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CBC NEWS NETWORK TURNS 25 YEARS OLD

Launched July 31, 1989, CBC News Network is the World’s Third Oldest News Channel

@cbcnews
#CBCNN

CBC News Network, the world’s third oldest and Canada’s first news channel, celebrates its 25th anniversary on July 31st. First established in 1989 as CBC Newsworld and re-branded as CBC News Network in 2009, it has grown into Canada’s most popular news channel. From live breaking news and analysis to current affairs that engage Canadians across all platforms, CBC News Network is the network Canadians turn to and trust.

“For the past 25 years, CBC News Network has been the destination Canadians turn to when news breaks and major events unfold,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief, CBC News and Centres. “It’s an integral part of CBC’s future, and will continue to play an important role in delivering the most trusted news to Canadians from our team of award-winning journalists.”



First hitting the air waves in 1989 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the network was available in more than 4.5 million Canadian homes—it now reaches over 11 million Canadian households. Since its founding, CBC News Network’s average minute audience has quadrupled, and it’s the most watched news channel in Canada, outperforming its Canadian and American competition.


“From the ongoing crisis in Ukraine to the Alberta floods to Princess Diana’s funeral to the fall of the Soviet Union, CBC News Network consistently delivers the news that matters to Canadians,” said Fiona Conway, executive director, programming, CBC News and Centres. “We strive to be first on the scene, delivering live news from around the world. No other Canadian network delivers the range of coverage that we do.”

CBC Newsworld had humble beginnings—a small operation that combined live broadcast facilities and on-air presentation in one facility. Over the years, the network has grown and been at the forefront of technological innovation. CBC News Network often exceeds its 90% Canadian content requirement, and directs significant resources to the creation of original Canadian news programming, exceeding the expenditure levels of any other Canadian news channel.

Canadians are asked to share their fondest memories from major news events over the past 25 years using the hashtag #CBCNN or emailing them to [email protected]. Starting July 31st and throughout August, Canadians can tune in to CBC News Network to see some of the most memorable moments from our coverage over the years.

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About CBC News
For more than 75 years, CBC has been the source Canadians turn to, to keep them informed about their communities, their country and their world. Through regional and national programming on multiple platforms, including CBC Television, CBC News Network, CBC Radio, CBCNews.ca, mobile and on-demand, CBC News and its internationally recognized team of award-winning journalists deliver the breaking stories, the issues, the analyses and the personalities that matter to Canadians.

For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.

For further information, or to request interviews, contact:
Corey Black, News and Current Affairs publicist, CBC
416.205.8710 (office)/647.221.4133 (mobile)

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