CBC/Radio-Canada announced Tuesday that it is investing more in local and regional news coverage after the CRTC approved Google’s application to be exempted under the Online News Act, triggering the release of $100 million for news production.
The public broadcasters said it is adding up to 25 journalists in more than a dozen communities that are underserved by broadcast news outlets, with a focus on Western Canada.
“These new positions complement CBC News’ strategy to reach more Canadians by launching new local FAST channels, offering local and breaking news on CBC Gem and the CBC News app, and connected TV platforms in the coming weeks,” it said in a press release. “Twelve new local news streaming channels are now in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Windsor, Ottawa, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and the North. They join the three existing national, British Columbia, and Toronto streaming channels.
“This builds on an expansion in 2022 in Lethbridge and Grande Prairie, Alberta; Cranbrook and Nanaimo, British Columbia; and Kingston, Ontario. It is part of CBC News’ ongoing commitment to address the gap in communities that do not have a CBC presence,” it added in the release.
In Atlantic Canada, the broadcaster said it is launching four new late-night TV programs in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador on CBC TV, CBC Gem and on regional CBC streaming channels. The CBC also has existing daily local podcasts, including This is Vancouver, This is Manitoba, This is Toronto, and This is Nova Scotia, which can be heard on CBC Listen and everywhere podcasts are available.
“Canadians need trusted, local news more than ever,” Brodie Fenlon, general manager and editor in chief at CBC News, said in the release. “We will continue to deliver on our strategy of investing in local journalism to better serve communities, particularly in underserved news markets across the country.”
October’s decision by the regulator means Google has 60 days to release to the Canadian Journalism Collective (CJC) the $100 million it committed to host Canadian news content. The maximum that the CBC, which gets funding from both private and public sources, can draw from the fund is seven per cent.
