RCI ends shortwave broadcast - Action News
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New Brunswick

RCI ends shortwave broadcast

After decades of service, the transmission towers outside of Sackville, N.B are no longer broadcasting Radio Canada International to the world.

Sackville, N.B. transmitters will be sold

After decades of service, the transmission towers outside of Sackville, N.B are no longer broadcasting Radio Canada International to the world.

The international broadcasting service ended its shortwave transmission Sunday night.

"I find myself, on behalf of all of us, saying goodbye to 67 years of radio," said host Marc Montgomery, breaking down on air.

In April, CBC reduced RCI's budget from $12.3 million annually to $2.3 million, resulting in dozens of job cuts and the need to end the shortwave service.

RCI will continue as an online-only service. However, Montgomery called it a huge loss for many listeners around the world.

"There's no denying the importance of the internet. There's also no denying that it can be and is regularly blocked by authoritarian regimes. Shortwave broadcasts on the other hand, almost always get through to people hungry for information," said Montgomery.

Martin Marcotte, director of CBC Transmission, said he's now looking to sell the New Brunswick towers and land.

He said he's focussing on selling the site to other shortwave broadcasters or wind farm companies.

"It will be fairly costly to dismantle and as a last resort we would dismantle the facility, return it to bare land as it was when we first acquired that site," said Marcotte.