CBC has unveiled a revamped CBC New Media Group online service that includes a more comprehensive Internet news site, CBC News Online.

Accoding to cbc president and ceo Perrin Beatty, the New Media Group currently accounts for roughly 1% of cbc’s overall budget, but he says he would like to see that percentage double to 2% in the near future.

‘My target is to have above the line, about 2% of the cbc’s budget allocated to New Media, with 98% allocated to conventional media.’

The Internet service will feature advertisements that will generate revenues for the Corporation, but how much remains to be seen.

‘We’re not expecting initially that this is going to be break-even,’ says Beatty. ‘We’re able to get in there without having to finance entirely out of revenues, but our goal will be to maximize the revenue from it.’

Beatty says the New Media Group’s aim is to generate revenues from new media ads at a similar ratio to those from television. He says the cbc generates roughly $300 million per year in television advertising revenues, working with a budget of about $1.1 billion (including radio).

‘In the case of tv, about 40% of our revenues are generated from the marketplace,’ he says.

With his mandate winding down, some say Beatty intends to make the New Media initiatives begun under his presidency a conspicuous part of his tenure.