Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland
Encyclopedia
The Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland (BCN) was the government-owned public radio
service of the dominion
of Newfoundland
. Following Newfoundland's admission as a Canadian
province in 1949, the BCN was absorbed into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, and its three main AM radio transmitters remain in operation today as CBC Radio One
stations.
service was founded in 1939 by the Commission of Government
. Later that year, it bought the Dominion Broadcasting Company, owner of VONF (640 AM) in St. Johns
, from the Dominion Broadcasting Company (a subsidiary of the Avalon Telephone Company, forerunner of NewTel). Not long after taking control, the corporation acquired two transmitters at Mount Pearl that had been built during World War I
as Royal Navy
HMS
Wireless Station (BZM) for North Atlantic communications with Royal Navy ships. BCN's studios were at the sixth floor of the Hotel Newfoundland in St. John's.
The general manager of the BCN for its 10 years of operation was William Fenton Galgay, who with Joseph Butler had founded the service in 1932. Notable broadcasters also included Aubrey MacDonald, known as Aubry Mac, and the musician Robert MacLeod.
BCN accepted advertising on the station whose programming consisted of commercial, educational and entertainment shows. Notable programmes included future Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood
's The Barrelman
, which spun information and history with island folklore, and the Gerald S. Doyle News Bulletin, which interspersed family and community news about islanders with more serious journalism.
In 1943, the BCN opened a second radio station, VOWN in Corner Brook and, after the war, acquired VORG in Gander
that had previously been operated by the wartime Canadian military base.
The BCN provided islanders with news of World War II
as well as serving as a disseminator of wartime propaganda and as a recruitment tool for the armed forces. After the war, the network provided gavel to gavel coverage of the proceedings of the 1946-1948 Newfoundland National Convention
that was elected to determine the future of the dominion. While these broadcasts were closely followed by Newfoundlanders, the loss of advertising revenue from the commercial-free broadcasts hampered BCN's ability to improve its programming.
One of BCN's final acts was to cover the June 3 and July 22, 1948 referendum
s on the dominion's future. As the result was to join Canadian confederation
, the facilities and staff of the BCN were transferred to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
on April 1, 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada
. VONF was recalled CBN
, VORG became CBG
and VOWN became CBY. Bill Galgay remained as the CBC's Newfoundland regional director until his death.
A CBC Radio comedy series in the 1990s, The Great Eastern
, reimagined the BCN as still being in operation as Newfoundland's own independent public broadcaster, and was presented in the format of a parodic
arts and culture newsmagazine show produced by the BCN.
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
service of the dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
of Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
. Following Newfoundland's admission as a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province in 1949, the BCN was absorbed into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, and its three main AM radio transmitters remain in operation today as CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
stations.
History
The radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
service was founded in 1939 by the Commission of Government
Commission of Government
The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949...
. Later that year, it bought the Dominion Broadcasting Company, owner of VONF (640 AM) in St. Johns
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, from the Dominion Broadcasting Company (a subsidiary of the Avalon Telephone Company, forerunner of NewTel). Not long after taking control, the corporation acquired two transmitters at Mount Pearl that had been built during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
HMS
Her Majesty's Ship
Her or His Majesty's Ship is the ship prefix used for ships of the navy in some monarchies, either formally or informally.-HMS:* In the British Royal Navy, it refers to the king or queen of the United Kingdom as appropriate at the time...
Wireless Station (BZM) for North Atlantic communications with Royal Navy ships. BCN's studios were at the sixth floor of the Hotel Newfoundland in St. John's.
The general manager of the BCN for its 10 years of operation was William Fenton Galgay, who with Joseph Butler had founded the service in 1932. Notable broadcasters also included Aubrey MacDonald, known as Aubry Mac, and the musician Robert MacLeod.
BCN accepted advertising on the station whose programming consisted of commercial, educational and entertainment shows. Notable programmes included future Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood
Joey Smallwood
Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
's The Barrelman
The Barrelman
The Barrelman was a name adopted by Joseph Smallwood for his fifteen minute radio program on the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland to promote pride in Newfoundland's history and culture. The show began as a column in the Daily News newspaper, and later appeared as a radio show on St...
, which spun information and history with island folklore, and the Gerald S. Doyle News Bulletin, which interspersed family and community news about islanders with more serious journalism.
In 1943, the BCN opened a second radio station, VOWN in Corner Brook and, after the war, acquired VORG in Gander
Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
Gander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
that had previously been operated by the wartime Canadian military base.
The BCN provided islanders with news of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as well as serving as a disseminator of wartime propaganda and as a recruitment tool for the armed forces. After the war, the network provided gavel to gavel coverage of the proceedings of the 1946-1948 Newfoundland National Convention
Newfoundland National Convention
The Newfoundland National Convention of 1946 was a forum established to decide the constitutional future of Newfoundland-Nominations:On 11 December 1945 the Government of Britain announced that there would be an election to a National Convention, which would debate constitutional options and make a...
that was elected to determine the future of the dominion. While these broadcasts were closely followed by Newfoundlanders, the loss of advertising revenue from the commercial-free broadcasts hampered BCN's ability to improve its programming.
One of BCN's final acts was to cover the June 3 and July 22, 1948 referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
s on the dominion's future. As the result was to join Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, the facilities and staff of the BCN were transferred to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
on April 1, 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. VONF was recalled CBN
CBN (AM)
CIBB-FM Burgeo rebroadcasts programming of CBC Radio One, although it is owned by the Burgeo Broadcasting System.-External links:* * at Canadian Communications Foundation...
, VORG became CBG
CBG (AM)
CBG is a radio station broadcasting at 1400 kHz from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada with a power of 4,000 watts. CBG is the local Radio One station of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Several FM rebroadcasters provide additional coverage....
and VOWN became CBY. Bill Galgay remained as the CBC's Newfoundland regional director until his death.
A CBC Radio comedy series in the 1990s, The Great Eastern
The Great Eastern (radio show)
The Great Eastern was a radio comedy show on CBC Radio One. It ran from 1994 to 1999.Billed as Newfoundland's Cultural Magazine, The Great Eastern was an hour long summer replacement show on CBC Radio One for the first two seasons, and then became a half hour regular show for the next three...
, reimagined the BCN as still being in operation as Newfoundland's own independent public broadcaster, and was presented in the format of a parodic
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
arts and culture newsmagazine show produced by the BCN.
Stations
- Corner Brook - VOWN (AM790), 1943–1949
- GanderGander, Newfoundland and LabradorGander is a Canadian town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately south of Gander Bay, south of Twillingate and east of Grand Falls-Windsor...
- VORG (AM1450), mid 1940s-1949 - St. John'sSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
- VONF (AM840 and AM640), 1939–1949
Shortwave relays
- VONG (9470 kHz, later 9480 kHz) 1940 - ?, now defunct
- VONH (5980 kHz, later 5970 kHz) 1940s, became CBNX in 1949, now CKZN