CBC jumped the gun on the election and the law, broadcasting east coast election results before polls had closed -

CBC jumped the gun on the election and the law, broadcasting east coast election results before polls had closed  - 

The CBC jumped the gun on the election and the law, broadcasting east coast election results before polls had closed over much of the rest of Canada.

Host Peter Mansbridge and correspondent Wendy Mesley began discussing results from the Maritimes while a “lower third” graphic summarized results for nearly two dozen ridings. After several minutes the show disappeared from the air and was replaced by a “Sorry Technical difficulties” graphic.

But after another minute or so the graphic disappeared and the show resumed – only to be yanked again within another minute or so.

A 1938 federal law prohibits broadcasting election results to any region before polls in that region have closed. National TV networks are permitted to start election coverage including results – if they’re able to ensure their feeds are confined to areas where the polls have closed.

In this case it appears that viewers in at least Ontario were shown the east coast feed.

The election law has come under increasing fire as outdated and unenforceable in the age of Twitter, Facebook and the Internet, with many people advocating civil disobedience.

Few expected to see our national broadcaster leading the way – however inadvertently.

Read more - http://www.thespec.com/news/elections/article/526068--cbc-jumps-the-gun-broadcasts-results