The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was created as a Crown Corporation in 1936 by an Act of Parliament, following a Royal Commission that was concerned about the growing American influence in radio.  Today CBC is Canada's largest cultural institution.

CBC's mandate is set out in the 1991 Broadcasting Act which states that it "should provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens and entertains."  It is financed mainly through public funds, which are supplemented by advertising revenue.

The CBC is subject to the regulations of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). It is accountable to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

CBC's television services include:

• Two national television networks - English Television and French Television
• Television services for Canada's North, in English, French and eight aboriginal languages,
• Two specialty cable television channels - CBC Newsworld in English, and Le Réseau de l'information (RDI) in French
• 3 specialty-cable services in partnership with other Canadian broadcasters and producers : Télé des arts, Land and Sea, and The Canadian Documentary Channel.

CBC's radio services include:

• Four commercial-free national radio networks - CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two in English, and La Première Chaîne and La Chaîne culturelle in French
• Radio services for Canada's North, in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages,
• A pay-audio service, Galaxie, with 30 channels of continuous music
• An international short-wave radio service, Radio-Canada International.

For more information about the CBC or to send comments or complaints, contact:
CBC Audience Relations
P.O. Box 500 Station A
Toronto, Ontario
M5W 1E6
Tel: 416-205-3700
Toll-free: 1-866-306-4636
Web site: http://www.cbc.ca