CBC Upfront 2022: "Our commitment is to make CBC more authentic and relevant than ever before"

CBC recently hosted its 2022 Upfront, revealing details about its 2022-23 programming slate, which includes more than 40 new and returning series from Canadian creators, producers and storytellers across all genres., and the accomplishments it celebrated over the past year.  The event was hosted by “Run The Burb’s” Andrew Phung. “I'd like to extend my appreciation to our advertisers or sponsors and producers, those incredible creators and storytellers that we work with, and of course the media for your partnership over the past year,” CBC’s Executive Vice-President of English services, Barbara Williams said during the event. “Now last year, we spoke to you about our commitment to make CBC more authentic and relevant than ever before. And we have delivered on that promise."

The Canadian dramas set to launch on the network this year include “Essex County,” “the North Water,” “Plan B,” “Diggstown,” “Heartland,” “Moonshine,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” and “Pretty Hard Cases.” The titles were listed alongside CBC’s reality competition series, “Canada’s Ultimate Challenges,”  featuring six Canadian superstar coaches: Donovan Bailey, Waneek Horn-Miller, Clara Hughes, Gilmore Junio, Jen Kish and Luke Willson, as well as factual titles like “BollyWed,” “The Legacy Awards,” “Dragon’s Den,” “Family Feud Canada,” “The Great Canadian Baking Show,” “Race Against The Ride,” and “Still Standing.” The network’s Original Comedy lineup includes “Comedy Night With Rick Mercer,” “Fakes,” “Sort Of,” “Strays,” “Run The Burbs,”  “Workin’ Moms,” and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

The programming slate will be complemented with  Filmmaker Marie Clements’ five-part Indigenous drama series “Bones Of Crows,” original documentaries such as “Summit ‘72,” “Into The Weeds,” and “The Nature Of Things.” Relevant and original news will also be available through “The Fifth Estate,” “The National,” “Power & Politics With Vassy Kapelos,” CBC Rundown,” “Canada Tonight With Ginella Massa,” “Rosemary Barton LIve,” and “Marketplace.” “The thing I love most about being on the CBC alongside all these talented Canadians is that we're just not connected by this iconic logo,” Phung said. “CBC programming responds to a deep universal need to see ourselves reflected in what we watch, which is why we have such an amazing range of truly Canadian storytelling.”

CBC’s most notable recent achievements include a 32% market share in Quebec during the 9-10PM slot,  over 240 English and French podcasts and over 180 million downloads, and nearly half a million minutes on CBC digital platforms during the Beijing Olympic games 2022. “As Canada's national public broadcaster, we are number one in what matters most,” Pung said. “And that's being Canadian. We're different. We stand apart from others just as strong and just as significant. Every day we ask ourselves what stories haven't been told yet. It's part of every decision we make. And because of that, we are able to fulfill the opportunity for people across the country to see themselves represented in every program.”

Canadians are now streaming three and a half million hours every month, which is up 34% Over the last year, the company counted 6500 hours of live and on demand programming. “No other media company in Canada offers the remarkable range of homegrown storytelling that we do, fulfilling the opportunity for people in communities across the country to see themselves represented in new ways, Phung said. “ No one else does and no one else will tell the stories that we tell, reaching an audience that is inclusive and reflective of the changing face of Canada."