In the late 1970s, the CBC/SRC created a plan that would make two additional channels available to Canada's 3.5 million cable subscribers.

[1] The CBC/SRC made a formal application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in August 1980 for a licence to create a network that would replay programming in English and French (Télé-2), with the formal hearing taking place over three days,[2] beginning on January 14, 1981.

[3] In response to the application, the CRTC received 82 interventions, of which 25 individuals or organizations would make in-person presentations.

[5] The corporation had proposed that CBC-2 would: In CRTC Decision 81-353,[6] the governing body denied the CBC's applications,[7] citing concerns over funding, audience erosion, and the services' limited reach.

[8] The commission sought to have the original CBC television network be completed first.