The CBC announced plans to expand local and regional news coverage after the CRTC approved Google’s Online News Act exemption. The approval will see Google pay $100 million per year, and the funds will be distributed to news publishers.

CBC News will add up to 25 journalists in over a dozen communities that are underserved by broadcast news outlets and will focus on western Canada. It’s also part of a commitment to address a gap in communities without a CBC presence.

The CBC says the new positions will complement its strategy to reach more Canadians via local news free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels and offer local and breaking news on the CBC Gem and News apps.

The broadcaster now has local news streaming channels in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Windsor, Ottawa, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and the North. These channels join existing national, B.C. and Toronto channels.

People in Atlantic Canada will also get four new late-night TV programs for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador. These programs will air nightly at 11pm AT/11:30pm NT on CBC TV, Gem and regional streaming channels.

Podcasts fans also have access to four new daily local podcasts from the CBC, which include This is Vancouver, This is Manitoba, This is Toronto and This is Nova Scotia.

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