Sport and public service in Canada: The roots of the inherent bonds between the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada and the Olympic Games

Abstract

This article outlines the evolution of sports broadcasting on Canadian television, focusing on the broadcast of the Olympic Games. I argue that history of the Olympics on national television exemplifies the evolution of the idea of public service television in Canada. Specifically, it reflects the delicate balance between the nation’s public and private broadcasters, whose relationship extends far beyond mere competition. The public service raison d’être and mission have nonetheless been called into question throughout the development of television. Incidentally, the values of the Olympic movement were also called into question in this period, during which the Games evolved from an all-amateur Olympiad to a fully commercial spectacle designed for (and by) television.