBC Broadcast Centre Development Project in Toronto gets Cabinet approval in April,
and work starts in October.
The International French-language channel TV5 starts broadcasting in Canada in
September.
Cabinet approves CBC licence to operate an English all-news channel.
1989
 The CBC English all-news channel, Newsworld, is launched on July 31.
The CRTC holds hearings to consider CBC's application for an all-news channel in French.
This first proposal is rejected.
The French private channel Le Réseau des Sports goes on air September 1.

1990s
1990
CBC publishes its vision for the future in a document entitled
Mission, Values, Goals and Objectives.
CBC Engineering plays a proactive role in the development of
Digital Audio Broadcasting.
CBC closes eleven regional stations as a result of budget
cuts.
1991
CBC Toronto consolidates its operations into one downtown
location, the new state-of-the-art Canadian Broadcasting
Centre.
Bill C-40 on broadcasting receives royal assent on February 1 and is proclaimed Law on
June 4.
1992
CBC develops a new identification program.
CBC introduced a simplified version of the iconic gem symbol, designed by Gottschalk +
Ash.
1994
CBC is host to the Commonwealth Games in Victoria.
CBC, in partnership with Power Broadcasting Inc., launches two new specialty channels to
the United States: Trio and Newsworld International.
1995
CBC's French language all-news channel, Réseau de l'information (RDI), is launched on
January 1.
CBC establishes its web presence at CBC.ca and at Radio-Canada.ca.
CBC is granted a licence to operate a new digital audio music service called Galaxie.
1996
CBC TV boasts an all-Canadian prime-time schedule.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage presents its report on
the future of CBC in a multi-channel universe.
1997
The CRTC approves CBC's applications to transfer CBF (French) and CBM (English) in
Montreal, CBV (French) in Quebec City and CBL (English) in Toronto from the AM to the FM
band.
The English Information Radio service is rebranded Radio One and the stereo music
service, Radio Two. French Radio services are now called Première Chaîne and Chaîne
culturelle.
Galaxie, the first pay, satellite and cable delivered audio service, is launched.
 CBC files applications for six new specialty services: Le Réseau des Arts, Le Réseau de
l'économie, Le Réseau de l'histoire, Land & Sea, Télé classique and The People Channel.
1998
The International Olympic Committee awards CBC, in partnership with NetStar, broadcast
rights to the next five Olympic Games.
CBC makes a presentation to the CRTC's review of television policy in Canada, the first
such review in 17 years.
On September 28, CBC Radio opens a station in Victoria, the last provincial capital to get a
CBC Radio station.
The CRTC opens competition in the satellite delivery of radio and television services by
giving Shaw Direct a licence.
1999
The CRTC holds public consultation sessions in 11 cities to find out what Canadians think
about the CBC, its role, its programming and its direction.
CBC is the host broadcaster for the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg.

2000s
2000
The Y2K project team ensures that CBC/Radio-Canada does
not experience technological problems on January 1.
CBC/Radio-Canada and Corus Entertainment Inc. partner on
a new digital music service.
Radio de Radio-Canada opens a new station in Abitibi-
Témiscamingue.
Newsworld International and Trio are sold to USA Networks
CBC Radio 3 launches three websites geared to new music
and youth culture: 120seconds.com, newmusiccanada.com
and justconcerts.com.
The Nature of Things celebrates 40 years on CBC television.
2001
Three specialty services are launched in partnership with the private sector: ARTV, The
Documentary Channel and Country Canada.
The Centre de l'information in Montreal, a state-of-the-art facility for gathering and
producing news for Télévision de Radio-Canada and RDI, is opened.
2002
CBC/Radio-Canada celebrates the 50th anniversary of public television in Canada with
various events, including a historic visit by Queen Elizabeth II to the Canadian
Broadcasting Centre in Toronto and, in partnership with Via Rail, a special anniversary train
travelling across the country.
All analogue distribution services are now converted to digital technology.
Country Canada becomes wholly owned by CBC/Radio-Canada and changes its name to
CBC Country Canada.
Hockey Night in Canada and La Soirée du hockey launch their 50th season on CBC
Television et la Télévision de Radio-Canada.
2003
 State-of-the-art broadcast centres open in downtown Edmonton and Quebec City.
CBC/Radio-Canada is named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2004.
As It Happens celebrates 35 years on CBC Radio.
2004
Ottawa operations move to the new state-of-the-art CBC Ottawa Broadcast Centre.
The Prairie Aboriginal Content Unit is created to develop First Nations storytelling content
for both Radio and Television.
The Chaîne culturelle, Radio de Radio-Canada's music channel, is re-launched as Espace
musique.
Radio Canada International adds a ninth language, Portuguese for Brazilians, to its line-up.
2005
Radio Canada International celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The CRTC approves SIRIUS Canada's satellite radio application, a partnership between
CBC/Radio-Canada, Standard Radio Inc., and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. SIRIUS Canada's
100-channel line-up is announced, featuring six from CBC/Radio-Canada.
CBC Radio 3 celebrates millionth podcast download.
Télévision de Radio-Canada and CBC Television jointly aired an important documentary
on the 1995 Quebec referendum called Point Break/Point de Rupture.
2006
CBC/Radio-Canada is the host broadcaster of the XVI International AIDS Conference,
which is held in Toronto.
HDTV service launches in Quebec City and Vancouver.
The daily program Virginie, which has run on Télévision de Radio-Canada since 1996,
broke the record for most episodes ever produced as part of a French-language television
drama series: 1221.
Radio de Radio-Canada's Première Chaîne marked Jacques Languirand's 35th year on air
by treating listeners to a major documentary on this legendary communicator, man of the
theatre, and host of the program Par 4 chemins.
2007
Bernard Derome hosted his 22nd election night special on Télévision de Radio-Canada;
since 1972, he has anchored 11 federal elections, eight provincial elections and three
referendums.
Jacques Bertrand and the entire Macadam tribus team celebrated the 10th anniversary of
this offbeat radio program on Première Chaîne that mixes humour and serious discussion,
reality and fiction, rap and electronica, animal life and the human condition, as well as
News and views.
3.7 million: Viewership to the first episode of CBC Television's Little Mosque on the Prairie.
300,000: Number of subscribers to Sirius Canada Satellite Radio as of January 1, 2007 (six
of Sirius Canada's 11 Canadian channels are provided by CBC/Radio-Canada).
CBC Records brings home two Juno awards in the Classical music category.
CBC Television captures the first ever television Broadcaster of the Year Award at the
prestigious New York Festivals.
2009
CBC cuts 800 jobs
2010s
2010
CBC kicks off one year to its 75th anniversary
2011
CBC/Radio-Canada celebrates its 75th anniversary.
2012
CBC cuts $115 million from its budget
bold was sold to Blue Ant Media
2013
CBC sold the rights of Hockey Night in Canada to Rogers Communications
2014
CBC cuts 657 jobs and cuts $130 million from its budget

See also
Oldest television station

External links
CBC/Radio Canada - Our History (http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/en/explore/our-history/)

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