BBC News Increases its Presence in Canada

The BBC has announced an investment plan for Canada, to include the addition of a new editorial team based in Toronto.  As part of its expansion plans, the BBC will launch a dedicated version of the North American edition of ‪BBC.com for Canadian audiences, for PC and mobile devices.

The new Canada edition of BBC.com will see a range of enhancements to the BBC’s online news offer, including the curation of the international and news homepages to offer Canadian audiences better targeted, more relevant content from the BBC’s global coverage. There will also be an increased editorial focus on news and features to give Canadians better insight into the world around them and their role in it.  This new localized edition of the site will launch later this year.

Jim Egan, CEO of BBC Global News Ltd, said, “We’ve had a significant TV, radio and online presence in Canada for many years, and the BBC is uniquely placed to provide Canadian audiences with the global perspective on stories that matter to them.   These new investments will offer Canadian audiences an enriched and more relevant user experience, as well as enabling us to enhance our offer to partners and advertisers in Canada who want to reach our large, upscale audience both nationally and internationally.”

The investment in Canada to support this edition will include the appointment of three new editorial positions including a video journalist, an online journalist and a social media producer all based in Toronto.  This news hub will be producing original stories and features, as well as curating the BBC’s homepage and main news index with the most relevant stories and features from across the BBC site. Canadian stories with global resonance, from the recent elections, to the Canadian perspective on the U.S election or the NAFTA summit have all been of interest to the BBC’s international audience, and this new investment will allow the BBC to offer more tailored, authoritative coverage of Canada to audiences outside the country.

The BBC has been part of the Canadian news landscape for many years, across TV, radio and online.    The ‪24/7 global TV news channel BBC World News is carried on all the major pay-TV platforms in the market and the BBC already has a significant digital audience in Canada, who come to the site for its trusted international news and features.   These new changes will enhance the digital offer for local users, incorporating select Canadian stories with a global relevance that will also have a broader significance for the BBC’s international audiences.