Global National

Global National. The flagship English-language national newscast of Canada‘s Global Television Network. Launched in 2001, it delivers daily national and international news coverage to audiences across Canada. The program is produced from Global’s national news centre at Global BC in Burnaby, British Columbia, with additional production from studios in Toronto, Ontario.

Overview

• Country of Origin: Canada
• Original Language: English (with a Mandarin version from 2012–2016)
• Network: Global Television Network
• Running Time: 30 minutes
• First Aired: September 3, 2001
• Current Status: Airing

Production and Presentation

• Production Locations:
  • Burnaby, British Columbia (2001–2008, 2010–2022; weekdays and weekends, 2008–2010; weekends, 2022–present; Monday to Thursday)
  • Toronto, Ontario (2022–present; Friday to Sunday)
  • Ottawa, Ontario (2008–2010; weekdays)
• Anchors:
  • Dawna Friesen (2010–present; Monday to Thursday)
  • Farah Nasser (2022–2024; Friday to Sunday)
• Broadcast Reach: In addition to Global’s owned-and-operated stations, Global National also airs on affiliate CHFD-DT in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and independent station CJON-DT in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

History

Global National was created as part of Global’s expansion into national news, following the acquisition of WIC’s television stations and the end of earlier programs such as First National and Canada Tonight. Kevin Newman was the inaugural chief anchor, returning to Canada from ABC News to launch the newscast.

The program began with a staff of 15 and an $8 million budget, supported by a $20 million investment by Global to secure a national network license from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Global National distinguished itself technologically as the first daily newscast in the world to use digital cameras alongside videotape and to edit all stories on Apple’s Final Cut software.

The newscast originally aired at different times across Canada but later moved to a more uniform early evening slot, improving ratings in key markets such as Ontario2. Despite this, it generally trails CTV National News in ratings but holds a slight lead over CBC’s The National2.

Notable Editions and Initiatives

• Global National Mandarin: From January 23, 2012, to June 30, 2016, a Mandarin-language version of the newscast aired on the Shaw Multicultural Channel in Vancouver and Calgary, anchored by Carol Wang. The edition ended due to low viewership2.
• Technological Innovations: The program was a pioneer in using digital newsroom technology and remote-controlled studios, particularly during its period of weekday broadcasts from Ottawa (2008–2010).

Related Programs

• First National
• Canada Tonight
• 16:9 (newsmagazine program)

Legacy

Global National remains a key player in Canadian national news broadcasting, known for its early adoption of digital technology, unique visual identity, and commitment to national and international news coverage