Development of television in Canada

TELEVISION BROADCASTING began in Canada in September 1952, when the first two television stations owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) went into service in Montreal, Que., and Toronto, Ont. These stations were built with a loan of $4.5 million which was provided by the Government of Canada for the purpose of establishing the nucleus of a Canadian television system. In the five years that have passed from then to the present, the television industry has grown at a rate which far exceeded all expectations, and already about 80% of the population of Canada has television service available. The number of transmitting stations has increased from the original 2 to 39, of which 8 are owned by the CBC, and 31 by private interests. In addition, eight more private stations are under construction and several other applications are pending.