Creation of the CRBC

On this day in 1933, the government of R.B. Bennett appointed three members of the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) to build a new national broadcasting system.

The CRBC would purchase the facilities and acquire the licences of CNR Radio. Private radio remained, but was confined to local operations and CRBC network affiliates. U.S. networks affiliations in Toronto, Montreal and Windsor were “grandfathered” in. The CRBC would also be responsible for regulating all broadcasting in Canada. In 1936 the CBC was created to replace the CRBC.

(Source: The History of Canadian Broadcasting)

New CanCon radio rules

Broadcasting regulation was eventually passed from CBC to the Board of Broadcast Governors (BBG, in 1958) and then the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC, in 1968 – now Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.)

And on this day in 1971, new CRTC regulations governing Canadian music on the radio took effect. Radio stations were required to play 30 per cent Canadian music between 6 a.m. and midnight. For television, the minimum was 40 per cent Canadian programming (it was upped to 60 per cent in 1972, but the definition of “Canadian” was eased.)

There were some loopholes in the rules, though. FM radio was not included, and there was no mention of how (or if) the regulation would be enforced. CRTC chair Pierre Juneau said the rules were designed “to inspire, not enforce.”

(Source: CBC Archives)

	Email This Post
	Today In CBC History