From the shortwave radio to the web: RCI turns 80 today

From the shortwave radio to the web: RCI turns 80 today

Since February 25, 1945, Radio Canada International has been Canada's voice to the world. Throughout the years, RCI had to adapt — and still does — to new technologies and face many financial challenges and waves of disinformation in order to fulfill its mandate to broadcast Canadian realities and perspectives worldwide.

Read the full story at : 

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/2143350/80th-anniversary-rci-radio-canada-international

1940s RCI shortwave transmitter finds new home in old jail

The Radio Canada International 1940's 50 kw shortwave transmitter has been sold to Bill Steele who has turned a former jail into B&B accomodation

The transmitter was installed around the end of the Second World War and used until the 1970s. The Radio Canada International site outside Sackville continued to broadcast, but the 50 kW transmitter, five metres long and 2½ metres wide, was decommissioned and used as a showpiece.  

Full story at :

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/transmitter-sold-former-jail-1.4535290 

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/

Internet killed the shortwave star: Radio Canada shuts down Sackville, NB, broadcaster

The high-powered shortwave transmitters used to broadcast CBC's international radio service (RCI) to the world have been permanently shut down due to a "world wide decline in shortwave use."

More at :

http://o.canada.com/2012/11/07/shortwave/

CBC's international radio transmitters in New Brunswick to shut down

By: The Canadian Press

SACKVILLE, N.B. - The high-power shortwave transmitters used to broadcast CBC's international radio service to the world will be permanently shut down on Wednesday. The Radio Canada International station in Sackville, N.B., has been in operation since 1944. The collection of large towers that surround the station is a well-known landmark along a section of the Trans-Canada Highway that links New Brunswick with Nova Scotia. The shortwave service was discontinued on June 24, but some employees at the station remained at the site to wrap up some international broadcast contracts. The service has been largely replaced by the rapid growth of the Internet and other wireless technologies.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/cbcs-international-radio-transmitters-in-new-brunswick-to-shut-down-176462941.html

Radio Canada's Sackville, N.B. transmitters will be sold

After decades of service, the transmission towers outside of Sackville, N.B are no longer broadcasting Radio Canada International to the world.

Martin Marcotte, director of CBC Transmission, said he's now looking to sell the New Brunswick towers and land. He said he's focussing on selling the site to other shortwave broadcasters or wind farm companies.

More at :

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/06/26/nb-rci-transmission-ends.html

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

CBC president says broadcaster can't 'be all things to all people'

TORONTO - The beleaguered CBC is seeking tenants for office space it owns across the country in a bid to generate revenue that would help it cover a multimillion shortfall.
Hubert Lacroix, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, said Thursday the broadcaster hopes to generate $50 million through various measures that include putting ads on Radio 2 and leasing more than 74,000 square metres of real estate by 2017.



More at :

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/cbc-president-says-broadcaster-cant-be-all-things-to-all-people-157858795.htmlalo

RCI Vacates Shortwave and Satellite

An 80-percent budget cut is forcing Radio Canada International (RCI) to abandon shortwave and satellite radio broadcasting, leaving the Web as RCI’s only delivery method.

More at :
http://www.radioworld.com/article/rci-vacates-shortwave-and-satellite-/213261

The Terrible Cost Of Cutting International Radio

The recently announced cuts to the CBC have garnered considerable press. However, what has not received sufficient press is the story of the cuts which threaten the very existence of Radio Canada International.

More at :
http://thenetwork.thestar.com/expert-opinion/the-terrible-cost-of-cutting-international-radio/20120501/

For six decades, international service has been lifeline to Canadian culture

More at :

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Shortwave+broadcaster+will+sign+June/6444826/story.html

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

Radio Canada Intl. introduces new DRM txn towards India

Radio Canada International is going to introduce a daily half hour transmission towards India in DRM mode with effect from A12 season starting 25th March 2012 :

1500-1529 UTC

17815 kHz

125 kW

85 Deg

Ant HR 4/4/1.0 41

ENGLISH

Daily
via SMG (Santa Maria Galeria, Vatican City)

RCI B09 schd's

New RCI B09 technical & program schd's are now available in pdf format :

http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/en/horaires.shtml