Transmitting Elections Through Wirelines
The CBC began as a government project to unite the country in 1936. It was an attempt to bring together communities from all over Canada through radio broadcasting - an effort to further develop a national cultural identity. This was necessary because at that time, most Canadians lived in secluded communities which were spread far apart across the country.
Though the CBC's equipment was state of the art at the time, the technology was still quite primitive by today's standards. It relied on cables which brought radio waves to distribution stations which then forwarded the broadcasts to the audience. These stations were not very powerful and had a very limited broadcasting range. Later on, the development of microwave technology would allow the CBC to reach a much greater audience.
CBC was first able to broadcast elections in 1940. This made it possible for radio listeners in Canada to keep up-to-date with local and national politics, as they unfolded. The technology of the day brought politics to the people. The political life of the country became more accessible to all Canadians.
The following is an article taken from the CBC Radio Archives. It is a description of what was going to be covered in the first CBC election broadcast ever.CBC PRESENTS CANADIAN PRESS ELECTION SERVICE
The Canadian Election News Service, by arrangement with this Dominion-wide news gathering agency, will be made available to CBC listeners during the evening of March 26.
Following the closing of the polls in each province, CBC listeners will be able to follow the returns as they come in from coast-to-coast. Starting at 5:30 p.m. EST, half an hour after the polls have closed in the Maritime provinces, a special bulletin will be included with the news to the Maritime network, and starting at 6:00 p.m. EST, three-minute election bulletins will be given every fifteen minutes; if necessary until 1:00 a.m EST. An hour after the last polls have closed in British Columbia - at 10:00 p.m. EST, a ten-minute election summary will be carried over the National Network.
This arrangement whereby the network will open in the Maritimes and gradually extend westward as polls close in the different provinces, conforms with election regulations, which forbid the publication of returns until the polls have closed in each province.
The Canadian Press News Bulletins - including the National News Summary at 11:00 p.m. EST, will be carried at their usual hours.
In Ontario, the election returns will be heard at 6:00 p.m. EST; 6:15 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; 6:45 p.m.; 7:00 p.m.; and continue on every 15 minutes until 1:00 a.m.; or until the results are in.
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