Radio Canada International
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J .- 6824~ r 2 board of directors Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 1981-1982 A.W. Johnson, President Ottawa, Ontario Paul D. Break Toronto, Ontario James de B. Domville Westmount, Quebec Dr. F. Pat Doyle Ste. Anne, Manitoba Roland Durand Rosemere, Quebec (appointed July 23, 1981) Daniel P. Hays Calgary, Alberta Fernand D. Lavergne Shawinigan-Sud, Quebec Ronald Y. Oberlander Toronto, Ontario Philippe ROberge Outremont, Quebec (Reappointed January 26, 1982) Marceil G. Saddy Sarnia, Ontario George G. Sinclair Caledon, Ontario John A. Young Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Reappointed December 21, 1981) (3 vacancies) 4 Canadian content and on pay television; Through the co-operation of its affiliates directors' the Applebaum-Hebert study on cultural and the extension of its own facilities, matters; and the federal government's CBC has developed a truly remarkable planned development of an overall distribution system - providing report broadcasting strategy. coverage throughout the second largest country in the world. Today the New Beginnings The Role of the CBC combined national coverage of CBC French and English networks stands at The CBC enters this new environment As CBC completes its 30th year of 99.1 per cent of the population for with a strong record of achievement television, the new patterns that have television, 99.4 per cent for monaural been forecast for Canadian and with a clear sense of direction for radio, and 74.6 per cent for FM stereo. the future. For 30 years in television broadcasting are beginning to take This coverage is achieved by satellite and 46 in radio, CBC has been the shape. Pay TV has been licensed and transmission plus more than 85,000 heart of the Canadian system. Following preparations for it are under way. kilometres of microwave and landline Remote communities are being given a the principles of successive connections. The CBC's own production wider choice of television fare through Broadcasting Acts, it has provided a and distribution facilities include additional satellite transmissions from broad spectrum of programming for all national and regional production centres tastes and interests. It has set and the south. There is an increasing public for both French and English services, achieved increasingly high standards of interest in direct satellite reception, in nearly 100 radio and TV stations, and the prospect of specialized program program quality, and has maintained about 1,000 rebroadcasting transmitters. channels, and in new entertainment and high levels of Canadian content (in the Private or community-owned outlets for information technologies such as 70 per cent range for television and CBC service total nearly 400. videodiscs, videocassettes, and teletext. even higher for radio) on its own networks. Within the Canadian system At the same time there is a growing The Success of Radio as a whole, CBC has been the only recognition of the need to match broadcaster providing a significant Canada's impressive networks of Television tends to dominate any amount of Canadian programming in distribution facilities with more and discussion of broadcasting today. But areas such as drama, music, and major better Canadian programming. Over the the CBC's first and most outstanding documentaries. As a result, at least 50 years, the overall television system has achievement has been in radio, which per cent of the public's viewing of drifted away from its Canadian has charted the course and set the Canadian-produced English-language example for distinguished and objectives and has become more and programs is through the CBC and its more dominated by the foreign distinctive Canadian programming. CBC private affiliates. In other words, it is programming - mainly American - radio service is second to none. Its mainly to CBC that Canadian viewers which is available both directly via traditions find their roots in the creation must and do turn for Canadian cable and in the schedules of Canadian 50 years ago of the CBC's predecessor, programs. stations. Public policy on broadcasting the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, and before that in the is gradually being redefined or reaffirmed through such processes as broadcasting activities of Canadian the CRTC hearings last year on National Railways and in the efforts of the Canadian Broadcasting League and its supporters, who campaigned for the establishment in Canada of a public broadcasting agency. 5 Since then, Canadian public radio h~s The Strengths of Television French network animated film which to gone through many stages. Always. It date has won six international awards The CSC has reason to be proud of its has adapted successfully to changing including the CSC's first Oscar. achievements in television, too. From times and changing audience needs. the beginning, for example, it has been Today, CBC radio is widely recognized From the artists' point of view, the CSC the strongest and almost the only as the best in the world. It attracts an has been the largest single employer of Canadian voice in television drama, international audience to information creative talent in Canada, providing which is one of the central elements of programs such as As It Happens and training and exposure for young television programming. Drama in its Sunday Morning, which other performers, sponsor!ng. ta!ent broadest sense of storytelling is the broacicasters are beginning to copy. It competitions, commissioning and .. most-watched category of programming offers stereo services with time for broadcasting Canadian works, providing for Canadian viewers, but most of what ambitious programs such as the Idea.s a showcase for Canadian ballet, opera is available to them is foreign. Only the series exploring human thought or this and theatre companies, engaging CSC has made a consistent effort to year's French network series of Handel Canadian freelancers of all kinds, and present drama in which Ca.nadians can concertos played for the first time on developing skilled broadcasters and recognize themselves - hlst~rlcal . some of the famous hand-built organs artisans on its own staff. Through these drama, situation comedy, family serials, of Quebec. It also offers innovative and activities, CSC has contributed to the and drama reflecting the social issues prize-winning program concepts such as development in Canada of a of the day. In 1981-82, these dramatic Africa Week on the English network and professional talent base which, together productions were exemplified by such the French network's seven-hour Good with live theatre, is essential for a programs as Les Beaux Dimanches, Friday program on the theme of flourishing creative community. Christian hope, Choisir I'esperance. And presenting a series of plays by . Canadian writers; by the popular serials CSC television has also been a leader CSC radio complements its national in information programming. Its success networks with local and regional Terre humaine and Home Fires; by can be seen in the public interest that services reflecting the needs and topical dramas like Blind Faith, a For was generated when the English . interests of individual communities. the Record production about TV evangelism; and by the fresh ap~roach network's main newscast, The NatIOnal, The Corporation is immensely proud of of new productions such as Seeing was moved to the prime time period of the vitality and variety which Things, a lighthearted crime series. 10:00 p.m., followed by the new current characterize CSC radio. There could be affairs program The Jour.nal. It can be In general entertainment and th~ arts .. no better model for the future seen, too, in the international awards CSC television has linked Canadians In development and the continuing won by social documentaries such as the shared enjoyment of every kind of Canadianization of television in Canada. the fifth estate's Just Another Missing program from the Stratford Festival's Kid and CBC Winnipeg's Le Calumet Taming of the Shrew and HMS Pina.fore sadre. Over the years many individual to the weekly tradition of Hockey NIght CSC broadcast journalists have won in Canada. It has presented Canadian professional acclaim, and the and international personalities in Front Corporation as a whole has earned Page Challenge, which celebra.ted its public confidence as a major and 25th anniversary in 1981, and It has reliable source of news and background reflected artistic endeavour of world on Canadian and world events. calibre in programs like Crac, the 6 All these CBC activities - in From an international perspective, the CBC in the Future information, entertainment and the arts CBC is one of the world's major public The CBC brings all these assets and - take place regionally as well as broadcasters. it has a growing record of more to the new Canadian system that nationally. English-language regional achievement in international sales and is beginning to emerge. Looking to the television production, concentrating on in program awards. It offers a wider future, it is clear that the CBC must information programming, totals more range of domestic services than any continue to playa central role. Potential than 10,000 hours annually, accounting other public broadcaster, and is an new services, added to those already for two-thirds or more of CBC's total active shortwave broadcaster through available, will give Canadians a plethora English-language original TV production. Radio Canada International. It is seen of TV channels to choose from. This In addition to their community roles, the by many other broadcasters, particularly range of services must include a regional centres help to expose viewers in Third World countries, as a source of regular and dependable source of in other parts of Canada to the great expertise in broadcast operations. It is a Canadian programming - not only the diversity of the country, through a valued participant in international system of inter-regional program broadcasting conferences of all kinds.