CBC fans in Kamloops will soon hear new voices — local voices — from 94.1 on the FM radio dial.
Senior management announced Thursday plans to open a CBC bureau in Kamloops and launch a morning show, similar to one broadcast from Kelowna.
Currently, local listeners must tune into the Kelowna-based morning show to hear Interior news. Starting in the spring of 2012, Kamloops listeners will be able to tune in to city news gathered and broadcast from here — not elsewhere in B.C.
Lorna Haeber, program director for CBC radio in B.C., said it will take nearly a year to put together the Kamloops operation. The CBC will hire up to four reporters and newscasters to gather news and features for a daily show.
“A decision has been made to hire a team here in Kamloops and provide local coverage,” she said. “We will go on the air in the spring of 2012.”
Years ago, the CBC had one reporter stationed in Kamloops, who reported in to province-wide coverage. This step is a significant new operation that has been in the works for years.
The next task will be to find a location to work and broadcast from, she said. CBC will also talk to local people about what they want from a morning show, in order to put together a package that best serves local listeners.
“The CBC has not received any additional money but over time this has become a priority,” Haeber said, adding resources were reallocated from other places.
CBC announced a new initiative Thursday to provide increased local focus in communities across Canada. The strategic plan Everyone, Every Way promises to introduce or improve services to more than six million Canadians over the next four years.
“We are really thrilled to see Kamloops was one of the first locations chosen to see that (strategy) put in place,” she said.
Haeber said the decision to launch here was not related to CFJC-TV’s decision to drop CBC as an affiliate for its programming more than five years ago.
“These plans have been in the process for years,” she said. “This has been a plan that has been in the works for some time. We are looking forward to being in Kamloops.”
