TORONTO — CBC's free ad-supported streaming news channel launched Wednesday with a mix of original, regional and marquee programming culled from the main network and its paid news channel, CBC News Network.
The public broadcaster describes CBC News Explore, which was announced earlier this year, as a digital hub for news and video journalism alternatives that stand apart from their standard breaking news.
Original programming includes the daily news and interview series “About That,” hosted by Andrew Chang, who recently stepped away from his co-anchor role on “The National” in August.
There's also the documentary series “Big,” which explores how industries impact the everyday lives of Canadians, Johanna Wagstaffe's monthly environmental series "Planet Wonder" and "This Week in Canada," which features video journalism from local CBC News stations.
CBC News Editor-in-Chief Brodie Fenlon says viewers will also find the network's flagship news and investigative programs, including "The National," "The Fifth Estate" and "Marketplace."
The new channel is available on CBC Gem, the CBC News App, CBCNews.ca and the Roku Channel with more to be added soon.
CBC News Explore debuted as the broadcaster touted its winter programming at a media event in Toronto.
New additions include the unscripted half-hour series "Push," about a group of friends and wheelchair users, starting Feb. 24 on CBC TV and CBC Gem; the live-action preschool series "Mittens and Pants," starting Feb. 6 on CBC Gem and Feb. 13 on CBC TV; and the preschool animated series "Gisele's Mashup Adventures," starting Feb. 1 on CBC Gem and Feb. 6 on CBC TV.
New podcasts include the eight-part series "The No-Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman," launching Feb. 20, about the billionaire couple who were found dead in their Toronto home in 2017.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 30, 2022.
Noel Ransome, The Canadian Press
