The History of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - Essay Example

? An Examination of the History of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Outline Introduction The History of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ConclusionIntroduction A critical examination of the history of Canada’s national public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), reveals that despite the fact that CBC can be described as an institution with great achievements worldwide contributing to such being the 20ths century’s most significant national cultural organization, it has not built up a bigger commitment to its very own history. As a matter of fact, CBC is faced with an economic challenge that has threatened the future of CBC. According to Potts of the Canadian Communications Foundation in 2011, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation which is most commonly known as CBC and officially known as CBC/ Radio – Canada is established on November 2, 1936 has happened to be the oldest existing broadcasting network in Canada. For the reason that CBC/ Radio – Canada has been at the center of Canada’s cultural, political, social as well as economic life, without a doubt, CBC/ Radio – Canada has played a significant part in the whole development of the broadcasting system in Canada (Schellenberger 3). Apart from that, CBC is at the center of the lives of linguistically and culturally diverse Canadian audience because it has reached out very huge geographical locations, brought them nearer together and granted them to share their one of its kind experience of North America (Schellenberger 3). As Canada’s public broadcaster, this media has functioned a task of promoting and increasing awareness of Canadian values (CBC/ Radio – Canada ii). Indeed, it has sustained the highest standards of excellence as a broadcaster. Nonetheless, despite the role played by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the history of Canada, the history of CBC is threatened by financial crisis. With the given scheme of transitioning over – the – air television signals from analog to digital, the Canadian Radio – Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has imposed a mandatory transition timeline of 4 years of switching over – the – air television signals from analog to digital (Potts). On the one hand, the funds of CBC to support this plan are not sufficient given the reduced allocated funding provided by the federal government. In this regard, the focus of this essay aims at a critical examination of the history of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The necessity to analyze the history of CBC is because of the significant role it has served in Canada. Through looking at CBC through a socio – historical perspective, the situation of CBC today can be further understood. The History of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The origins of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have started since 1929 (Schellenberger 5). This is because, then, majority of the Canadians listened to the mainstream radio broadcasts of United States. In this regard, the Aird Commission feared that instead of Canadian ideals and viewpoints, it’s the American’s that would tend to inculcate to the young people (Schellenberger 5). The main objective of setting up a CBC is through public ownership of broadcasting, Canada could be culturally independent from United States. As a result of the Canadian Broadcasting Act as approved the Parliament to replace the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Act, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was first established on November 2, 1936 (Potts). CBC has served to operate as national broadcaster that is truly of Canadian content. Its first elected chairman, Leonard W. Brockington of Winnipeg aimed for CBC to have the best possible programming and to be heard by almost every Canadian (Potts). Prior to its establishment, in 1937, the CBC network began its daily radio operation. In 1939, it had extended to a basic network of 34 stations in which both were private and public. The early 1940s was marked by the demand developed among listeners, advertisers and stations for an alternative programing. Given this, CBC lined – up its 34 existing stations and soon – to – exist private stations as affiliate. Nonetheless, there was no key station to participate from Toronto because of the rejection to the invitation. Likewise, CBC encountered a similar problem in Montreal given that the Canadian Marconi Company’s station CFCF rejected the invitation to be the Dominion affiliate. On the one hand, the operation of CBC in the two coast – to coast English networks had ceased in 1962 when the Dominion Network was dissolved. It was the case that a single network was built connecting the CBC – owned stations. There were gaps indeed in the national coverage of CBC and this was filled by the private stations through being available in a fixed number of hours – per – week. Though there were many private stations that resisted the affiliation, they had got no choice but to be affiliated involuntarily as compliance under the Act. Meanwhile, when CBC was able to subsidize the funds required for the establishment of FM transmitters to replace them, it was only then that the private stations were eventually and gradually freed from the coerced affiliations. As a result, the full – time program coverage in such particular areas was finally obtained by CBC. Throughout the years, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation resorted to different ways just for its programs to reach the under – served areas such as the establishment of low – power – repeater – transmitters (LPRTs) in small communities served by Canadian National and Canadian Pacific telegraph lines that transported the network across Canada, the creation of a conventional AM station, and others (Potts). On the one hand, the 1970 history of CBC was marked by the decline of reliance on telegraph and telephone companies in order to have a national network coverage in 1972. This decline was explained by the leasing of 3 channels as well as the unveiling of the Anik Satellite in order to serve the radio and television. Meanwhile, in 1974, a policy of not accepting advertising on its radio networks was adopted by CBC. It was believed that such change would not result to so much financial revenue loss since advertising in television programs is much more considered by sponsors than resorting to advertising in radio programs. It was also in year 1974 when CBC French FM network had begun while in 1975, the English FM Network’s operation started. In order to build up the coverage of CBC’s AM network programs, CBC resorted to FM repeaters that were linked to CBC studios. It was also in this year that the CBC Radio was aligned into the distinctive French and English networks just for the services of CBC to reach the target audiences. There was also a particular role played by each of the networks where while the senior networks would focus on delivering news and light entertainment, the FM stations would concentrate and specialize its programs having a more serious nature. Moreover, the listeners in many locations in Canada expressed more interest on FM than AM medium. In this case, CBC had started to change its AM transmitters with steady and better reception FM transmitters in many areas (Potts). Despite the fact that CBC had operated in years, it was only in year 1984 when its FM Networks started to operate 24 hours a day. While during the late 1990s, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation provided a new identification for its four radio networks, for example, the English Information Radio Network was labelled as Radio One. In year 1997, CBC had applied to switch its stations from AM to FM in Toronto and Montreal. This was approved by CRTC. However, in 1998, CBC’s application to carry on transitional digital radio undertaking was approved by CRTC (Potts). On the one hand, the succeeding year had been marked by sets of challenges faced by CBC. As a matter of fact, 5500 employees of CBC and Radio – Canada were shut out in 2005. While in the year 2010, it was noted that CBC Radio 2 only reached 2.1 million people a week. This was just almost less than half of the total listeners whom Radio One had reached a week. This was indeed a concern since the lack of interest in digital radio was observed. Given this, CBC planned to stop its digital radio transmitter operations in both Montreal and Toronto (Potts). In 2011, CRTC expressed its consideration to the applications made by CBC for the renewal of all their English and French radio and television networks but the licence of renewal hearing was postponed for CBC until June 2012. That was because of the advice of CBC that the federal government had not yet disclosed its upcoming future operating budget (Potts). Meanwhile, CTRC issued a decision in August 2011 that allowed CBC to remain on – air using its analog transmitters until August 21, 2012 (CTRC 1 – 5). However, it was the case that prior to the said deadline, with the release of their reduced budget plans from the federal government, CBC announced that they would shut down all their analog television transmitters on the last day of July 2012 (CBC/ Radio – Canada). As evidence, the CBC/ Radio – Canada is confronted by an economic challenge. As a matter of fact, it faces a financial crisis of more or less $200 million over the succeeding 3 years (CBC/ Radio – Canada). As Canada’s national public broadcaster, CBC future is without a doubt, threatened financially. Its future is not certain. Given this, CBC/ Radio – Canada must resort into ways just to support its financial needs. The Centre for Community Study suggested that it is now the right time for CBC to invest in Hamilton (Centre for Community Study 4). Hamilton region, the 8th largest urban area in Canada, is a representation of the 24 per cent of the geographical difference in the coverage of CBC locally (Centre for Community Study 9). This region is ideal to have the local CBC service. Apart from that, the Hamiltonians would contribute about $20 million to the budget of CBC annually (Centre for Community Study 4). This opportunity for CBC would not just aid the financial dilemma they are facing but also this would be a chance for CBC as the national public broadcaster to reach Hamilton (Centre for Community Study 4). Conclusion In this critical examination of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s history, it is undeniably the case that CBC has played a significant role to the lives of Canadians in its almost 50 years of broadcasting service. It has functioned to promote awareness of Canadian values instead of American viewpoints as it has reached a culturally and linguistically diverse audience in Canada. Without a doubt, it is has been as well a strong innovator as it constantly hold onto the new technological developments. Nonetheless, CBC is facing a great challenge for the reason that it can only be just part of the history. The reduced funding by the federal government has placed CBC in a great economic crisis. If such reduced in funding continues, CBC’s future is indeed uncertain. In that case, CBC must resort into other means to continuously sustain the financial needs of CBC to serve the Canadian society. Works Cited: Canadian Radio - Televison and Telecommunications Commission. Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011 – 494. Ottawa, 2011. Web. CBC/ Radio – Canada. “2015: Same Strategy, Different Path.” CBC/ Radio – Canada. CBC/ Radio – Canada, 2012. Web. 6 June, 2012. Centre for Community Study. Opportunity and Equity: CBC Radio Investment in Hamilton. Hamilton, 2006. Web. Potts, J.L. “CBC English Radio Networks.” Canadian Communications Foundation. Canadian Communications Foundation, 2011. Web. 6 June, 2012. < http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http%3A//www.broadcasting-history.ca/networks/networks_CBC_Radio.html> Schellenberger, G. CBC/ Radio – Canada: Defining Distinctiveness in the Changing Media Landscape. Report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. Canada, February 2008. Web. Read More