by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 10/97) - The next time you're in Fort Lauderdale luxuriating on a beach, and you want to hear the latest news from Nunavut, it's now one click away on your computer.

CBC North Radio and TV have added RealAudio sound to a new, redesigned Web site, joining the medium of the moment by offering actual programming audio feed through the Net.

Launched late last week, CBC North's local radio programming from Yellowknife, Whitehorse and Iqaluit can now be heard in realtime on the World Wide Web.

Plans to add radio programming from Inuvik and the audio portion from CBC Northbeat and CBC Igalaaq's nightly television newscasts will come to pass in the coming weeks.

"New media technology is changing the way people receive their radio and television shows," says Marie Wilson, CBC North's regional director.

"CBC North is adapting to improved technology, ensuring we're available to our audiences the way our audiences want to receive us."

The new, revised site features profiles of personalities, history and information on the programs and services of CBC North and schedules for programming throughout the region.

"It's an excellent way to reach a youth audience that are out there playing with the Web sites daily," says Diane Lonergan, executive producer of both Northbeat and Igalaaq.

In addition to offering all the live feeds from the various Northern centres, CBC North is planning to archive the feeds so the newscasts can be available for up to one week.

"What's really interesting is that it's not just the novelty of listening to CBC North in Yellowknife or in the North. But Calgary, St. John's, Nfld., and overseas can now listen to the programs," says Charles Laird, the owner of Big Fish Productions, the Northern firm that created the site.

"It's a pretty significant thing to happen in terms of giving people access to Northern cultures and language."

To check out their site and get a schedule of the next newscast, call up www.cbcnorth.cbc.ca