It remains precise - provided by cesium atomic clocks (new window) that are the world's best timekeepers, according to the NRC. The time signal was a touchstone that kept railways, shipping companies and Canada on time. Wall said when it started out, timekeeping was relatively primitive, with watches and clocks that needed to be regularly set in order to stay accurate. His memories include taxi drivers recognizing his voice from daily announcements and hearing from a young man living in Hong Kong who would stay up past midnight just to hear the time signal because it reminded him of home.īeyond emotional connections, the signal has a practical history too. In a 2019 interview with Day 6 on the occasion of the signal's 80th birthday, Laurence Wall, one of its current voices, reflected on its origin and importance. It's allowed sailors to set their instruments for navigation, kept railway companies running on time and helped Canadians stay punctual. 'The beginning of the long dash' indicates 75 years of official time on CBC (new window)įor many, the relationship with the time signal goes far beyond fondness.The beginning of the long dash: Happy 80th anniversary to CBC Radio's longest running segment (new window).With all of the different distribution methods we use today we can no longer ensure that the time announcement can be accurate. We share the nostalgia that many people have towards the daily time announcement but Canadians also depend on us for accurate information, she wrote. Iannetta added that nowadays most people use their phones to get the time, though many CBC listeners have a fondness for the signal. Given the range of CBC platforms from traditional over-the-air radio, to satellite and the internet, the long dash undergoes a range of delays by the time it's heard, leading to accuracy concerns from the NRC, she wrote. In a statement, spokesperson Emma Iannetta described the signal as a wonderful partnership, but confirmed it's being dropped. There were 'accuracy concerns' about signalĬBC declined an interview and would only provide written responses to questions about the change. Monday marked the last time it was broadcast, ending the longest running segment on CBC Radio. 5, 1939 - forming a link that connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast.ĬBC and Radio-Canada have announced they'll no longer carry the National Research Council (NRC) time signal. Variations of the daily message and the pips that sound along with it have played over CBC's airwaves since Nov. The beginning of the long dash indicates exactly 1 o'clock eastern standard time.įor more than 80 years the beeps and tones of the National Research Council (NRC) time signal have connected Canadians at exactly 1 p.m.īut as of Monday, CBC Radio One audiences won't be listening for the beginning of the long dash - they'll have listened to the end of it.
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