[1] The operation currently consists of a Hamilton-focused section within the national CBC.ca website, and presences on various social media platforms.
The operation was announced on November 1, 2011, as part of the public broadcaster's five year (2011-2015) strategic plan for improving service to various regions across Canada.
[2] Unlike most of the other new or expanded regional services that are part of the 2015 strategic plan, the Hamilton operation will not include an over-the-air broadcasting component, due to financial considerations and the fact that Hamilton is within the coverage range of the main transmitters of the corporation's Toronto stations, including CBC Television's CBLT and CBC Radio One's CBLA, which focus their local programming on that city.
In the wake of Bell Canada's attempts to acquire Astral Media, Hamilton councillor Brian McHattie called for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to require that the combined company divest a station to the CBC, to permit the launch of a radio station serving Hamilton.
A motion to the CRTC regarding this suggestion was passed unanimously by Hamilton City Council on March 27, 2013.