Radio-Canada has begun removing regional radio programs from its Ohdio platform once episodes are more than two years old, making older local broadcasts from communities across Quebec and elsewhere harder to access online.
The change took effect in June 2026 and applies to regional morning and afternoon programs, according to an internal notice circulated by the public broadcaster.
The notice said the policy was being introduced for contractual reasons and would help limit rights-related costs associated with older recordings.
Radio-Canada has also pointed to the limited listening volume of some older regional recordings.
In public explanations, however, the broadcaster has emphasized that content availability is assessed according to its relevance over time and that the decision respects agreements with rights holders.
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What changed on Radio-Canada Ohdio
Radio-Canada operates regional stations that produce programming focused on local news, culture, politics and community issues.
Much of that material is broadcast live on ICI Première and made available later through Ohdio.
Under the new approach, regional programs older than two years are no longer available in the same way through the platform.
Checks of several regional services found that older morning and drive-home episodes were absent, while more recent programs remained available.
The policy does not appear to be applied uniformly across the network.
Some Montreal programming remains available for substantially longer periods, creating a difference in access between the metropolitan service and regional stations.
That distinction has raised questions about whether audiences outside Montreal are receiving the same level of digital access to their local broadcasting history.
The issue is particularly significant for regional programs, which often document local events and voices that receive little coverage elsewhere.
Why the archive matters to regional listeners
Radio programs are not only consumed as live broadcasts.
Older episodes can serve as records of municipal decisions, cultural events, public debates and emergencies affecting specific communities.
For listeners, the removal of older episodes means that material once available through a free digital platform may no longer be readily searchable or replayable.
The change also affects researchers, educators and residents trying to revisit conversations that shaped their communities.
Radio-Canada says the material is retained in its internal archival system.
That means the recordings are not necessarily being destroyed, but they are no longer being offered to the public through Ohdio after the two-year period.
The broadcaster’s own support information says most programs can normally be replayed through Ohdio, although availability depends on the program and the applicable rights.
How the decision fits Radio-Canada’s digital strategy
The change comes as Radio-Canada continues to expand Ohdio with podcasts, digital radio channels and archived audio.
The broadcaster announced in August that it was developing a 24-hour digital history station using original podcasts and material from its audio archives.
Radio-Canada has also expanded the platform’s music and specialty offerings, including a country music channel launched in June 2026, as described in its media centre.
Those additions suggest that the broadcaster is prioritizing selected digital products while applying tighter limits to at least some older regional programming.
The result is a platform with more curated national and thematic content but less long-term public access to certain local broadcasts.
What happens next
Radio-Canada is expected to continue reviewing which programs remain available on Ohdio based on relevance, usage and rights requirements.
Listeners who are looking for older regional episodes may still be able to request information from Radio-Canada or ask whether a particular recording is preserved in its archives.
Availability will depend on the program, the date of the broadcast and the rights attached to the material.
The decision could also prompt renewed discussion about the public broadcaster’s obligations to preserve and provide access to regional content.
CRTC licence conditions require CBC/Radio-Canada to maintain local and regional programming on its radio networks, while also expecting the corporation to reflect communities across Canada in its programming.
Those conditions govern broadcasting services and do not automatically require every past episode to remain online.
Still, the Ohdio changes underline the difference between producing regional programming and maintaining a publicly accessible digital record of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Radio-Canada removing from Ohdio?
Regional radio episodes that are more than two years old are being removed from public access on Ohdio, including older morning and afternoon programs.
When did the Radio-Canada Ohdio change begin?
The change began in June 2026.
Are Montreal Radio-Canada programs affected in the same way?
The policy does not appear to be applied uniformly. Some Montreal programs remain available for much longer than regional programs.
Are the removed recordings being destroyed?
Radio-Canada says the material is retained in its internal archival system, although it is no longer available through Ohdio after the applicable period.
Can listeners still request older regional broadcasts?
Listeners can contact Radio-Canada to ask about a specific recording, but access will depend on the program, broadcast date and rights restrictions.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against Radio-Canada’s official Ohdio information, its digital programming announcements and applicable CRTC broadcasting requirements, with the reported removal policy independently corroborated by current reporting. ([assistance.radio-canada.ca](https://assistance.radio-canada.ca/hc/fr/articles/360035764091-Est-ce-que-je-peux-r%C3%A9%C3%A9couter-les-%C3%A9missions-que-j-ai-rat%C3%A9es-sur-l-application-Radio-Canada-OHdio))
Disclaimer: Availability of older Radio-Canada recordings may change as rights agreements, archive policies and platform decisions are updated.