Celebrating 70 years of Radio Canada International

The flood of wonderful memories, fueled by the old and not so old photos of Radio Canada International's 70 years, is now, as I write this, suddenly mixed with regret, lost opportunities, and missing colleagues. In a way I dreaded this anniversary, not knowing how to deal with this important milestone.

Read RCI Action Committee's blog entry at :

http://rciaction.org/blog/2015/02/25/celebrating-70-years-of-radio-canada-international/

Cabinet cuts shortwave radio protection, sparking concern from doomed service

OTTAWA - The Conservative cabinet has quietly changed a rule that could have prevented the CBC from following through on its plan to cut its international shortwave radio service.

Supporters of Radio Canada International, which faces a near fatal 80-per-cent budget cut from the CBC, say that amounts to the government essentially ending all uncensored Canadian broadcasts to places like China and Russia.

Heritage Minister James Moore recommended an order in council, approved on June 7, that deleted a requirement for RCI to maintain a shortwave service.

More at :

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/cabinet-cuts-shortwave-radio-protection-sparking-concern-from-doomed-service--159240595.html

Comments at alokeshgupta@gmail.com

Radio Canada International to shut down shortwave, to cut Russian & Brazilian departments

Summary of cuts announced :

- As announced in the 2012 federal budget, government has chosen to reduce CBC/Radio-Canada's appropriation by $115 million over three years.
- significant impact on services, organization and staff; upwards of 650 positions will be eliminated over three years, including about 475 this fiscal year."
- CBC/Radio-Canada intends to accelerate the shutdown of analogue television transmitters.
- Radio Canada International (RCI) will undergo a transformation that will see the service move away from shortwave and satellite transmission in order to focus its efforts on the web. The service will also end the production of news bulletins and close its Russian and Brazilian departments in order to concentrate on the five languages most spoken by its audiences: French, English, Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.

More info at :
http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/newsreleases/20120404.shtml

Related News :

CBC to slash jobs, eyes radio ads
Public broadcaster tries to offset $115-million cut in funding

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/slash+jobs+eyes+radio+updated/6410854/story.html