CKVU-DT

CKVU-DT

Southwest British Columbia
City of license	Vancouver, British Columbia
Branding	Citytv Vancouver
Slogan	Everywhere!
Channels	Digital: 33 (UHF) Virtual: 10.1 (PSIP)
Translators	Digital: Victoria Analog: Courtenay / Whistler (See Transmitter Details)
Affiliations	Citytv
Owner	Rogers Media (Rogers Broadcasting, Ltd.)
First air date	September 1, 1976
Call letters' meaning	C K Vancouver UHF (refers to original UHF allocation for analog signal and UHF allocation for digital signal)
Sister station(s)	CHNM-DT, CKWX (AM), CKLG-FM, CFUN-FM
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 10 (VHF, 1985-2011) 21 (UHF, 1976-1985) Digital: 47 (UHF, 2010-2011)
Former affiliations	Independent (1976-1997) Global (1997-2001) Independent (2001-2002)
Transmitter power	8.3 kilowatts
Height	670 metres
Transmitter coordinates	49°21′13″N 122°57′24″W
Website	Citytv Vancouver

CKVU-DT (branded on-air as Citytv Vancouver) is a television station based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Rogers Media (and formerly a Global owned-and-operated station (O&O)), 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). 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. CanWest Pacific, a subsidiary of CanWest Broadcasting, loaned $4 million to Western Approaches so it 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 (on Channel 22) in Seattle, which signed on after CKVU's switch to channel 10. Until it was shut down on August 31, 2011 as part of Canada's digital television transition, CKVU's analog terrestrial signal, transmitted from a very high location on Saltspring Island, could be received throughout much of southwest British Columbia and northwest Washington, as well as in some areas of north Seattle. This analog transmitter was replaced with two UHF transmitters serving Vancouver and Victoria, both with lower coverage areas, but with improved coverage to those particular metropolitan areas. CKVU also has a rebroadcast transmitter west of Courtenay, callsign CKVU-TV-1, which is received over-the-air on North Vancouver Island (off the air since transmitter fire in October 2008).

On December 6, 1985, CanWest announced that it 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.

U.TV logo, used from 1988-1997. The station's newscasts were known as U.News during this period. For the logo used while as Global, refer to the Global Television Network article.

On June 19, 1987, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered Western Approaches to sell its interest in CKVU to CanWest, subject to CRTC approval. 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, VU13, and CKVU.

On Monday, August 18, 1997, after 9 years as U.TV, the station was renamed "Global", as the CanWest Global System (of which CKVU had been a member since its launch in 1990) was relaunched as the Global Television Network.

Transition to Citytv

See also: 2001 Vancouver TV realignment

"We can get rid of this baby!"
CKVU's former weather presenter Joe Leary takes the Global mike flag off his microphone on the station's last day as a Global O&O.

In 2000, Canwest acquired Western International Communications, the parent company of CHAN (BCTV) in Vancouver and CHEK in Victoria. The CRTC approved the purchase on July 6, 2000 on the condition that Canwest divest CKVU. The CRTC further 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.

During its brief stint from 2001-2002 as an independent station (as well as from its first sign-on in 1976 to the early 1980s), the station was known as ckvu13, a reference to its callsign and its cable allocation in the Lower Mainland.

A large network shuffle occurred on September 1, when CHAN's contract with CTV expired. CHAN, now under Canwest ownership, 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 then A and now CTV Two) in Victoria, the CRTC imposed its usual licence conditions for large-market twinsticks: CKVU was prohibited from airing more than 10% of the programming aired on CIVI, and newscasts were required to be separately managed.

As Citytv Vancouver

At 6 a.m. PDT on July 22, 2002, CKVU dropped the ckvu13 branding and became part of the Citytv system. A new morning program (Breakfast Television) launched immediately after the rebrand, and the station's 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts were rebranded CityPulse on the same day (renamed CityNews in 2005).

See also: 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment

In July 2006, Bell Globemedia (later known as CTVglobemedia and now Bell Media) acquired CHUM Limited and its assets, including CKVU and the Citytv family. The acquisition was approved by the CRTC on June 8, 2007, on the condition that CTVglobemedia sell off CHUM's Citytv stations (including CKVU) to another buyer due to the fact they have CIVT-DT in the same base as this station; Rogers Communications announced its intention to purchase the five Citytv stations three days later. The transaction was approved by the CRTC on September 28, and Rogers became the official owner of CKVU on October 31, 2007.

On October 25, 2008, a fire at CKVU's transmitter site southwest of Courtenay took the station's channel 5 signal off the air. It is currently unknown if the station will attempt repairs to the transmitter or simply delete it from its licence altogether.

News operation

CKVU's studio at 180 West 2nd Avenue in Vancouver

Currently, CKVU produces a total of 17½ hours of local newscasts each week, all consisting of Citytv's 3½ hour-long local morning news franchise Breakfast Television.

The station's news operations underwent significant changes in July 2006 following the announcement of Bell Globemedia's acquisition of CHUM Limited; CKVU's CityNews 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts were cancelled, while its Breakfast Television morning show was expanded from three hours to four hours.

On January 19, 2010, Rogers Communications announced that it was laying off six employees at CKVU. The layoffs also resulted in the cancellation of local productions Lunch Television and The CityNews List, while Breakfast Television was cut from four hours to three.

News/station presentation

Newscast titles

• Vancouver Morning (morning newscast; 1980s?)
• 1ST News (1982?–1988)
• U.News (1988–1997)
• Global News (1997–2001)
• ckvu News (2001–2002)
• Breakfast Television (morning newscast; 2002–present)
• CityPulse (2002–2005)
• CityNews (2005–2006)

Station slogans

• "You're Watching CKVU 13" (1976–late 1980s)
• "Global's Got It!" (1997–2001)
• "Under Construction" (2001–2002; used during transition from Global affiliate to CityTV O&O)
• "Everywhere!" (2002–present)

Current on-air staff

Breakfast Television

• Dawn Chubai - host and weather specialist
• Thor Diakow - entertainment reporter
• Mark Docherty - news anchor
• Kyle Donaldson - substitute anchor
• Greg Harper - LiveEye reporter; also producer
• Michel McDermott - traffic reporter
• Riaz Meghji - host

Former on-air staff

• St. John Alexander - (1999–2001, now at CTV BC)
• Bridgitte Anderson - (1995–1997, legislative reporter)
• Paul Bae - (2009–2010, The CityNews List)
• Mike Bothwell - (?-2006, reporter)
• Dave Budge - (1981–2000, now news director at CTV Calgary)
• Paul Carson - (1980–1999, anchor)
• Alan Carter - (1989–1997, anchor/reporter)
• Tasha Chiu - (2005–2008, Breakfast Television)
• Graham Clark - (2009–2010, The CityNews List)
• Kate Corcoran - (1989–2000, reporter)
• Wayne Cox - (1976–1986, anchor, now at Global BC)
• Charlie Demers - (2009–2010, The CityNews List)
• Monika Deol - (2002–2003, anchor)
• Douglas Miller - (1982-1991, evening weather and noon anchor)
• Marke Driesschen - (1991–2006, weather, now at CTV BC)
• Michael Eckford - (2002–2003, Breakfast Television, now at Shaw TV Vancouver)
• Barbara-Lee Edwards - (?-1994, weather/sports, now at KFMB-TV San Diego)
• Fiona Forbes - (2002–2003, Breakfast Television, now at Shaw TV Vancouver)
• Shane Foxman - (1998–2005, reporter, Breakfast Television, now at CBC BC)
• Russ Froese - (1988–2003, anchor)
• Dave Gerry - (?-2008, reporter, Breakfast Television)
• Rick Hoogendoorn - (1982–1988, reporter/sports)
• Barry Houlihan - (1979–1983, sports)
• Brian Hyde - (1986–2001, reporter)
• Mike Killeen - (1995–2001, reporter/anchor, now at CTV BC)
• David Kincaid - (1983–2004, reporter)
• Jocelyn Laidlaw - (1990s-2002, now at CTV Calgary)
• Joe Leary - (1994–2006, weather, now at CFTE Vancouver)
• Dave Lefebvre - (2001–2006, reporter)
• Cindy Leong - (?-2006, health)
• Peter Louwe - (1989–2006, reporter)
• Jeff Leyland - (2004–2006, sports)
• Barry MacDonald - (1995–2001, Sports Page)
• Craig MacEwen - (1993–2000, Sports Page, now at Sportsnet Pacific)
• Sean McCormick - (1998–2001, Sports Page, now at Sportsnet Ontario)
• Jennifer Mather - (1998–2002, anchor, now at CTV News Channel)
• Kristina Matisic - (1994–1999, reporter/anchor, now hosting The Shopping Bags, Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag and Anna & Kristina's Beauty Call)
• Suzette Meyers - (?-1998, anchor)
• Leigh Morrow - (1980s-2006, reporter)
• Julie Nolin - (2005–2006, anchor)
• Dan O'Toole - (2001–2002, anchor/reporter, now co-host of SportsCentre on TSN)
• Dave Randorf - (1990s-1995, Sports Page)
• Simi Sara - (1993–2008, reporter, anchor, Breakfast Television, CityCooks)
• Dag Sharman - (1997–2006, anchor)
• Erica Sigurdson - (2009–2010, The CityNews List)
• Linden Soles - (1985–1989)
• Tamara Stanners - (1990–1994, anchor, now at CKPK-FM Vancouver)
• Lynda Steele - (Now at Global Edmonton)
• Don Taylor - (1985–2000, Sports Page, now at CKST Vancouver)
• Wendy Vreeken - (1983–2002, reporter)
• Anna Wallner - (1994–1999, reporter/anchor, now hosting The Shopping Bags, Anna & Kristina's Grocery Bag and Anna & Kristina's Beauty Call)
• Elaine Yong - (2001–2006, now at Global BC)

Transmitters

Station	City of licence	Transmitter Type	Channel	ERP	HAAT	Transmitter Coordinates
CKVU-TV-1	Courtenay	Analog	5 (VHF)	17.7 kW	82.5 m	49°35′36″N 125°0′41″W
CKVU-DT-2	Victoria	Digital	27 (UHF) Virtual: 27.1 (PSIP)	2.75 kW	99.6 m	48°25′30″N 123°20′13″W
CJWM-TV	Whistler	Analog	21 (UHF)	0.001 kW	N/A	50°7′18.84″N 123°1′26.4″W

Note: The Courtenay transmitter has been off-air since a fire that occurred in October 2008.

Digital television and high definition

Broadcasting in Digital	Yes (Vancouver and Victoria transmitters)
Programs in HD	Yes
News in HD	No (Widescreen SD)
PSIP Functioning Properly	No

On February 23, 2010, the station received approval from the CRTC to broadcast in digital from Mount Seymour rather than from its current analog transmitter on Saltspring Island. This transmitter improved signal coverage for the Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas, but reception in Victoria was reduced. CKVU-DT signed on the air on March 2, 2010.

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which took place on August 31, 2011, CKVU shut down its analog signal. On that date, it began broadcasting in digital on channel 33 instead of channel 47 from Mount Seymour. Until August 31, 2011, channel 33 was used by CIVT-DT. CKVU improved its digital coverage on August 31, 2011, by broadcasting from a new transmitter in Victoria, which had been approved by the CRTC. These two digital transmitters replaced the majority of the coverage area previously covered by its channel 10 analog transmitter and improved coverage within the Vancouver and Victoria metropolitan areas.

External links

• Citytv Vancouver
• Canadian Communications Foundation - CKVU-TV History
• Vancouver Radio Museum - CKVU-TV
• Query the REC's Canadian station database for CKVU-DT
• Query TV Fool's coverage map for CKVU-DT