The Great Eastern purported to be a long-running show on the BCN of which hour-long and half-hour-long segments were broadcast on Radio One (and, through atmospheric anomalies, to Iceland).
[1] Although content varied from episode to episode, most started with theme music, moved to a hearty introduction and hello from host Paul Moth, a visit to BCN director Ish Lundrigan and the BCN vault for "archival" radio content, the "What's that noise from Newfoundland" contest, and then to the meat of the show, which might involve anything from discussions of the religion/get-rich-quick scheme Economology to Newfoundland Christmas radio plays.
In 1996, co-creator Mack Furlong wrote to the CBC to protest this practice: "Part of whatever charm The Great Eastern possesses is gained in no small way by the fact that we purport that the show is real, that it is actually, Nfld's Cultural Magazine.
"[2] A number of prominent Canadians appeared on the show as themselves or playing characters, including Andy Jones, Rick Mercer and Margaret Atwood.
The BCN was based in a former abattoir on Duckworth Street in St. John's, proudly broadcasting "coal-fired radio" from its transmitter tower atop Mount Scio.