Early Years (1942 – 1953)
The idea of an international radio service in Canada was proposed in the 1930s. Several studies conducted by the CBC Governor’s Office in the 1930s concluded that Canada needed a broadcasting service that would broadcast its views around the world. In the early 1940s, this need was also recognized by Parliament. In 1942, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King announced that his country would launch a shortwave radio station that would allow Canadian troops to keep in touch with their country through informational and entertainment programs. Radio Canada’s international service becomes a reality with the signing of an order in Council18 September 1942. Transmission trials begin on December25, 1944 for Canadian troops stationed in Europe in English and French. Programs are launched on25 February 1945. In 1946, Radio Canada International Service launches programs in Czech and Dutch. In November of the same year, a daily broadcast in English to the Caribbean is launched. Sunday evenings are broadcast in Spanish for Cuba, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and in Portuguese for Brazil.
Daily broadcasts in Spanish and Portuguese begin. July 6, 1947. At the same time, the United Nations broadcast programs through Radio Canada International Service until November 29, 1952, then transferred to Voice of America .
The beginning of the Cold War (1950-1967)
In its early years, Radio Canada International Service concentrated on broadcasting to Western Europe as a result of World War II.
Cold War (1967 – 1991)
Radio Canada International Service played an important role in covering Canada’s centennial celebrations on July 1 – 1, 1967.
In July 1970, the service was renamed Radio Canada International, as it seemed necessary for it to acquire its own identity distinct from the national Radio-Canada network, although it was fully integrated into it.
On November 7, 1971, RCI introduces its new 250 kW transmitter, five times more powerful than the existing ones, which improves signal quality in Europe and Africa .
RCI under threat (1991 – 2006)
In 1991, faced with a budget deficit, the Canadian government made budget cuts. Every department and every crown corporation had to make an effort.
After evaluating its budget, Radio-Canada decides it can no longer fund Radio Canada International without funds from the federal government. To save the service, Director Allan Familiant announces a major reorganization that takes effect on March 25, 1991. Distribution of six of the thirteen languages is discontinued: Czech , German , Hungarian , Japanese , Polish and Portuguese . While services in English and French continued, the programs produced by RCI were withdrawn, except for news, and were replaced by Radio-Canada programs. Special programs in French and English have since been reintroduced, but the situation remains uncertain.
This reorganization is accompanied by the elimination of 90 positions in the Montreal office of Radio-Canada International. Originally the service was to be suspended completely on March 31, 1991.but Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada at the time, stated in a speech that he wanted to preserve Radio-Canada International as the voice of Canada to the world. To that end, the federal government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, finally decides to give RCI an annual subsidy of $13.5 million dollars to maintain some of its services.
RCI Viva (2006-present).
Radio Canada International announced in 2006 a reorganization of its programming, effective October30, 2006.
Since October 30, 2006, Radio Canada International’s programming has focused on information for new immigrants while continuing to broadcast to the rest of the world. The station has also increased the length of its programs to 12 hours a week, which can be listened to via satellite or the Internet. A new Internet service was launched: RCI Viva, which is intended to be an online portal for new immigrants. The new program in English is called The Link and replaces Canada Today , Media Zone , Sci-Tech File and Business Sense . In French, Tam-Tam Canada replaces Le Canada en direct , Émergence and Science Tech . Programs in other languages have not changed.