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Getting started with your Alexa and CBC

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Accessing a World of CBC Entertainment through Alexa.

Own an Alexa device and want to listen to the latest CBC content including live radio, vinyl cafe, news, podcasts, sports and so much more? Welcome to the CBC skill for Alexa.

This user guide explains how you can enjoy the CBC skill through your Alexa device using quick phrases and simple commands.


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What exactly is the CBC Skill for Alexa?

The CBC skill for Alexa is a voice-activated application that CBC developed for Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. The CBC skill for Alexa allows you to enjoy CBC programs using voice commands alone. This means you can listen to news and entertainment of your choice, perform various tasks, receive information and enjoy specific functionalities from CBC, all with just the sound of your voice.

Amazon uses the term “skill” to differentiate a voice-based application such as the CBC skill from traditional mobile or web-based services.

Welcome to the CBC skill for Alexa: A world of news and entertainment that you can enjoy completely hands free.

 

 

Getting Started

To enjoy CBC programming through Alexa, you'll need to load and enable two essential skills: The CBC skill and the CBC news skill.

Here’s how to enable the skill:

  • With your device powered up, say, “Alexa, enable CBC.”
  • Or, you can also load the Alexa app (iOS | Android) on your phone. Once downloaded, go to More, and select Skills. Search for “CBC” to find and enable the CBC Alexa skill. While you’re at it, enable your favourite CBC Flash Briefing to get news updates too!
  • Or, find the CBC page on the Amazon skills site.

Please note:  Your device must be set to an address in Canada for you to access all of the content in the CBC skill.

How to Check your Settings

  • Open the CBC app
  • Select “More”, then “Settings”, then “Device Settings”. 
  • Select your device and check that the device location is set to a Canadian address.

Please Note:  If your device is set to an American address, you’ll still be able to listen to our live radio streams and the hourly news but unfortunately playlists, podcasts and our on-demand shows will not be available to you.


Opening the CBC skill in Alexa

Now that you have the downloaded the CBC skill in Alexa, you can open it by saying any of these phrases:

  • Alexa, open CBC.
  • Alexa, play CBC.
  • Alexa, launch the CBC.

 

How to ask for things within the CBC skill

Now that you have the skill loaded, you can open it by saying any of these phrases:

  • Alexa, open the CBC.
  • Alexa, open CBC.
  • Alexa, play CBC.
  • Alexa, launch the CBC.

Once you hear our welcome message, you can ask for live radio streams, podcasts, a news update, music playlists, our on-demand shows and so much more.

Pro tip: Always remember to say “Alexa” before making any requests or prompts. Addressing Alexa by her name is the only way to get her to listen to you.

 

Welcome to the CBC skill in Alexa

Once you hear our welcome message, you can ask for live radio streams, podcasts, a news update, music playlists, our on-demand shows and so much more.

Try saying things like:

  • Alexa, ask CBC to play radio one <city>
  • Alexa, ask cbc to play cbc music <region>
  • Alexa, ask cbc to play <playlist>
  • Alexa, ask cbc to play <podcast>
  • Alexa, ask cbc to play <podcast> episode <number>
  • Alexa, ask cbc for news today
  • Alexa, ask cbc what's new
  • Alexa, ask cbc to play random playlist
  • Alexa, ask cbc for special event
  • Alexa, ask cbc for help
  • Alexa, ask cbc for live radio

Remember: Alexa is intuitive so as long as you address her by her name and use keywords for whatever you’re looking for within the CBC skill, she’ll likely deliver just what you need.


Forgot what you’re looking for?

For example: 

Know the host name but forget the show? Try saying:

 “Alexa, ask CBC to play Bob McDonald. Or, Alexa, ask CBC to play Tom Power.”

Unsure of the playlist name you want to launch? “Try asking by genre by saying something like:

“Alexa, ask CBC to play pop. Or, Alexa, ask CBC to play classical.”



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