 | |
Type of site | Online newspaper |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC/Radio-Canada)[1] |
| Created by | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Revenue | >$1 billion |
| URL | www ici |
| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 1993; 32 years ago (1993) |
| Current status | Active |
CBC.ca is the English-language online service of theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation. It was introduced in 1996. Under its previous names, the CBC's online service first went live in 1993.
The web-based service of the CBC is one of Canada's most visited web sites. It currently contains over one million pages of information.
The CBC also runs the French-language websiteIci.Radio-Canada.ca.
In 1993, the CBC launched an experimental web service, followed by a small site supportingCBC Radio and a site supporting theCBC Halifax TV programStreet Cents. By 1995, the CBC had consolidated its English radio and TV sites into a single website.
Around 1996, the CBC began offering 24-hour live streaming of its radio services usingRealAudio. The next year, the CBC launchedCBC Kids and covered its firstfederal election online. The CBC launched its news site the following year.
In 2000, the CBC launched a wireless service andCBC Radio 3, an Internet-exclusive broadband magazine. Radio 3 provides streaming audio devoted to youth culture and independent music and is operated by CBC Radio.
In 2001, cbc.ca finished a major redesign that modernized the news portal and earned anEnglish Television Award.
In 2005, production of the Radio 3 magazine was suspended, although the site continues inpodcast format. Some of its programming still aired as a Saturday-evening show on CBC Radio Two until March 2007.Bande à part is theFrench equivalent and also airs content as a weekend program onEspace Musique. Both services launched as full channels onSirius Canada in December 2005 and are also available to U.S.Sirius subscribers.
Radio-Canada.ca is the French Language online service run bySociété Radio-Canada, the French counterpart of the CBC.
In June 2013, the CBC announced that Radio-Canada's website was to be moved toICI.ca in October 2013, as part of wide plan to re-brand all of the CBC's French-language outlets under a common brand, replacing "Radio-Canada" with "Ici" as its main public-facing brand. However, following public backlash for its decision to drop the historic Radio-Canada name, the site has maintained its current domain name, but is branded in logos as ici.radio-canada.ca, and Ici.ca redirects to the site.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
The websites include news from the CBC News website, an extensive sports section, music, science, technology and entertainment pages. CBC/Radio-Canada also offers an extensive, free archives service showcasing pivotal moments in Canadian history from the 1930s on. Over 8,000 online clips and interviews from news and information programs provide an in-depth look at Canada's past.
In 2004, the CBC began offeringRSS feeds, and in 2005, it launched a new online arts and entertainment magazine.
In 2006, CBC.ca underwent another redesign after extensive study, with improvements tostandards compliance.
In March 2008, the website added a comments section to most news items, allowing feedback on stories.[10]
In 2005, the CBC beganpodcasting some of its programs as a pilot project, includingCBC Radio One's national science and technology program,Quirks and Quarks,CBC Radio 3'sCanadian Music Podcast, and limited podcasting ofCBLA's popularMetro Morning show.
In May 2006, the CBC added several more podcasts, includingDispatches, best-of editions ofOutfront,As It Happens,Ideas,The Current andDefinitely Not the Opera, weekly podcasts from regional radio stations andEditor's Choice, a daily showcase of notable network programming.
In 2003, the CBC won anOnline News Association award in the "service journalism" category for its coverage of theSARS epidemic. In 2004, CBC.ca was the only organization to win two awards from theOnline News Association – one in the "specialty journalism" category forCanada Votes, its coverage of the2004 Canadian federal election, and one in the "service journalism" category for ADR Database, a project from theCBC News investigative unit. CBC.ca was also a finalist in the "online commentary" category for "Words: Woes and Wonder", a series of columns about the English language.
In 2007, CBCNews.ca won the 2006RTNDA award for best overall use ofnew media in Canada.[11]
