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| Type | Public broadcaster/radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Programming | |
| Format | light entertainment |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
Key people | Spence Caldwell (manager) |
| History | |
| Launch date | 1944 |
| Closed | 1962 |
| Coverage | |
| Availability | National through CJBC and private affiliates |
TheDominion Network was the second English-language radio network of theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation from January 1, 1944 to 1962.
It consisted of the CBC-ownedCJBC radio station inToronto and a series of 34 privately owned affiliates from coast-to-coast. The Dominion Network was set up as a complementary network to the CBC's main English service which became known as theTrans-Canada Network. While the Trans-Canada Network focus was on public affairs, educational and cultural programs, the Dominion Network's broadcast schedule consisted of lighter programming fare than that of the Trans-Canada Network and carried more American programming.
As well, the Dominion Network operated mostly in the evenings, freeing affiliates to air local programming during the day.
The Dominion Network was launched on January 1, 1944 after a request by private affiliates asking to set up their own radio network in order to carry American programming was turned down. CBC became concerned that the private stations might succeed in pressuring the government to permit such a private radio network. As a result, the CBC set up its own second network to appease demands by privately owned CBC affiliates for popular programming that would provide more commercial revenue.
The network was managed bySpence Caldwell, who later became a founder ofCTV. Shows carried by the network includedDuffy's Tavern,Amos & Andy andFibber McGee and Molly.
There is anurban legend that a CBC announcer once accidentally gave a station identification as "the Dominion Network of the CanadianBroadcorpingCastration", which was popularized when U.S. TV producerKermit Schaefer included a recreation of this incident on one of his best-sellingPardon My Blooper record albums in the 1950s. Canadian political punditMark Steyn often refers to the CBC as such in his columns.
The network was dissolved in 1962 and most of the private stations became independent.CJBC gradually became a French-language station and is now the Southern Ontarioowned-and-operated station of Radio-Canada'sPremière Chaîne.
