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Dominion Network

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The Dominion Network was the second English-language radio network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1944 to 1962. It consisted of the CBC-owned CJBC radio station in Toronto and a series of 34 privately owned affiliates from coast-to-coast. The Dominion Network was set up as a complementary network to the CBC's main English service which became known as the Trans-Canada Network. While the Trans-Canada Network focus was on public affairs, educational and cultural programs, the Dominion Network's fare consisted lighhter programming fare than that of the Trans-Canada Network and carried more American programming in its schedule. As well, the Dominion Network operated mostly in the evenings freeing affiliates to air local programming during the day.

The Dominion Network was launched on January 1 1944 after a request by private affiliates asked to set up their own radio network in order to carry American programming was turned down. CBC became concerned that the private stations might succeed in pressuring the government to permit such a private radio network and so the CBC set up its own second network to appease demands by privately-owned CBC affiliates for popular programming that would provide more commercial revenue.

The network was dissolved in 1962 and most of the private stations became independent. CJBC gradually became a French-language station and is today is the affiliate of Radio-Canada's La Première Chaîne.

The network was managed by Spence Caldwell who later became a founder of CTV. Shows carried by the network included Duffy's Tavern, Amos & Andy and Fibber McGee and Molly.

Dominion Network stations and affiliates included:

  • CJBC Toronto
  • CFCF Montreal
  • CFPL London, Ontario
  • CJCB Sydney, Nova Scotia (from 1948, previously a TCN affiliate)
  • CKX Brandon, Manitoba
  • CKWS Kingston, Ontario
  • CHEX Peterborough, Ontario
  • CKRM Regina
  • CHAB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
  • CKRC Winnipeg
  • CJIB Vernon, BC
  • CJCS Stratford, Ontario
  • CKCO Ottawa (became CKOY in 1949)
  • CKLW Windsor (1948-1950)
  • CHAT Medicine Hat, Alberta
  • CFRN Edmonton
  • CHWK Chilliwack, BC
  • CJOR Vancouver

References