Wikipedia

CJCB-DT

CJCB-DT (channel 4) is a repeater television station in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, part of the CTV Television Network. Owned and operated by network parent Bell Media, the station has a transmitter on McMillan Road southwest of the city. It operated a TV studio on George Street from 1954 until 2021, with all production and master control work now done in Halifax at CJCH-DT.

CJCB-DT
Channels
Branding
Programming
NetworkCTV Atlantic
AffiliationsCTV
Ownership
OwnerBell Media Inc.
History
First air date
October 9, 1954 (69 years ago) (1954-10-09)
Former call signs
CJCB-TV (1954–2022)
Former channel number(s)
Analogue: 4 (VHF, 1954–2022)
CBC Television (1954–1972)
Call sign meaning
CJ Cape Breton (callsign originates with former sister station CJCB/1270)
Technical information
Licensing authority
CRTC
ERP37 kW
HAAT190 m (623 ft)
Transmitter coordinates46°5′53″N 60°18′43″W / 46.09806°N 60.31194°W / 46.09806; -60.31194 (CJCB-DT)
Translator(s)see § Transmitters
Links
WebsiteCTV Atlantic
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

CJCB-DT is part of the CTV Atlantic regional system in the Maritimes, carrying the same programming as sister station CJCH-DT at all times, except for some commercials and an annual telethon. On August 1, 2012, CJCB-DT (as CJCB-TV) became the only terrestrial broadcaster in the market, as the CBC repeater station, CBIT-TV, was closed the previous evening.

History

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CJCB-TV was the first television station to broadcast in Nova Scotia, when it signed on for the first time on October 9, 1954, beating CBHT-TV in Halifax by two months.[1] It was originally a CBC affiliate. It joined the CBC's national microwave network in 1958, linking all stations between it and British Columbia. Prior to the microwave connection, programming was either from live local studio productions or kinescope 16mm film copies of CBC network shows. The station fully converted to NTSC colour production in 1975, though it was able to transmit colour programming originated through the network starting in September 1966.

CJCB was originally owned by the Nathanson family, that also owned CJCB radio at the time.[1] CHUM Limited, owner of CJCH-TV, bought CJCB-TV in 1971 and applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to switch it to the CTV network. The switch occurred on September 26, 1972, when the CBC put CBIT-TV on the air in Sydney.[1][2] After the switch occurred, it immediately joined the newly formed Atlantic Television Network (ATV), CHUM's network of CTV affiliates in the Maritimes.

As part of CBIT's licence, it was not allowed to show local advertising, leaving CJCB with a monopoly in local advertising. CJCB's monopoly was reaffirmed in a CRTC decision in 1985 that denied a CBIT request to enter that part of the market.[2] CHUM continued to own CJCB-TV until February 26, 1997, when it swapped the entire ATV group to Baton Broadcasting.[3][4] The CRTC approved the deal on August 28, 1997.[5] With the deal approved by CRTC, Baton became the majority owner of CTV.[3][6]

CJCB-TV maintained offices, studios and the main transmitter tower at 1283 George Street in Sydney since it opened in 1954. The offices and studio were permanently closed in February 2021, after being temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.[7] After the switch to ATSC digital broadcasting, in January 2022, the old analogue NTSC transmitter was turned off.[8] Bell Media had the unmaintained tower demolished in July 2023.[9] The current digital transmitter is located on McMillan Road, in Coxheath, southwest of Sydney.

Programming

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One of Canada's longest-running TV programs, Mass for Shut-ins, originates at CJCB-TV; it premiered on March 3, 1963,[10] and is still on the air today. It is telecast across the CTV Atlantic system.[11]

Shantytown was another TV program that originated at CJCB-TV; it was aimed at children and ran from 1978 to 1984. Like Mass for Shut-ins, it was also telecast to all three Maritime provinces. Characters include Sam the Sailor, Katie the Craft Lady, Marjorie the Music Lady and their puppet friends.[12]

Local broadcaster, and occasional CBC-TV Front Page Challenge panelist, Anne Terry, worked on many programs from the station's debut, until she left broadcasting in August 1972. She was known for hosting "women's feature" and interview programs at CJCB.[13]

Technical information

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Subchannel

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Subchannel of CJCB-DT[14]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
4.1 1080i 16:9 CJCB CTV

Analogue-to-digital conversion

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The station ceased broadcasting in analogue NTSC on January 28, 2022, and began broadcasting in digital ATSC on the same date.[8]

Transmitters

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CJCB-TV television studio and transmitter tower in 2018.

The station also has rebroadcast transmitters in the following communities:

Station City of licence Channel ERP HAAT Transmitter coordinates Notes
CJCB-TV-1 Inverness 6 (VHF) 9.4 kW 310 m 46°9′13″N 61°22′58″W / 46.15361°N 61.38278°W / 46.15361; -61.38278 (CJCB-TV-1)
CJCB-TV-2 Antigonish 9 (VHF) 260 kW 274.9 m 45°32′44″N 62°15′38″W / 45.54556°N 62.26056°W / 45.54556; -62.26056 (CJCB-TV-2) formerly CFXU-TV
CJCB-TV-3 Dingwall 9 (VHF) 0.008 kW NA 46°56′58″N 60°28′2″W / 46.94944°N 60.46722°W / 46.94944; -60.46722 (CJCB-TV-3)
CJCB-TV-5 Bay St. Lawrence 7 (VHF) 0.001 kW NA 46°58′35″N 60°27′34″W / 46.97639°N 60.45944°W / 46.97639; -60.45944 (CJCB-TV-5)
CJCB-TV-6 Port Hawkesbury 3 (VHF) 15 kW 89.6 m 45°37′44″N 61°19′34″W / 45.62889°N 61.32611°W / 45.62889; -61.32611 (CJCB-TV-6)

The station originally operated CJCB-TV-4 channel 8 in New Glasgow, until that transmitter closed in late 2010.[15]

On February 11, 2016, Bell Media applied for its regular license renewals, which included applications to delete a long list of transmitters, including CJCB-TV-5. Bell Media's rationale for deleting these analog repeaters is below:

"We are electing to delete these analog transmitters from the main licence with which they are associated. These analog transmitters generate no incremental revenue, attract little to no viewership given the growth of BDU or DTH subscriptions and are costly to maintain, repair or replace. In addition, none of the highlighted transmitters offer any programming that differs from the main channels. The Commission has determined that broadcasters may elect to shut down transmitters but will lose certain regulatory privileges (distribution on the basic service, the ability to request simultaneous substitution) as noted in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015–24, Over-the-air transmission of television signals and local programming. We are fully aware of the loss of these regulatory privileges as a result of any transmitter shutdown."

At the same time, Bell Media applied to convert the licenses of CTV 2 Atlantic (formerly ASN) and CTV 2 Alberta (formerly ACCESS) from satellite-to-cable undertakings into television stations without transmitters (similar to cable-only network affiliates in the United States), and to reduce the level of educational content on CTV 2 Alberta.[16][17]

On July 30, 2019, Bell Media was granted permission to close down an additional transmitter as part of Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268. The transmitter for CJCB-TV-3 will be shut down by December 3, 2021.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Dulmage, Bill (October 2019). "Nova Scotia, (CJCB-TV), Sydney, CTV Television Network". Television Station History. Toronto: Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Dulmage, Bill (October 2019). "Nova Scotia CBIT-TV (CBC-TV), Sydney, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation". Television Station History. Toronto: Canadian Communications Foundation. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Brehl, Robert (February 26, 1997). "Baton's Power Play". Toronto Star. pp. C1, C12. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Enchin, Harvey (February 27, 1997). "Baton picks up CTV web". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 97-527, Approval of applications by Baton Broadcasting Incorporated and certain of its subsidiaries, CHUM Limited, and CTV Television Network LTD. For authority to transfer either the assets, or share equity representing effective control, of the CTV Television network, and of various English-language television and other programming undertakings across Canada". August 28, 1997.
  6. ^ CP Staff (August 30, 1997). "Baton Broadcasting takes over CTV Network". The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton, Ontario: Torstar. The Canadian Press. p. E10. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Post Staff (February 13, 2021). "Bell Media to close CTV office in Sydney". Cape Breton Post. Sydney, Nova Scotia: Saltwire. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  8. ^ a b CTV Staff (2022). "Over-The-Air Transmitter Channel Changes". CTV.ca. Bell Media. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  9. ^ MacDonald, Ryan (July 25, 2023). "Landmark CJCB-TV television tower in Sydney being taken down after nearly 70 years". CTV News Atlantic. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Bell Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Mass for Shut-Ins 2015, St. Ninian Cathedral Parish, Antigonish, saintninian.ca, Nova Scotia, CANADA". St. Ninian Cathedral Parish. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Mass for Shut-ins celebrates 50 years". CTV News Atlantic. March 1, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  12. ^ Allec, Patrick. "Shantytown". www.tvarchive.ca. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  13. ^ CP Staff (June 22, 1972). "Leaves radio, TV for tourism". The Ottawa Journal. The Canadian Press. p. 40. Retrieved June 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for CJCB
  15. ^ "ARCHIVED - Applications processed pursuant to streamlined procedures". www.crtc.gc.ca. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. April 6, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Runtime Service cannot communicate with Entitlements Service".
  17. ^ "Notice of hearing - 22 to 24 November 2016 - Laval, Quebec - 28 November to 2 December 2016 - Gatineau, Quebec - Renewal of television licences held by large English- and French-language ownership groups". crtc.gc.ca. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. June 15, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  18. ^ "CRTC Decision 2019-268". July 30, 2019.
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