CKVU-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = CKVU-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Everywhere!
station_branding = Citytv Vancouver
analog = 10 (VHF)
digital = allocated 47 (UHF)
other_chs = 5 CKVU-TV-1 Courtenay
affiliations = Citytv
network =
airdate = September 1, 1976
location = Vancouver, British Columbia
callsign_meaning = C
K
Vancouver
UHF
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers = 21 (1976-1985)
owner = Rogers Communications, Inc.
licensee = Rogers Broadcasting, Ltd.
sister_stations = CHNM-TV, CKWX (AM), CKLG-FM, CKCL-FM
former_affiliations = Independent (1976-1997)
Global (1997-2001)
Independent (2001-2002)
effective_radiated_power =CKVU-TV: 325 kW
CKVU-TV-1: 17.7 kW
HAAT = CKVU-TV: 603 m
CKVU-TV-1: 82.5 m
class =
coordinates = CKVU-TV: coord|48|45|11|N|123|29|31|W|type:landmark
CKVU-TV-1:
coor dms|49|35|36|N|125|0|41|W|type:landmark|name=CKVU-TV-1
homepage = [http://www.citytv.com/vancouver/ Citytv Vancouver]

CKVU-TV is a television station based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Rogers Media, it was the second station to become part of the Citytv system in Canada.

History

CKVU's history dates back to 1975, when Western Approaches Ltd. was awarded the third licence for a Vancouver television station by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=60&historyID=57 Canadian Communications Foundation: Television Station History: CKVU-TV] ] The station was originally assigned UHF channel 26, but it was instead given channel 21 prior to its launch. It first went on the air on September 1, 1976, becoming the first station in Vancouver to transmit on UHF. In addition, the station was carried on cable channel 13, an assignment it retains to this day. In its first year of operation, CKVU lost more than $3 million.

In 1979, the station was approaching the break-even point. It was also under the scrutiny of the CRTC at that time for a lack of local programming. According to the CRTC, CKVU did not produce its own newscasts, but instead relayed newscasts from Global in Ontario. That same year, Allarcom purchased 5% common stock and 7% of preferred stock in CKVU. [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=60&historyID=57 Canadian Communications Foundation: Television Station History: CKVU-TV] ] CanWest Pacific, a subsidiary of CanWest Broadcasting, loaned $4 million to Western Approaches so they could thwart a takeover attempt from Allarcom. Three years later, CanWest loaned another $8 million to Western Approaches to reduce the station's debt with the condition that CanWest would have the option to purchase Western Approaches' shares in CKVU.

CKVU started broadcasting a VHF signal on channel 10 on February 13, 1985, which improved the station's coverage and ratings (channel 10 was originally reserved for a proposed CBC Television station in Victoria, but that station never went on the air due to lack of funds, clearing the way for CKVU to switch its channel position). CKVU moved to VHF to avoid interference with KTZZ in Seattle, which signed on after CKVU's switch to channel 10. CKVU's terrestrial signal, transmitted from a very high location on Saltspring Island, can be received throughout much of southwest British Columbia and northwest Washington. CKVU's signal can even be received over-the-air in some areas of north Seattle. CKVU also has a rebroadcast transmitter west of Courtenay, callsign CKVU-TV-1, which is received over-the-air on North Vancouver Island.

On December 6 1985, CanWest announced that they had purchased the majority interest in CKVU, subject to CRTC approval. Western Approaches went to court in an attempt to block the sale, which resulted in a dispute between Western Approaches, Allarcom and CanWest that lasted several years.

On June 19, 1987, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered Western Approaches to sell their interest in CKVU to CanWest, subject to CRTC approval. [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=60&historyID=57 Canadian Communications Foundation: Television Station History: CKVU-TV] ] Once the sale was approved and all other legal issues were settled, CanWest gained 100% ownership and control of CKVU on July 13, 1988. Under CanWest's ownership, the station was renamed "U.TV", and its audience and profits increased. Before "U.TV", the station used the names "CKVU 13", "VU-13", and "CKVU".

On Monday, August 18 1997, after 9 years as "U.TV", the station was renamed "Global", joining the CanWest-owned Global Television Network.

Transition to Citytv

As a result of CanWest's planned purchase of CHAN in Vancouver and CHEK in Victoria, the CRTC issued an order to CanWest on July 6, 2000 that they would have to sell CKVU in order to get their acquisition approved. The CRTC approved the transfer of CKVU to a CanWest subsidiary, CKVU Sub Inc., on December 21, placing the station in a blind trust while CanWest looked for a buyer.

CHUM Limited applied to the CRTC to acquire CKVU Sub Inc. on July 26, 2001 for $175 million, with the intention of making it a Citytv station similar to CITY in Toronto, Ontario. CHUM planned on spending $8.03 million on British Columbia-based independent productions, $5.95 million on local news and information, and $1.37 million on local culture, social policy and talent development over a period of seven years.

A large network shuffle occurred on September 1, when CHAN's contract with CTV expired. CHAN, now owned by CanWest as a result of its 2000 acquisition of Western International Communications, switched affiliations from CTV to Global. As a result, CIVT, an independent station owned by Baton Broadcasting, became a CTV owned-and-operated station (O&O), while CKVU was renamed "ckvu13". While CKVU began airing CHUM programming immediately following the switch, the station remained in trust pending regulatory approval of the sale.

CHUM gained CRTC approval for its acquisition of CKVU Sub Inc. on October 15, 2001. Because CHUM owned CIVI (part of the NewNet system, later A-Channel) in Victoria, license conditions were set by the CRTC. CKVU cannot air more than 10% of the programming aired on CIVI, and newscasts must be separately managed.

CKVU remained named "ckvu13" until 6 a.m. PDT on July 22, 2002, at which point it joined the Citytv system.

CTVglobemedia acquires CHUM Limited

On July 12, 2006, it was announced that Bell Globemedia (now known as CTVglobemedia) would acquire CHUM Limited and its assets, including CKVU and the Citytv family, subject to CRTC approval. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html] ] The immediate plans for the merger included the discontinuation of CKVU's "CityNews" 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, and the expansion of its "Breakfast Television" morning show.

On June 8, 2007, the CRTC announced its approval of CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited, but added a condition that CTVglobemedia must sell off CHUM's Citytv stations (including CKVU) to another buyer while keeping the A-Channel stations. cite web|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/08062007/3/canada-crtc-tells-ctvglobemedia-sell-5-citytv-stations.html|title =CRTC tells CTVglobemedia to sell 5 Citytv stations|publisher=cbc.ca via Yahoo! Canada News|date=2007-06-08|accessdate=2007-06-08]

Rogers Communications acquires Citytv

On June 11, 2007, Rogers Communications has announced that it would purchase the five Citytv stations (including CKVU) from CTVglobemedia. [cite web|url = http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/224297|title = Rogers buys Citytv stations|language =|accessdate = 2007-06-12|year = 2007] The transaction was approved by the CRTC on September 28. Rogers became the official owner of CKVU on October 31 2007.

tation presentation

Current CKVU-TV hosts

*Mark Docherty, news anchor, "Breakfast Television"
*Dawn Chubai, host, weather specialist, "Breakfast Television"
*Kyle Donaldson, host, "Breakfast Television"
*Glen Harper, live news reporter, "Breakfast Television"
*Ashley Tyndall, LiveEye reporter, "Breakfast Television"
*Michel McDermott, traffic reporter, "Breakfast Television"

Digital television and high definition

As of September 2008, CKVU-TV has not yet began broadcasting in digital.

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on August 31, 2011 http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/oca-bc.nsf/en/ca02336e.html] , CKVU-TV is required to begin digital broadcasts on its current assigned channel number, 47. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display CKVU-TV virtual channel as 10.

ee also

* 2001 Vancouver, British Columbia TV realignment

References

External links

* [http://www.citytv.com/vancouver/ Citytv Vancouver]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=60&historyID=57 Canadian Communications Foundation - CKVU-TV History]
*RecnetCanada|CKVU-TV