CBC News is rolling out seven ad-supported podcasts focused on Canada’s local communities.
The new podcasts “celebrate the diverse stories of communities and answer listeners’ questions from coast to coast,” according to the broadcaster. Hosted by CBC journalists, episodes will include interviews with locals, stories about the challenges residents face in each location, as well as fun facts about the communities. The podcasts are: This is Vancouver Island, which is hosted by Kathryn Marlow; This is Calgary, by Anis Heydari; This is Edmonton, by Clare Bonnyman; This is Ottawa, by Robyn Bresnahan; Good Question Saskatchewan, by Leisha Grebinski; Good Question Montreal, by Ainslie MacLellan; and Good Question P.E.I., by Nicola MacLeod (pictured).
“The new local podcasts are part of CBC News’ strategy to reach wider audiences with relevant and thoughtful programming that is readily available on their preferred platforms. The podcast format offers in-depth storytelling opportunities, and gives listeners the flexibility to stream them whenever and wherever they want,” CBC News general manager and editor in chief Brodie Fenlon tells MiC. “We’ve had tremendous success with our national daily news podcast Front Burner, and we now want to do more for regional audiences with hyperlocal content in the same space.”
The first episodes of each podcast are now available on CBC Listen and other audio platforms such as Spotify. New episodes will be released weekly.
CBC Listen debuted in 2019 as a free content hub, where Canadians can access ad-supported CBC podcasts, CBC Radio One (live radio) and CBC music playlists. Its catalogue includes over 100 podcasts on true crime, science and culture.
Podcasts are becoming a popular source of news and entertainment for Canadians. A recent Reuters report, which included 93,000 surveys of online news consumers in 46 markets (including Canada), found that 34% of respondents listen to podcasts monthly, and 12% access a news and current affairs-related program. Around 29% also say they spend more time listening to podcasts than other traditional media.
