Viewpoint (Canadian TV program)

Viewpoint is a Canadian current affairs television program which aired on CBC Television from 1957 to 1976.

Viewpoint
GenreCurrent affairs
Created byEugene Hallman
Narrated byEarl Cameron
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons18
Production
ProducersGordon Bruce (1966–1968)
Donald McNeill (1968–1969)
Nicholas Steed (1969–1972)
Ian Murray (1973–1976)
Running time5 minutes, 50 seconds
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
Release1957 (1957) –
2 January 1976 (1976-01-02)
Related

Premise

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This program began in late 1957 to feature analysis, interviews and opinion involving various individuals following CBC's national newscast.[1][2]

In one episode, for example, the Financial Post's Clive Baxter attempted to grill Stanley Knowles regarding plans to form what would become the New Democratic Party.[3]

An equivalent French-language program, Commentaires, began on Radio-Canada in 1959.[1]

In 1975, the CBC's director of information programming (Knowlton Nash) cancelled Viewpoint under the pretext that the program caused the following local newscasts at 11:30 p.m. to lose three-quarters of their viewership ratings. A new public affairs background program was scheduled for Viewpoint's time slot, beginning on 5 January 1976.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rutherford, Paul (1990). When Television Was Young: Primetime Canada 1952-1967. University of Toronto Press. p. 168. ISBN 0-8020-5830-2.
  2. ^ Corcelli, John (April 2002). "Viewpoint". Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. ^ Rutherford, Paul (1990). When Television Was Young: Primetime Canada 1952-1967. University of Toronto Press. p. 175. ISBN 0-8020-5830-2.
  4. ^ "CBC drops Viewpoint". The Globe and Mail. 8 November 1975. p. 36.
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