Canadian TV is in most respects similar to and difficult to distinguish from
that in the U.S.. Most stations broadcast in English; most of the same
products are sold; and the dialect is very similar to that of the midwestern
U.S.. However, there are some differences.
The first one will not make your day as a DXer: Canadian broadcast stations
are only required to identify once a day. In fact, use of call
letters is quite rare. The assembly of several regional independents into
the Global network has stripped several distinctive local IDs, making things
even more difficult. Local advertising is the best way to identify Canadian
TV stations.
While much of the programming on Canadian stations is similar to that in the
U.S., there are some ways to tell which side of the border a station is on.
First, U.S. programming is frequently carried out of sequence - on the
"wrong" night. Sometimes, the difference is much smaller, on the
order of a few seconds. Second, while Canadians seem to speak the same
dialect as midwestern U.S. residents, there are some subtle differences.
Those within DX range of the border should familiarize themselves with the
Canadian accent. CBC Radio has several
live streams which will expose you to the differences. The Saskatchewan
feed seems the most reliable of the bunch. Finally, DXers should look at
the logos below. Luckily, they're pretty distinctive and unlikely to be
mistaken for anything airing in the U.S. or Mexico.
You can tell a fair amount about a Canadian station by its callsign. All
stations starting with the letters "CB" are owned by the CBC. If they end
in the letters "FT", it's a French-language Radio-Canada outlet;
otherwise, it's usually English. (however, there are some exceptions in
Quebec.) A handful of CBC-owned stations, especially in northern Ontario
and Saskatchewan, relay privately-owned CBC affiliates.
Stations starting with letters other than "CB" are privately
owned. (except CJBR which never changed calls when the CBC bought it) Some
private stations are CBC-affiliated though. In some more lightly-populated
areas - especially on the Prairies and in northern Ontario -
"dual-stick" operations exist. Two stations with common ownership
operate from the same tower; one is a CBC affiliate while the other is with
CTV. It is not unusual for such stations to share news broadcasts, PSAs,
and promotions. (you may see a promo for a CTV program on a CBC affiliate
and vice-versa)
Stations with a number in the callsign (like CBXAT-2) are translators, 100%
relays of the station whose callsign you see if you delete the number.
(CBXAT in this case) You will quickly note that Canadian translators are
often much more powerful than those in the U.S.! It's a big
country..
There are also "semi-satellites". CBC semi-satellites have
five-letter callsigns, like CBXAT. These stations mostly relay the station
whose call you get by deleting the fourth letter from the relay's call. (in
this case, CBXT) My understanding is that these semi-satellites can air
split advertising, independently of the primary station. Privately-owned
semi-satellite stations have completely different callsigns from their
primary. For example, CJOM-TV is a semi-satellite of CJON-TV.
CBC-TV is an English-language service with national coverage. Note the logo
is very similar to that of the co-owned Radio-Canada service. My
understanding is that all network programming is now produced in Canada -
there is no U.S. programming on this network. Privately-owned affiliates
may carry some in non-network periods though.
Stations whose calls begin with "CB" are owned by the network; those
starting with other letters are privately-owned and may carry only the
minimum network schedule. The two CBCP stations and CBCC-TV are CBC-owned
relays of privately-owned CBC affiliates.
AB High Prairie CBXAT-2 2- 11,200/154 AB Lloydminster CKSA-TV 2z 116,000/221 BC Kelowna CHBC-TV 2z 3,700/498 BC Vancouver CBUT 2+ 100,000/593 BC Pr. George CKPG-TV 2z 8,300/330 MB Mafeking CBWYT 2z 15,000/113 NF Bonne Bay CBYT-3 2z 5,152/33 NS Cheticamp CBIT-2 2- 7,350/186 ON Kearns CFCL-TV-2 2z 70,000/212 ON Thunder Bay CKPR-TV 2z 56,000/366 SK Spiritwood CKBI-TV-6 2+ 21,100/164 SK Cyp. Hills CBCP-TV-2 2+ 6,750/275 BC Terrace CFTK-TV 3z 13,800/454 NF Baie Verte CBNAT-1 3z 12,200/277 NS Halifax CBHT 3z 100,000/270 ON Pembroke CBOT-6 3z 43,300/152 QC Sept-Iles CBSET 3z 3,700/239 SK Ponteix CBCP-TV-3 3z 18,800/239 SK Warmley CFSS-TV 3- 100,000/390 AB Pivot CHAT-TV-1 4+ 4,900/191 BC Kamloops CFJC-TV 4+ 3,700/153 MB Lac d Bonnet CBWT-2 4z 16,800/116 NB St. John CBAT-TV 4+ 100,000/385 NB Campbellton CBAT-TV-4 4- 25,120/413 NF Hermitage CBNT-24 4+ 50,000/243 NF Hawke's Bay CBYT-9 4+ 4,800/66 ON North Bay CHNB-TV 4- 100,000/223 ON Ottawa CBOT 4+ 100,000/398 SK Greenwater L CKBI-TV-3 4+ 17,000/223 SK Moose Jaw CBKT-1 4- 100,000/242 AB Edmonton CBXT 5+ 318,000/204 BC Dawson Creek CJDC-TV 5z 9,500/313 MB Jackhead CBWGT-1 5z 6,400/183 MB Brandon CKX-TV 5+ 100,000/407 NF Corner Brook CBYT 5z 15,700/149 NF Marystown CBNT-3 5+ 96,200/238 NS Sydney CBIT 5- 100,000/143 ON Hearst CBCC-TV 5+ 8,110/147 ON Toronto CBLT 5z 100,000/463 ON Fort Frances CBWCT 5z 95,800/201 ON S.S. Marie CJIC-TV 5z 75,700/183 QC Quebec CBVE-TV 5- 13,850/140 SK Swift Curren CJFB-TV 5- 13,300/156 SK Pr. Albert CKBI-TV 5z 100,000/237 SK Yorkton CKOS-TV 5- 54,600/163 AB Red Deer CKRD-TV 6- 100,000/249 AB Medicine Hat CHAT-TV 6z 58,000/203 BC Pr. Rupert CFTK-TV-1 6+ 2,440/594 MB Winnipeg CBWT 6- 100,000/308 NB Chatham CBAT-TV-3 6z 12,760/106 NB Bon Accord CBAT-TV-1 6- 100,000/347 NF St. Anthony CBNAT-4 6z 12,740/180 ON Timmins CFCL-TV 6+ 100,000/175 QC Montreal CBMT 6+ 100,000/260 SK Wynyard CHSS-TV 6z 11,000/187
ON Kenora CBWFT-7 2+ 6,800/119 QC Carleton CBGAT-14 2- 100,000/467 QC Rimouski CJBR-TV 2z 100,000/301 QC R.-au-Renard CBGAT-22 2+ 4,200/219 QC Montreal CBFT 2z 100,000/276 MB S. Rose du L CBWFT-4 3+ 3,915/37 MB Winnipeg CBWFT 3- 59,000/308 NB Allardville CBAFT-3 3z 94,000/165 NS Yarmouth CBHFT-1 3- 38,250/170 QC Bearn/Fabre CKRN-TV-3 3- 3,640/166 QC La Tuque CBFT-14 3- 28,000/124 QC Mont-Laurier CBFT-2 3+ 28,200/155 SK Pr. Albert CBKFT-2 3+ 10,800/206 QC Rouyn-Noran. CKRN-TV 4z 98,400/258 NB Fredericton CBAFT-1 5- 60,000/195 QC Malartic CBVD-TV 5- 19,200/188 AB Falher CBXFT-2 6- 5,350/82 AB Bonnyville CBXFT-1 6z 100,000/179 ON Dryden CBWFT-9 6z 19,600/146 QC Matane CBGAT 6+ 7,310/215 QC Beauceville CBVT-6 6z 10,000/154
AB Lac la Biche CFRN-TV-5 2+ 8,656/104 NB Moncton CKCW-TV 2z 100,000/309 NF Grand Bank CJOX-TV-1 2+ 9,260/117 ON S.S. Marie CHBX-TV 2- 100,000/183 ON Wiarton CKCO-TV-2 2- 100,000/286 SK Melfort CKBQ-TV 2- 15,500/150 SK Regina CKCK-TV 2z 100,000/179 AB Edmonton CFRN-TV 3z 609,000/217 AB Peace River CFRN-TV-2 3- 4,300/170 NB Florencevl. CKLT-TV-1 3+ 35,000/195 NF Argentia CJOM-TV 3z 14,000/164 NS Pt. Hawkesb. CJCB-TV-6 3+ 15,000/90 ON Elliot Lake CICI-TV-1 3z 19,000/123 ON Timmins CITO-TV 3+ 100,000/148 SK Stranraer CFQC-TV-1 3- 100,000/268 AB Lloydminster CITL-TV 4- 130,000/221 AB Calgary CFCN-TV 4z 100,000/190 MB Brandon CKYB-TV 4+ 100,000/407 NF Grand Falls CJCN-TV 4z 100,000/183 NF Stephenville CJSV-TV 4- 8,340/138 NS Sydney CJCB-TV 4z 180,000/98 ON Hearst CITO-TV-3 4- 7,110/165 ON Thunder Bay CHFD-TV 4- 56,000/366 BC Kelowna CHKL-TV 5- 7,000/510 NS Halifax CJCH-TV 5z 100,000/256 ON Sudbury CICI-TV 5z 100,000/324 BC Kamloops CHKM-TV 6+ 4,000/153 BC Victoria CHEK-TV 6z 100,000/496 NF St. John's CJON-TV 6+ 212,800/250 NS Inverness CJCB-TV-1 6z 9,400/310 NS Caledonia CJCH-TV-6 6+ 100,000/193 ON Deseronto CJOH-TV-6 6- 100,000/205 SK N. Battlefor CFQC-TV-2 6+ 30,300/178 SK Willow Bunch CKCK-TV-2 6- 52,700/263
QC S. Margueri. CHAU-TV-1 3- 11,200/207 NB Edmundston CIMT-TV-1 4- 3,160/99 QC R.-au-Renard CHAU-TV-7 4+ 5,460/227 QC Quebec CFCM-TV 4z 100,000/140 QC Carleton CHAU-TV 5z 81,700/493 QC Gaspe Nord CFER-TV-2 5+ 100,000/284 QC Chicoutimi CJPM-TV 6z 100,000/134This logo is for a web portal operated by Global, but a similar logo is used on their TV stations.
AB Calgary CICT-TV 2+ 100,000/302 MB Minnedosa CKND-TV-2 2- 100,000/396 ON North Bay CFGC-TV-2 2+ 3,400/90 ON Bancroft CIII-TV-2 2+ 100,000/390 ON Owen Sound CIII-TV-4 4+ 37,000/131 SK Saskatoon CFSK-TV 4z 100,000/139 BC Courtenay CKVU-TV-1 5z 17,700/83 ON Ottawa CIII-TV-6 6z 50,000/257 ON Paris CIII-TV 6+ 100,000/316
AB Lethbridge CKAL-TV-1 2z 100,000/192 AB Red Deer CKEM-TV-1 4+ 7,000/230 AB Calgary CKAL-TV 5z 79,400/257 MB Dauphin CHMI-TV-3 6+ 100,000/293
QC Quebec CFAP-TV 2+ 98,000/168 QC Forestville CFTF-TV-4 4z 7,500/120 QC Jonquiere CFRS-TV 4+ 100,000/567
ON North Bay CICA-TV-6 6z 95,000/203
ON Barrie CKVR-TV 3+ 100,000/342 ON Pembroke CHRO-TV 5+ 100,000/163
Finally, I'll mention some other networks/stations you're likely to
encounter while DXing.
ATV is the company that operates the CTV affiliates in the mainland Maritime
provinces. You'll see the ATV letters on their ID slides, and on their test
patterns.
NTV operates CJON-TV, the CTV affiliate in St. John's, Newfoundland. It has
relay transmitters throughout the province, which are widely seen via
E-skip. The NTV logo is used along with CTV.
Mid-Canada Television, or MCTV, operates stations in northern Ontario. They
have several "dual-stick" operations, with both CBC and CTV
affiliates in the same city.
Thunder Bay Television uses the TBT logo on their IDs and promos. This,
too, is a "dual-stick" operation with CBC and CTV affiliates.
One additional network is worth mentioning.
operates
throughout Ontario. Its transmitters relay CHCH-TV [11] Hamilton. All are
either high-band VHF or UHF, though some do have considerable power and will
be quite DXable by tropo.
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