News Releases

September 24, 1998

License Application for the First French-Language All-News Radio Service in Canada Submitted by CBC French Radio

Ottawa —- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has submitted an application to the CRTC today to operate the first French-language all-news radio service in Canada. Called InfoRadio, the new radio network will initially consist of four stations located in Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton and the Ottawa-Outaouais region.

"The goal of InfoRadio is to increase the number of information outlets available to French-speaking listeners by providing a coast-to-coast service airing first rate and reliable information that meets the needs of its present day audience and those of future generations of listeners says Sylvain Lafrance, Vice-President of French Radio. With InfoRadio, the CBC hopes to fill a major gap in terms of radio information available to francophone audiences by setting up a service adapted to over the air distribution, the Web and digital broadcasting."

InfoRadio would be set up in stages between fall 1998 and fall 1999. It would be available on the Web starting in spring 1999, over the air from the four main stations and on digital radio whenever the technology is implemented.

According to Mario Montpetit, who is in charge of the project, InfoRadio will be "a round-the-clock French-language all-news service offering local, regional, national and international news as well as service programs and features, packaged in a way that listeners will be able to find what they are looking for, whenever they want it. The new service will call on existing journalistic resources in the regions for its newscasts".

InfoRadio intends to take full advantage of the new media in order to provide unique and innovative information on Canadian events, according to the wishes of Parliament and the Canadian people in general. Consequently, the CBC is hopeful that the CRTC will grant it permission to operate this new service, on 690 AM in Montreal, a frequency well known for having been home to French-language public radio for 60 years.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. CBC/Radio-Canada reaches Canadians through eight national radio and television networks, its full-service Web sites, local/regional stations and affiliates, as well as the digital television channel Country Canada and the continuous music network Galaxie. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada has forged partnerships with other broadcasters and is a partner in the satellite radio service SIRIUS Canada as well as in the specialty television services ARTV and The Documentary Channel. Through this array of activities, CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight aboriginal languages. (2006)

For additional information, please contact:

Katherine Heath-Eves
Media Relations
CBC/Radio-Canada (Ottawa)
Tel: (613) 288-6235
heathevk@cbc.ca
www.cbc.radio-canada.ca