The American Influence on Canadian Media.
The United States of America has always had an impact on the lives of their neighbours .
to the North, Canada. It was not until the beginning of radio and then television that it became .
most apparent just how large of an impact they really had on Canadian culture. After radio and .
television were introduced, Canadians were exposed to American culture and American way of .
life. Canadians acquired and interest and thirst for all things American. Through such a .
dominant presence in Canadian lives, Canadian population seemed to not get enough of America .
and the popular culture, sports, politics and attractions that they offered. With easy access to .
American ways, Canadians began to be so interested in the American way of life that many .
feared Canadians would lose touch with their own culture. The overtaking of Canadian culture .
by Americans posed threats to Canada and as a result measures were taken to preserve all things .
Canadian. Laws were implemented and Acts were drawn up as to how much American .
programming would be shown in Canada. With the introduction of radio and television, Laws .
were drawn up by Canadians to preserve their culture and to control the impact of American .
influence on Canada.
Americans received their first chance to reach Canadians and provide them with a taste .
of American culture with the introduction of the radio. By 1950, almost all Canadian homes had .
radios and therefore received a chance to hear the best and most powerful American stations. .
The radio was the beginning for Canadians, especially English-speaking Canadians to become .
habituated to American popular culture, its trends, tastes and its stars. The first national .
broadcasting service was created in 1936. This broadcasting service was called the Canadian .
Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and was created to cover the whole country. The CBC was to .
provide an alternative to American radio.
