CBC Television is experimenting with using the free consumer video application Skype for on-air use.

The new foreign-affairs program On The Map has used it a couple of times and CBC producer Christian Weller says the video quality is “as good as satellite” when used over the CBC’s dedicated Internet channels.

Still, there are bugs. The Skype-dedicated computer sits in a rack at CBC Toronto and “every time someone walks by the rack, it jiggles the mouse and Skype’s little Transport Window pops up on the screen.” And during their first Skype interview (with a documentary producer in Gaza) it went great. Too bad the technicians were so distracted by the success of the feed that they forgot to hit Record.

“There are so many different shows at the CBC that don’t have any money,” Weller says. “They can’t afford to pay for a full [satellite] video feed. This is so much better than doing a phone interview and just showing a photo of the guest.”

Christian says he’s more than happy to talk to other shows and show how they can use it too. Look him up in Groupwise.