This program began in late 1957 to feature analysis, interviews and opinion involving various individuals following CBC's national newscast.
[1][2] In one episode, for example, the Financial Post's Clive Baxter attempted to grill Stanley Knowles regarding plans to form what would become the New Democratic Party.
[3] An equivalent French-language program, Commentaires, began on Radio-Canada in 1959.
[1] In 1975, the CBC's director of information programming (Knowlton Nash) cancelled Viewpoint under the pretext that the program caused the following local newscasts at 11:30 p.m. to lose three-quarters of their viewership ratings.
A new public affairs background program was scheduled for Viewpoint's time slot, beginning on 5 January 1976.