TORONTO - The CBC plans to begin its search for a permanent replacement for "Q" host Jian Ghomeshi next week.

The former radio show host was fired last month amid unproven allegations he was violent toward women.

The CBC is also looking at possibly changing the name of the program.

Cindy Witten, senior director of talk radio at the C-B-C, says the broadcaster will listen to its audience and its partners and plans to do some targeted research.

Witten says the show has a "long list" of strong candidates to replace Ghomeshi as host and that auditions will start as soon as possible.

The CBC fired Ghomeshi on October 26th after seeing what it later called "graphic evidence" that he had caused physical injury to a woman.

Ghomeshi, who is under criminal investigation, has said he engaged in consensual "rough sex."