CHRO-TV: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|CTV 2 station in Pembroke/Ottawa, Ontario}} |
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{{Non-free|date=June 2011}} |
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{{Coord|45|25|39.1|N|75|41|28.2|W|type:landmark|display=title|name=CHRO's broadcast location}} |
{{Coord|45|25|39.1|N|75|41|28.2|W|type:landmark|display=title|name=CHRO's broadcast location}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} |
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{{Infobox broadcast| |
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{{Infobox television station |
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call_letters = CHRO-TV| |
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| callsign = CHRO-TV |
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| city = Pembroke, Ontario |
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| logo = CTV 2 2018.svg |
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| logo_size = 200px |
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| branding = {{ubl|CTV 2 Ottawa ''(general)''|''[[CTV Morning Live]] (morning show)''}} |
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| analog = 5 ([[VHF]]) |
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| digital = ''allocated 7 (VHF)'' |
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| translators = 35 (43.1) CHRO-DT-43 [[Ottawa]]<ref name="chro43">Filter Items: '''CHRO''' http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf11282.html</ref> |
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affiliations = [[A (TV system)|A]]| |
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| subchannels = |
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| affiliations = [[CTV 2]] |
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| airdate = {{Start date and age|1961|8|19|p=y}} |
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| location = {{ubl|[[Pembroke, Ontario|Pembroke]]–[[Ottawa, Ontario]]|[[Gatineau, Quebec]]}} |
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callsign_meaning = '''CH''' Pemb'''ro'''ke| |
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| country = Canada |
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| callsign_meaning = |
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former_channel_numbers = | |
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| former_callsigns = CHOV-TV (1961–1977) |
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| former_channel_numbers = |
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licensee = | |
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| owner = [[Bell Media Inc.]] |
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| licensee = |
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former_affiliations = [[CBC Television|CBC]] (1961-1991)<br>[[CTV Television Network|CTV]] (1991-1997)<br>independent (1997-1998)| |
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| sister_stations = [[CJOH-DT]], [[CFGO]], [[CFRA]], [[CJMJ-FM]], [[CKKL-FM]] |
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effective_radiated_power = '''CHRO-TV:''' 100 [[kilowatt|kW]]<br>'''CHRO-TV-43:''' 562 kW| |
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| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[CBC Television|CBC]] (1961–1991)|[[CTV Television Network|CTV]] (1991–1997)|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1997–1998)}} |
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HAAT = '''CHRO-TV:''' 162.9 m<br>'''CHRO-TV-43:''' 177 m| |
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| erp = {{ubl|'''CHRO-TV:''' 100 [[kW]]|'''CHRO-DT-43:''' 42.8 kW}} |
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| haat = {{ubl|'''CHRO-TV:''' {{convert|162.9|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}|'''CHRO-DT-43:''' {{convert|177.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}}} |
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homepage = [http://www.atv.ca/ottawa/ A Ottawa]| |
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| coordinates = {{ubl|'''CHRO-TV:''' {{coord|45|50|2|N|77|9|49|W|type:landmark}}|'''CHRO-DT-43:''' {{coord|45|13|2|N|75|33|49|W|type:landmark|name=CHRO-DT-43}}}} |
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| licensing_authority = [[CRTC]] |
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| website = {{URL|http://ctvottawamorning.ca/|CTV 2 Ottawa}} |
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}} |
}} |
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'''CHRO-TV''' ([[analog television|analogue]] channel 5) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Pembroke, Ontario]], Canada, serving the [[capital city]] of [[Ottawa]] as part of the [[CTV 2]] system. It is [[owned and operated]] by [[Bell Media]] alongside [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] outlet [[CJOH-DT]] (channel 13). The two stations share studios with Bell's Ottawa radio properties at the Market Media Mall building on George Street in [[downtown Ottawa]]'s [[ByWard Market]]; CHRO-TV's transmitter is located on TV Tower Road near Pembroke. The station operates a [[Digital terrestrial television|digital-only]] rebroadcaster in Ottawa, '''CHRO-DT-43''' (channel 43), with transmitter in the city's Herbert Corners section. |
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'''CHRO-TV''' (known on-air as '''A Ottawa''') is a [[television station]] serving the [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital]] and [[Ottawa Valley]] regions of [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Owned by [[Bell Media]], it is part of the [[A (TV system)|A]] television system. |
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While the station is licensed to [[Pembroke, Ontario]], its main studios are located at 87 George Street in [[Ottawa]]. The station broadcasts on channel 5 in Pembroke and channel 43 in Ottawa, and airs on cable channel 6 in both cities. It has also been assigned the transitional digital channels 7 in Pembroke and 67 in Ottawa, although neither of the digital channels are currently in operation as of April 2010. |
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In addition, Following a massive fire at [[CJOH-TV|CTV Ottawa]]'s longtime home on Merivale Road in [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]], the station's studios and offices, including newscast production, are now co-located with A Ottawa and Bell Media's Ottawa radio properties in the "Market Media Mall" building in [[Downtown Ottawa|Downtown Ottawa's]] [[ByWard Market]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Local_News/Ottawa/ID=1408401769 CTV Ottawa to stay at A Ottawa indefinitely.]</ref><ref>[http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100424/OTT_ctv_reunion_100424/20100424/?hub=OttawaHome After the CTV fire, one last reunion at Merivale Road], CTV Ottawa, 2010-04-24</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The station went on air |
The station first went on the air on August 19, 1961, as CHOV-TV, a [[CBC Television]] affiliate owned by Gordon Archibald [[Ottawa Valley]] Broadcasting, the owner of [[AM radio]] station [[CHVR-FM|CHOV]]. Workers of the station unionized and a labour dispute began. A financial crisis in 1976 led to the station going dark for six days in August of that year. Ottawa Valley sold the station to [[J. Conrad Lavigne]] in 1977. Lavigne adopted the CHRO-TV callsign, and opened a sales office for the station in Ottawa. Lavigne's company subsequently became part of the [[Mid-Canada Communications|MCTV]] system in 1980. While most of the MCTV stations used "MCTV", rather than their call letters, as their on-air branding, CHRO continued to use its call sign, although it used the same logo and programming schedule as the other MCTV stations. |
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In 1986, MCTV filed an application to expand the service by disaffiliating from the CBC and adding a transmitter and broadcasting facilities in Ottawa,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46390004/|title=CHRO-TV seeks to leave CBC|work=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|date=January 22, 1986|page=F16|accessdate=March 8, 2020|first=Doug|last=Yonson}}</ref> although the application process instead resulted in [[Baton Broadcast System|Baton Broadcasting]] being given a license to launch a new independent station in Ottawa.<ref>"CRTC ruling sparks network war". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', March 3, 1987.</ref> [[Standard Broadcasting]], the owners of existing Ottawa television station [[CJOH-TV]], responded to the potential new competition by selling CJOH to Baton, who then surrendered the new independent license.<ref>"Baton buys CJOH TV in Ottawa from Standard for $85 million". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', July 15, 1987.</ref> As a result, Mid-Canada submitted a revived application in 1989,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46390025/|title=Drama unfolds as four firms go after new Ottawa TV licence|work=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|first=Tony|last=Atherton|page=C11|accessdate=March 8, 2020|date=April 29, 1989}}</ref> but the application was withdrawn after [[Northern Cable]], the owner of the MCTV system, underwent an ownership change to be financed by selling off its broadcasting assets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46390054/|title=Firm that owns CHRO sold; Deal for Northern Cable may halt bid for Ottawa licence|work=[[Ottawa Citizen]]|first=Tony|last=Atherton|date=May 27, 1989|accessdate=March 8, 2020}}</ref> |
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While most MCTV stations used MCTV, rather than their call letters, as their on-air branding, CHRO continued to use its call sign, although it used the same logo and programming schedule as the other MCTV stations. |
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[[Image:Mctvbbs.svg|thumb|left|130px|CHRO-TV's logo under [[Baton Broadcasting System|BBS]] affiliation, used from 1994-1997. Under the ownership of Baton Broadcasting, the MCTV branding used on CHRO still remained. The previous MCTV logo was dropped in 1994 when all of the other Baton-owned stations adopted a similar logo, the only difference being the call letters. Unlike other Baton-owned stations, the MCTV stations didn't use their call signs on their logos. The logo featured multicoloured rings around the word BBS.<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do;jsessionid=0000aenbY60hwSqnoT0TelSyHFN:1247nfca5?lang=eng&fileNumber=0761163&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1 BBS logo on Canadian Trademarks Database]</ref> ]] |
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[[File:CHRO-Cable6.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Logo used in 1993.]] |
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{{Stack|[[File:CHRO-Cable6.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Logo used in 1993.]] [[Image:Mctvbbs.svg|thumb|110px|Logo used from 1994 to 1997{{efn|Under the ownership of [[Baton Broadcast System|Baton Broadcasting]], the MCTV branding used on CHRO still remained. The previous MCTV logo was dropped in 1994 when all of the other Baton-owned stations adopted a similar logo, the only difference being the call letters. Unlike other Baton-owned stations, the MCTV stations did not use their call signs in their logos. The logo featured multicoloured rings around the acronym BBS.<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do;jsessionid=0000aenbY60hwSqnoT0TelSyHFN:1247nfca5?lang=eng&fileNumber=0761163&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1 BBS logo on Canadian Trademarks Database]</ref>}}]]}} |
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In 1990, [[Baton Broadcasting]] acquired the MCTV stations. Because CHRO was carried by cable television companies in the Ottawa market, this was deemed an ownership conflict for Baton, who already owned Ottawa's [[CJOH-TV|CJOH]], and would therefore have a ''de facto'' [[twinstick]] in competition with the CBC's [[CBOT (TV)|CBOT]]. However, the station's carriage in Ottawa was also deemed essential to its survival, since Pembroke was too small a market to support the station on its own. Thus, CHRO was disaffiliated from the CBC, becoming a [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] affiliate. The [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) also ordered strict controls on CHRO's programming, so that Baton could not gain unfair audience advantage in Ottawa by airing shows at different times on CHRO and CJOH. Baton eventually became the sole corporate proprietor of CTV. |
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In 1990, Baton Broadcasting acquired the MCTV stations. Because CHRO was carried by cable television companies in the [[National Capital Region (Canada)|Ottawa market]], this was deemed an ownership conflict for Baton, which already owned Ottawa's CJOH, and would therefore have a ''de facto'' [[Duopoly (broadcasting)#Canada|twinstick]] in competition with the CBC's [[CBOT-TV]] (channel 4). However, the station's carriage in Ottawa was also deemed essential to its survival, since Pembroke was too small a market to support the station on its own. Therefore, CHRO disaffiliated from the CBC, and became a [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] affiliate. The [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) also ordered strict controls on CHRO's programming, so that Baton could not gain unfair audience advantage in Ottawa by airing shows at different times on CHRO and CJOH. Baton eventually became the sole corporate proprietor of CTV. |
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===As The New RO=== |
===As The New RO=== |
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[[File:Thenewro.svg|thumb|right|150px|Logo used |
[[File:Thenewro.svg|thumb|right|150px|Logo used as ''The New RO'' from 1998 to 2005.]] |
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In 1997, CHRO was one of several stations transferred to [[CHUM Limited]] in exchange for the [[CTV Atlantic|ATV]] stations in [[Atlantic Canada]]. (Ironically, CHUM had been one of the applicants for the independent license that eventually went to Baton in the late 1980s; they would have launched a station similar to [[CITY-TV]] in Toronto, and even produced a pitch film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B2u9fbKA97T/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B2u9fbKA97T |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=Retrontario on Instagram: "We sent our VCR into a parallel dimension 🚨 #capitalcity #capitalpulse #1989 #markdailey #WTF #alternativeuniverse #retrontario #ottawa…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=April 15, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47842267/chum-submits-bid-for-new-ottawa-station/|title=CHUM submits bid for new Ottawa station|date=December 16, 1988|work=The Ottawa Citizen|access-date=April 15, 2020|pages=38}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47842294/city-tv-bids-second-time-to-launch/|title=CITY-TV bids second time to launch Ottawa station|date=December 16, 1988|work=National Post|access-date=April 15, 2020|pages=19}}</ref> CITY itself would set up an Ottawa re-transmitter in 1996.) CHRO did not have an over-the-air transmitter in Ottawa until it came under CHUM's ownership. CHUM received approval from the CRTC to add a transmitter at Ottawa on channel 43 with the effective radiated power of 231, 000 watts to rebroadcast the signal of CHRO-TV Pembroke. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1996/db96-542.htm|title=Decision CRTC 96-542: Disaffiliation of CHRO-TV Pembroke from the CTV Television Network; Addition of a transmitter of CHRO-TV at Ottawa and addition of a transmitter of CJOH-TV Ottawa at Pembroke|publisher=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|date=August 28, 1996}}</ref> Ten months being acquired by CHUM, on September 7, 1998, CHRO was rebranded to "The New RO" and joined the NewNet system.{{r|scratch}} |
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In 1997, CHRO was one of several stations transferred to CHUM in exchange for the [[CTV Atlantic|ATV]] stations in the [[Canadian Maritimes|Maritime provinces]]. CHRO did not have an over-the-air transmitter in Ottawa until it came under CHUM's ownership. After being acquired by CHUM, CHRO was re-branded to ''The New RO'' in 1998 and joined the [[NewNet]] system. |
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During its first two years under NewNet affiliation, CHRO began moving their operations away from their original Pembroke studios. They initially operated from a small studio at 10 Kimway Avenue, near CJOH's broadcast facility on Merivale Road. In October 2000, the station moved to a brand-new media complex, dubbed the ''CHUM MarketMediaMall'', in Ottawa's historic [[ByWard Market]] neighborhood at 87 George Street. In addition to a ''[[Speakers' Corner (TV series)|Speaker's Corner]]'' video booth, the facility also housed CHUM's Ottawa-area radio stations ([[CKKL-FM]], [[CJMJ-FM]], [[CFRA]] and [[CFGO]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/television/chro-tv|title=CHRO-TV {{!}} History of Canadian Broadcasting|website=www.broadcasting-history.ca|access-date=April 11, 2020|archive-date=April 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411000644/https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/television/chro-tv|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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The New RO's first two years on the air originated from a small studio on Kimway Drive, near CJOH's broadcast plant on Merivale Road.The New RO's first anchor team comprised former New VR anchor Robert Maxwell and CHRO's Caroline Redekopp, with Ken Evraire on sports, former Weather Channel anchor Elissa Lansdell on weather and entertainment, and weekend anchor James Hendricks covering traffic and crime from the assignment desk. Cyndi Edwards hosted the "New RO at Noon", an amalgam of news, lifestyles, and entertainment. Reporter Sandra Blaikie, who joined the The New RO in 2000, took over from Caroline Redekopp after her departure in 2002. James Hendricks—by now the eleven o'clock anchor—replaced Robert Maxwell after his resignation in autumn 2003. Hendricks also continued to anchor the late news until Cory Atkins (late of CFRN-TV Edmonton) signed on to be the new eleven-oclock anchor in April 2004.<ref>[http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/Admin/pdf/weekly/2004_01-06.pdf]</ref> |
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In February 2005, CHUM announced plans to consolidate the [[master control]] departments for CHRO, [[CKVR- |
In February 2005, CHUM announced plans to consolidate the [[master control]] departments for CHRO, [[CKVR-DT]], [[CFPL-DT]], [[CHWI-DT]] and [[CKNX-TV]] at [[299 Queen Street West]] in [[Toronto]], and to consolidate the traffic and programming departments at CFPL in [[London, Ontario|London]], resulting in the loss of approximately 19 staff members from CHRO. On June 3, 2005, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Pembroke master control signal came to an end, as the new consolidated master control took to air. |
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===As A-Channel Ottawa=== |
===As A-Channel Ottawa=== |
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[[File:Achannelnew.svg|150px|thumb|right|Former A Channel logo, 2005–2008.]] |
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The station was renamed [[A (TV system)|A-Channel]] on August 2, 2005, along with the rest of the NewNet system. |
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The station was renamed [[CTV 2|A-Channel]] on August 2, 2005, along with the rest of the NewNet system, and began using the same logo as the rest of the system as well. |
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[[Image:Achannelnew.svg|thumb|right|130px|Logo used while as ''A-Channel'', used from 2005-2008.]] |
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On July 12, 2006, [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] owner Bell Globemedia (now [[Bell Media]]) announced plans to purchase CHUM Limited for [[Canadian Dollar|$C]]1.7 billion, with plans to divest itself of the A-Channel and [[Access Alberta]] stations.<ref name=takeover>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html|title=Bell Globemedia makes $1.7B bid for CHUM|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=2006-07-12|accessdate=2006-07-12}}</ref> On the same date, CHRO cancelled its noon-hour lifestyles program and its 12:30 p.m. weekday newscast, citing low ratings and declining advertising revenues. Anchors James Hendricks and Dave Gross were also let go.<ref>[http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/C/Citytv/2006/07/13/1682122.html Ottawa Sun, 13-07-2006]</ref> A plan was announced to almost fully automate the station's news production system, which would see a few dozen staff members laid off by the start of the new year. |
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On July 12, 2006, CTV owner Bell Globemedia (now Bell Media) announced plans to purchase CHUM Limited for [[Canadian dollar|C$]]1.7 billion, with plans to divest itself of the A-Channel and [[Access Alberta]] stations.<ref name=takeover>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bell-globemedia-makes-1-7b-bid-for-chum-1.583543|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908083837/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html|url-status=live|archive-date=September 8, 2011|title=Bell Globemedia makes $1.7B bid for CHUM|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=July 12, 2006|access-date=July 12, 2006}}</ref> On the same date, CHRO cancelled its noon-hour lifestyles program and its 12:30 p.m. weekday newscast, citing low ratings and declining advertising revenues. Anchors James Hendricks and Dave Gross were also let go.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120712013200/http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/C/Citytv/2006/07/13/1682122.html Ottawa Sun, 13-07-2006]}}</ref> A plan was announced to almost fully automate the station's news production system, which would see a few dozen staff members laid off by the start of the new year. |
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In January 2007, CHRO began producing its newscasts with a new system called "Ross Overdrive" - an automated production system that replaced the need for a switcher, VTR operator, graphics operator and many other staffers. Some 25 staffers were affected by the change, which had been announced some six months earlier. |
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On April 9, 2007, [[Rogers Media]] announced an agreement to purchase all of the A-Channel stations including CHRO, [[SexTV: The Channel]], [[Canadian Learning Television |
On April 9, 2007, [[Rogers Media]] announced an agreement to purchase all of the A-Channel stations including CHRO, [[SexTV: The Channel]], [[Canadian Learning Television]] and Access Alberta. The deal was contingent on full approval by the CRTC of the CTVglobemedia takeover of CHUM.<ref name=Rogers>{{cite web|url=http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/technology_rogers_ctvglobemedia|title=CRTC expected to OK Rogers' $137.5M buy of CTVglobemedia TV channels|publisher=[[Canadian Press]] via Yahoo! Canada News|date=April 9, 2007|accessdate=April 9, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=October 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> With CRTC approval being contingent on the sale of the Citytv stations instead, Rogers bought the Citytv stations and CTV kept the A-Channel stations. The takeover transaction was completed on June 22. |
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With the CHUM acquisition, CTV became the only English-language private |
With the CHUM acquisition, CTV became the only English-language private television broadcaster offering Ottawa news coverage; it owns both CHRO and CJOH-TV, which compete only with the CBC's CBOT in offering local news. The CRTC's decision to allow the joint ownership of CJOH and CHRO appeared to contradict its own rationale for forcing CTV to sell the Citytv stations, specifically that a single company could not own two stations, in the same language, based in the same large urban centre – however, even before CTV confirmed it would keep CHRO, the twinstick was approved by the CRTC on the basis of CHRO's financial situation and the stations' prior common ownership (until 1997).<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/db2007-165.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-165], June 8, 2007 (see paragraphs 22, 30–31)</ref><ref name=rebrand>{{cite web|url=http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles06130703.asp|title=CTV expected to rebrand A Channel|publisher=[[Friends of Canadian Broadcasting]]|date=June 13, 2006|accessdate=July 5, 2006|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182017/http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles06130703.asp|archivedate=September 27, 2007}}</ref> |
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On July 26, 2007, CTVglobemedia named Richard Gray the head of news for the [[A (TV system)|A-Channel]] stations. Gray will report to the CTVgm corporate group, not CTV News, to preserve independent news presentation and management. Gray now oversees the news departments for CHRO-TV, plus [[CKVR-TV|CKVR]], [[CFPL-TV|CFPL]], [[CKNX-TV|CKNX]], [[CHWI-TV|CHWI]], [[CIVI-TV]]. On July 16, 2008, CTVglobemedia announced that Gray was appointed vice-president of Ottawa Radio and A-Channel Ottawa. Gray took over from Chris Gordon, who was appointed president of [[CHUM Radio]] in April. Gray began his new position on September 1, 2008.<ref>[http://ctvmedia.ca/achannel/releases/release.asp?id=10503&yyyy=2008 CTV Media Site - A Channel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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===As A Ottawa=== |
===As A Ottawa=== |
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[[File:A logo.svg|Former A logo, 2008–2011.|thumb|right|150px]] |
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The station was renamed A on August 11, 2008, along with the rest of the A-Channel system. The A soft launch began earlier in June 2008 in CHRO-TV's press materials and local newscasts.<ref>[http://www.achannel.ca/ottawa/promo/webcast/vidpannel3.html on Tuesday August 5th Edition Of Inside A-Channel Sandra Blaikie confirms "A" debut on Monday August 11th]</ref> |
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The station was rebranded as A on August 11, 2008, along with the rest of the A-Channel system. The A soft launch began earlier in June 2008 in CHRO-TV's press materials and local newscasts.<ref>[http://www.achannel.ca/ottawa/promo/webcast/vidpannel3.html on Tuesday August 5th Edition Of Inside A-Channel Sandra Blaikie confirms "A" debut on Monday August 11th] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616145250/http://www.achannel.ca/ottawa/promo/webcast/vidpannel3.html |date=June 16, 2008 }}</ref> |
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Due to a major fire that destroyed the longtime studios of sister CTV station CJOH-TV on Merivale Road in [[Nepean, Ontario|Nepean]] on February 7, 2010, CJOH integrated its operations with CHRO into the latter station's studios at 87 George Street in Ottawa's ByWard Market (which was already occupied by CHRO). As a result, CJOH's newscasts began to be produced from the facility, becoming the first time since the studios had any nighttime newscasts since the cancellation of CHRO's ''[[A News (TV series)|A News]]'' broadcasts in 2009.<ref>"[https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ctv-ottawa-newsroom-destroyed-by-fire-1.481652 CTV Ottawa newsroom destroyed by fire]", CTV Ottawa, February 7, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Local_News/Ottawa/ID=1408401769 CTV Ottawa to stay at A Ottawa indefinitely.]</ref><ref>[https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/after-the-ctv-fire-one-last-reunion-at-merivale-road-1.505731 After the CTV fire, one last reunion at Merivale Road], CTV Ottawa, April 24, 2010</ref> |
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On March 3, 2009, CTVgm cancelled almost all of CHRO's local news programming except for ''A Morning'', laying off 34 Ottawa employees. CTVgm cited the current [[late 2000s recession|recession]] as a reason for cancelling the local news programming. In contrast, the A stations in Victoria, Barrie and London kept their evening newscasts but instead, had their morning shows cancelled; this was likely because CTV's [[CJOH-TV]] also owned by CTVglobemedia (now [[Bell Media]]) already produces higher-rated evening newscasts serving the Ottawa market.<ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/03/c5505.html CTV press release], March 3, 2009</ref> |
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===As CTV Two/CTV 2 Ottawa=== |
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In order to comply with the station's CRTC-mandated local programming expectation of 23.5 hours per week,<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2002/db2002-328.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-328]</ref> the morning show was extended to four hours a day on weekdays, with a two-hour Saturday edition added as well. (CHRO also continues two one-hour weekend [[music video]] programs co-branded with local [[Bell Media Radio]] stations.) Some high-profile CHRO personalities such as Sandra Blaikie, Tony Grace and Bill Welychka were moved to the extended morning show following the March 2009 layoffs.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/03/03/ot-090303-achannelcuts.html 'A' channel cuts jobs, drops local newscasts], [[CBC News]], March 3, 2009</ref> In December 2009, anchor Sandra Blaikie left the station to pursue other interests outside of broadcasting, because of the uncertain future of local television in Canada.<ref>[http://www.ottawacitizen.com/cars/Gallery+Sandra+Blaikie/2299754/Newsman+humanitarian/2299096/Blaikie+quits+Channel/2300381/story.html Blaikie quits A Channel - Ottawa Citizen]</ref> In September 2010, late-show anchor and national reporter Tony Grace left the station to assume the 6:00pm anchor position at A Barrie. |
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[[File:CTV Two.svg|thumb|150px|Former CTV Two logo, 2011–2018.]] |
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On May 30, 2011, Bell Media announced that the A [[television system]] would be rebranded as CTV Two, with CHRO switching its branding from "A Ottawa" to "CTV Two Ottawa". The official relaunch to CTV Two took place on August 29, 2011.<ref>[http://www.bellmediapr.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13828&yyyy=2011 Bell Media’s /A\ Network to Become “CTV Two” This Fall] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727114428/http://www.bellmediapr.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13828&yyyy=2011|date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref> In addition, CHRO's morning show, ''A Morning'' was renamed ''[[CTV Morning Live]]''. In addition, CHRO started broadcasting in [[High-definition television|high definition]] as part of the relaunched system on August 31, 2011. |
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==Past programming== |
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Due to a major fire at [[CTV Television Network|CTV]]'s [[CJOH-TV]] newsroom on February 7, 2010, CHRO and CJOH are now both operating from the A studios at 87 George Street in Ottawa's ByWard Market. This would be the first time since the studios had any nighttime newscasts since the cancellation of A News for CHRO in 2009. |
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* ''[[Ottawa Senators]] Hockey'' (20 regular-season games a year of the Canadian capital city's NHL team, which were usually, but not always, broadcast on Thursday evenings) – with [[Dean Brown (sportscaster)|Dean Brown]] as play-by-play announcer and [[Gord Wilson]] as commentator. Games were broadcast through the 2007–08 season, after which games were moved back exclusively to [[Sportsnet East]], and later [[TSN5]] (also owned by CHRO parent company Bell Media) |
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<ref>"[http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100207/OTT_Fire_CTV_100207/20100207/?hub=OttawaHome CTV Ottawa newsroom destroyed by fire]", CTV Ottawa, 2010-02-07</ref> |
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* ''[[CKKL-FM|Bob TV]]'' |
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* ''[[Majic 100]] Top 20 Countdown'' |
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*''[[Speakers' Corner (TV series)|Speaker's Corner]] Ottawa'' |
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== |
==News operation== |
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CHRO presently broadcasts 22 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, all consisting of four hours each weekday and two hours on Saturdays of a local version of CTV's local morning news program franchise ''CTV Morning Live''. |
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[[File:CTV Two.svg|thumb|150px|right|CTV Two]] |
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Beginning on August 29th 2011, CHRO along with the rest of the A system will rebranded and reintergrated as CTV Two, thus A Ottawa will become CTV Two Ottawa upon rebranding. <ref> [http://www.bellmediapr.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13828&yyyy=2011 Bell Media’s /A\ Network to Become “CTV Two” This Fall] </ref> In addition, CHRO's morning show, ''A Morning'' will be re-named ''[[CTV Morning Live]]'' while their morning show news department will carry the [[CTV News]] brand, and for the very first time, CHRO is slated to broadcast in [[High-definition television|HD]] as part of the re-launched network when the deadline for OTA stations to start broadcasting their signals in Digital on August 31st. This will be the second time around that CHRO will once again become a affiliate of the CTV brand. |
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Over the course of 1998, new graphics and presentation elements were added to the existing newscast that had been produced in Pembroke, and several reporters were forced out. By the summer, the only on-air staff in Pembroke were four anchors; the entire reporting staff was based in Ottawa. On September 7, coinciding with the change to The New RO, CHRO relaunched its news as ''NewsSixOttawa''. The station dismissed Cathy Cox, who had been the lead anchor in Pembroke for seven years.<ref name="scratch">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/46269092/remaking-a-station-from-scratch/|work=The Ottawa Citizen|date=September 14, 1998|accessdate=March 8, 2020|first=Tony|last=Atherton|title='Remaking a station from scratch'|page=F1}}</ref> The new Ottawa-based anchor team consisted of Caroline Redekopp and former CKVR anchor Robert Maxwell, with Ken Evraire on sports, former [[Weather Channel]] anchor Elissa Lansdell on weather and entertainment, and weekend anchor James Hendricks covering traffic and crime from the assignment desk. Cyndi Edwards hosted the ''New RO at Noon'', which featured a mix of news, lifestyle and entertainment reports. Reporter Sandra Blaikie, who joined CHRO in 2000, took over from Caroline Redekopp after her departure in 2002. James Hendricks—by now the 11 p.m. anchor—replaced Robert Maxwell after his resignation in autumn 2003. Hendricks also continued to anchor the late news until Cory Atkins (late of CFRN-TV Edmonton) signed on to be the new 11 p.m. anchor in April 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadcastdialogue.com/Admin/pdf/weekly/2004_01-06.pdf|title=We couldn't find the page you are looking for!}}</ref> |
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==Operations== |
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The station's Pembroke building, which once housed its entire operation and produced a number of local shows, now employs only about one staff - an on-call engineer. |
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As of March 2010 the Pembroke transmitter remains in operation but the entire building is otherwise empty and largely unused. |
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In January 2007, CHRO began producing its newscasts with a new system called "Ross Overdrive" – an automated production system that replaced the need for a switcher, VTR operator, graphics operator and many other staffers. Some 25 staffers were affected by the change, which had been announced some six months earlier. |
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== Digital television and high definition== |
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As of January 2009, CHRO-TV-43 has not yet began broadcasting in digital. |
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On March 3, 2009, CTVglobemedia cancelled almost all of CHRO's local news programming except for ''A Morning'', laying off 34 Ottawa employees. CTVglobemedia cited the current [[late 2000s recession|recession]] as a reason for cancelling the local news programming. In contrast, the A stations in Victoria, Barrie and London kept their evening newscasts but instead, had their morning shows cancelled; this was likely because CTV's CJOH-TV also owned by CTVglobemedia (now Bell Media) already produces higher-rated evening newscasts serving the Ottawa market.<ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2009/03/c5505.html CTV press release], March 3, 2009</ref> |
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After the [[Digital television in Canada|analog television shutdown and digital conversion]], which takes place on August 31, 2011,<ref name="Analog to Digital">http://www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/oca-bc.nsf/en/ca02336e.html</ref> CHRO-TV-43 is required to begin digital broadcasts on its current assigned and analog channel number, 43, however should the station sign-on before the analog shut off date, the station will broadcast on channel 67. However, through the use of [[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]], digital television receivers will display CHRO-TV-43's [[virtual channel]] as 43.1. |
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In order to comply with the station's CRTC-mandated local programming expectation of {{frac|23|1|2}} hours per week,<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2002/db2002-328.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-328]</ref> the morning show was extended to four hours a day on weekdays, with a two-hour Saturday edition added as well (CHRO also continues two one-hour weekend [[music video]] programs co-branded with local [[Bell Media Radio]] stations). Some high-profile CHRO personalities such as Sandra Blaikie, Tony Grace and [[Bill Welychka]] were moved to the extended morning show following the March 2009 layoffs.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/a-channel-cuts-jobs-drops-local-newscasts-1.851969 'A' channel cuts jobs, drops local newscasts], [[CBC News]], March 3, 2009</ref> In December 2009, anchor Sandra Blaikie left the station to pursue other interests outside broadcasting, because of the uncertain future of local television in Canada.<ref>[https://ottawacitizen.com/cars/Gallery+Sandra+Blaikie/2299754/Newsman+humanitarian/2299096/Blaikie+quits+Channel/2300381/story.html Blaikie quits A Channel – Ottawa Citizen]{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> In September 2010, late evening anchor and national reporter Tony Grace left the station to assume the 6 p.m. anchor position at CKVR in Barrie. In August 2011, Bill Welychka was let go from CHRO. In early September 2011, national reporter Jennifer Madigan left the station as all CTV Two stations began using ''[[CTV National News]]'' resources for national and international stories. |
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==Programming== |
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Currently the station's locally produced programs include: |
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* ''[[CTV Morning Live]]'', 6 a.m.-10 a.m. weekdays - with Lianne Laing, Kurt Stoodley and Jeff Hopper.(Begins August 29) |
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* ''[[CTV Morning Live|CTV Morning Live Weekend Edition]]'', Saturday 7 - 9 a.m. |
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* ''[[CKKL-FM|Bob TV]]'' - Sunday 10 - 11 a.m. |
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* ''[[CJMJ-FM|Majic 100]] Top 20 Countdown'' - Sunday 11 a.m. - noon |
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==Technical information== |
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===Past programming=== |
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* ''[[A Morning]]'', 6 a.m.-10 a.m. weekdays - with Lianne Laing, Kurt Stoodley and Jeff Hopper |
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* ''[[A Morning|A Morning Weekend Edition]]'', Saturday 7 - 9 a.m. |
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* ''[[A News (TV series)|A News at 6]]'' (weekdays) - anchored by Sandra Blaikie, ([[Ken Evraire]] on sports, [[Bill Welychka]] on weather) |
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* ''A News at 11'' (weekdays) - anchored by Tony Grace (Ken Evraire on sports, Bill Welychka on weather) |
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* ''A News Weekend Edition'' - (Saturday & Sunday, 6 p.m. & 11 p.m.) |
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* ''A News This Week'' (Sundays at 6:30 p.m. - a pre-recorded wrap of the week's top stories) |
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* ''[[Ottawa Senators]] Hockey'' (20 regular-season games a year of the Canadian capital city's NHL team, which were usually, but not always, broadcast on Thursday evenings) - with [[Dean Brown (sportscaster)|Dean Brown]] as play-by-play announcer and [[Gord Wilson]] as commentator. Games were broadcast through the 2007-08 season; all local/regional Senators broadcasts now air on [[Rogers Sportsnet]] East. |
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* ''Senators Primetime'' (post-game show for CHRO's Ottawa Senators broadcasts through the 2007-08 season, produced in the A studios and from various live locations) - hosted by Ken Evraire and Lianne Laing. |
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* ''News Six Ottawa'' (as The New RO, weekdays) - anchored by Robert Maxwell and Caroline Redekopp, ([[Ken Evraire]] on sports (from Sept 1998-2003) |
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* "CHRO News: Evening Edition" - anchored by Cathy Cox (from Sept. 1996 - Sept. 1998) |
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* "CHRO News: Early Report" - 5:30pm-6:30pm (from Sept. 1991 - Sept. 1996) |
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* "CHRO Newswatch" - various times (from 1981-1991) |
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== |
===Subchannel=== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|+Subchannel of CHRO-DT-43<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=CHRO#station RabbitEars TV Query for CHRO]</ref> |
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! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#Canada|Channel]] |
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! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]] |
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! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]] |
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! scope = "col" | Short name |
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! scope = "col" | Programming |
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|- |
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! scope = "row" | 43.1 |
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| [[1080i]] || [[16:9]] || CHRO || Main CHRO-DT programming / [[CTV 2]] |
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|} |
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===Analogue-to-digital conversion=== |
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;A Morning Hosts |
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On August 31, 2011, when Canadian television stations in CRTC-designated mandatory [[media market|markets]] [[Digital television in Canada|transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasts]],<ref name="Analog to Digital">[http://digitaltv.gc.ca/eng/1298734876915/1298734876967 Digital Television – Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817184039/http://digitaltv.gc.ca/eng/1298734876915/1298734876967 |date=August 17, 2013 }}</ref> CHRO's Ottawa transmitter, CHRO-TV-43, ceased analog transmissions and began broadcasting in digital on its former analogue allocation of [[UHF]] channel 43. CHRO's main transmitter in Pembroke is not yet required to switch to digital, since the CRTC did not designate Pembroke as a mandatory market. |
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* Kurt Stoodley - Host |
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* Lianne Laing - Host |
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* Annette Goerner - News Anchor & Reporter |
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===Spectrum reallocation=== |
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;Weather |
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As part of the [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction]], channels 38 through 51 were removed from television broadcasting in the United States and Canada. CHRO-DT-43 was reassigned from channel 43 to channel 35, using virtual channel 43. The change was completed on July 3, 2020.<ref name="chro43"/> |
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* Jeff Hopper |
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==Notes== |
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;Reporter |
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{{notelist}} |
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* Sarah Freemark |
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* Melissa Lamb |
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* Jennifer Madigan - National Affairs Reporter, /A\ News |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist| |
{{reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www. |
*[http://www.ctvottawamorning.ca/ CTV Morning Live Ottawa] |
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*[https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca CTV Ottawa] |
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*[http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=32&historyID=40 Canadian Communications Foundation - CHRO-TV History] |
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*[https://broadcasting-history.ca/television/television-stations/ontario/ontario-eastern/CHRO-TV CHRO-TV] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]] |
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*{{RecnetCanada|CHRO-TV}} |
*{{RecnetCanada|CHRO-TV}} |
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*{{TV Fool|CHRO}} |
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{{Ottawa TV}} |
{{Ottawa TV}} |
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{{ |
{{CTV 2 Stations}} |
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{{ |
{{Bell Media}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chro}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chro-Tv}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1961 establishments in Ontario]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:CTV 2 stations|HRO-TV]] |
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[[Category:Channel 5 TV stations in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Channel 43 TV stations in Canada]] |
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[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1961]] |
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[[Category:Pembroke, Ontario]] |
[[Category:Pembroke, Ontario]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1961]] |
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[[Category:Television stations in Ottawa–Gatineau|HRO-TV]] |
Latest revision as of 03:29, 3 September 2024
45°25′39.1″N 75°41′28.2″W / 45.427528°N 75.691167°W
City | Pembroke, Ontario |
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Channels | |
Branding |
|
Programming | |
Affiliations | CTV 2 |
Ownership | |
Owner | Bell Media Inc. |
CJOH-DT, CFGO, CFRA, CJMJ-FM, CKKL-FM | |
History | |
First air date | August 19, 1961 |
Former call signs | CHOV-TV (1961–1977) |
| |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | CRTC |
ERP |
|
HAAT |
|
Transmitter coordinates | |
Translator(s) | 35 (43.1) CHRO-DT-43 Ottawa[1] |
Links | |
Website | CTV 2 Ottawa |
CHRO-TV (analogue channel 5) is a television station licensed to Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, serving the capital city of Ottawa as part of the CTV 2 system. It is owned and operated by Bell Media alongside CTV outlet CJOH-DT (channel 13). The two stations share studios with Bell's Ottawa radio properties at the Market Media Mall building on George Street in downtown Ottawa's ByWard Market; CHRO-TV's transmitter is located on TV Tower Road near Pembroke. The station operates a digital-only rebroadcaster in Ottawa, CHRO-DT-43 (channel 43), with transmitter in the city's Herbert Corners section.
History
[edit]The station first went on the air on August 19, 1961, as CHOV-TV, a CBC Television affiliate owned by Gordon Archibald Ottawa Valley Broadcasting, the owner of AM radio station CHOV. Workers of the station unionized and a labour dispute began. A financial crisis in 1976 led to the station going dark for six days in August of that year. Ottawa Valley sold the station to J. Conrad Lavigne in 1977. Lavigne adopted the CHRO-TV callsign, and opened a sales office for the station in Ottawa. Lavigne's company subsequently became part of the MCTV system in 1980. While most of the MCTV stations used "MCTV", rather than their call letters, as their on-air branding, CHRO continued to use its call sign, although it used the same logo and programming schedule as the other MCTV stations.
In 1986, MCTV filed an application to expand the service by disaffiliating from the CBC and adding a transmitter and broadcasting facilities in Ottawa,[2] although the application process instead resulted in Baton Broadcasting being given a license to launch a new independent station in Ottawa.[3] Standard Broadcasting, the owners of existing Ottawa television station CJOH-TV, responded to the potential new competition by selling CJOH to Baton, who then surrendered the new independent license.[4] As a result, Mid-Canada submitted a revived application in 1989,[5] but the application was withdrawn after Northern Cable, the owner of the MCTV system, underwent an ownership change to be financed by selling off its broadcasting assets.[6]
In 1990, Baton Broadcasting acquired the MCTV stations. Because CHRO was carried by cable television companies in the Ottawa market, this was deemed an ownership conflict for Baton, which already owned Ottawa's CJOH, and would therefore have a de facto twinstick in competition with the CBC's CBOT-TV (channel 4). However, the station's carriage in Ottawa was also deemed essential to its survival, since Pembroke was too small a market to support the station on its own. Therefore, CHRO disaffiliated from the CBC, and became a CTV affiliate. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) also ordered strict controls on CHRO's programming, so that Baton could not gain unfair audience advantage in Ottawa by airing shows at different times on CHRO and CJOH. Baton eventually became the sole corporate proprietor of CTV.
As The New RO
[edit]In 1997, CHRO was one of several stations transferred to CHUM Limited in exchange for the ATV stations in Atlantic Canada. (Ironically, CHUM had been one of the applicants for the independent license that eventually went to Baton in the late 1980s; they would have launched a station similar to CITY-TV in Toronto, and even produced a pitch film.[8][9][10] CITY itself would set up an Ottawa re-transmitter in 1996.) CHRO did not have an over-the-air transmitter in Ottawa until it came under CHUM's ownership. CHUM received approval from the CRTC to add a transmitter at Ottawa on channel 43 with the effective radiated power of 231, 000 watts to rebroadcast the signal of CHRO-TV Pembroke. [11] Ten months being acquired by CHUM, on September 7, 1998, CHRO was rebranded to "The New RO" and joined the NewNet system.[12]
During its first two years under NewNet affiliation, CHRO began moving their operations away from their original Pembroke studios. They initially operated from a small studio at 10 Kimway Avenue, near CJOH's broadcast facility on Merivale Road. In October 2000, the station moved to a brand-new media complex, dubbed the CHUM MarketMediaMall, in Ottawa's historic ByWard Market neighborhood at 87 George Street. In addition to a Speaker's Corner video booth, the facility also housed CHUM's Ottawa-area radio stations (CKKL-FM, CJMJ-FM, CFRA and CFGO).[13]
In February 2005, CHUM announced plans to consolidate the master control departments for CHRO, CKVR-DT, CFPL-DT, CHWI-DT and CKNX-TV at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, and to consolidate the traffic and programming departments at CFPL in London, resulting in the loss of approximately 19 staff members from CHRO. On June 3, 2005, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the Pembroke master control signal came to an end, as the new consolidated master control took to air.
As A-Channel Ottawa
[edit]The station was renamed A-Channel on August 2, 2005, along with the rest of the NewNet system, and began using the same logo as the rest of the system as well.
On July 12, 2006, CTV owner Bell Globemedia (now Bell Media) announced plans to purchase CHUM Limited for C$1.7 billion, with plans to divest itself of the A-Channel and Access Alberta stations.[14] On the same date, CHRO cancelled its noon-hour lifestyles program and its 12:30 p.m. weekday newscast, citing low ratings and declining advertising revenues. Anchors James Hendricks and Dave Gross were also let go.[15] A plan was announced to almost fully automate the station's news production system, which would see a few dozen staff members laid off by the start of the new year.
On April 9, 2007, Rogers Media announced an agreement to purchase all of the A-Channel stations including CHRO, SexTV: The Channel, Canadian Learning Television and Access Alberta. The deal was contingent on full approval by the CRTC of the CTVglobemedia takeover of CHUM.[16] With CRTC approval being contingent on the sale of the Citytv stations instead, Rogers bought the Citytv stations and CTV kept the A-Channel stations. The takeover transaction was completed on June 22.
With the CHUM acquisition, CTV became the only English-language private television broadcaster offering Ottawa news coverage; it owns both CHRO and CJOH-TV, which compete only with the CBC's CBOT in offering local news. The CRTC's decision to allow the joint ownership of CJOH and CHRO appeared to contradict its own rationale for forcing CTV to sell the Citytv stations, specifically that a single company could not own two stations, in the same language, based in the same large urban centre – however, even before CTV confirmed it would keep CHRO, the twinstick was approved by the CRTC on the basis of CHRO's financial situation and the stations' prior common ownership (until 1997).[17][18]
As A Ottawa
[edit]The station was rebranded as A on August 11, 2008, along with the rest of the A-Channel system. The A soft launch began earlier in June 2008 in CHRO-TV's press materials and local newscasts.[19]
Due to a major fire that destroyed the longtime studios of sister CTV station CJOH-TV on Merivale Road in Nepean on February 7, 2010, CJOH integrated its operations with CHRO into the latter station's studios at 87 George Street in Ottawa's ByWard Market (which was already occupied by CHRO). As a result, CJOH's newscasts began to be produced from the facility, becoming the first time since the studios had any nighttime newscasts since the cancellation of CHRO's A News broadcasts in 2009.[20][21][22]
As CTV Two/CTV 2 Ottawa
[edit]On May 30, 2011, Bell Media announced that the A television system would be rebranded as CTV Two, with CHRO switching its branding from "A Ottawa" to "CTV Two Ottawa". The official relaunch to CTV Two took place on August 29, 2011.[23] In addition, CHRO's morning show, A Morning was renamed CTV Morning Live. In addition, CHRO started broadcasting in high definition as part of the relaunched system on August 31, 2011.
Past programming
[edit]- Ottawa Senators Hockey (20 regular-season games a year of the Canadian capital city's NHL team, which were usually, but not always, broadcast on Thursday evenings) – with Dean Brown as play-by-play announcer and Gord Wilson as commentator. Games were broadcast through the 2007–08 season, after which games were moved back exclusively to Sportsnet East, and later TSN5 (also owned by CHRO parent company Bell Media)
- Bob TV
- Majic 100 Top 20 Countdown
- Speaker's Corner Ottawa
News operation
[edit]CHRO presently broadcasts 22 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, all consisting of four hours each weekday and two hours on Saturdays of a local version of CTV's local morning news program franchise CTV Morning Live.
Over the course of 1998, new graphics and presentation elements were added to the existing newscast that had been produced in Pembroke, and several reporters were forced out. By the summer, the only on-air staff in Pembroke were four anchors; the entire reporting staff was based in Ottawa. On September 7, coinciding with the change to The New RO, CHRO relaunched its news as NewsSixOttawa. The station dismissed Cathy Cox, who had been the lead anchor in Pembroke for seven years.[12] The new Ottawa-based anchor team consisted of Caroline Redekopp and former CKVR anchor Robert Maxwell, with Ken Evraire on sports, former Weather Channel anchor Elissa Lansdell on weather and entertainment, and weekend anchor James Hendricks covering traffic and crime from the assignment desk. Cyndi Edwards hosted the New RO at Noon, which featured a mix of news, lifestyle and entertainment reports. Reporter Sandra Blaikie, who joined CHRO in 2000, took over from Caroline Redekopp after her departure in 2002. James Hendricks—by now the 11 p.m. anchor—replaced Robert Maxwell after his resignation in autumn 2003. Hendricks also continued to anchor the late news until Cory Atkins (late of CFRN-TV Edmonton) signed on to be the new 11 p.m. anchor in April 2004.[24]
In January 2007, CHRO began producing its newscasts with a new system called "Ross Overdrive" – an automated production system that replaced the need for a switcher, VTR operator, graphics operator and many other staffers. Some 25 staffers were affected by the change, which had been announced some six months earlier.
On March 3, 2009, CTVglobemedia cancelled almost all of CHRO's local news programming except for A Morning, laying off 34 Ottawa employees. CTVglobemedia cited the current recession as a reason for cancelling the local news programming. In contrast, the A stations in Victoria, Barrie and London kept their evening newscasts but instead, had their morning shows cancelled; this was likely because CTV's CJOH-TV also owned by CTVglobemedia (now Bell Media) already produces higher-rated evening newscasts serving the Ottawa market.[25]
In order to comply with the station's CRTC-mandated local programming expectation of 23+1⁄2 hours per week,[26] the morning show was extended to four hours a day on weekdays, with a two-hour Saturday edition added as well (CHRO also continues two one-hour weekend music video programs co-branded with local Bell Media Radio stations). Some high-profile CHRO personalities such as Sandra Blaikie, Tony Grace and Bill Welychka were moved to the extended morning show following the March 2009 layoffs.[27] In December 2009, anchor Sandra Blaikie left the station to pursue other interests outside broadcasting, because of the uncertain future of local television in Canada.[28] In September 2010, late evening anchor and national reporter Tony Grace left the station to assume the 6 p.m. anchor position at CKVR in Barrie. In August 2011, Bill Welychka was let go from CHRO. In early September 2011, national reporter Jennifer Madigan left the station as all CTV Two stations began using CTV National News resources for national and international stories.
Technical information
[edit]Subchannel
[edit]Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
43.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | CHRO | Main CHRO-DT programming / CTV 2 |
Analogue-to-digital conversion
[edit]On August 31, 2011, when Canadian television stations in CRTC-designated mandatory markets transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasts,[30] CHRO's Ottawa transmitter, CHRO-TV-43, ceased analog transmissions and began broadcasting in digital on its former analogue allocation of UHF channel 43. CHRO's main transmitter in Pembroke is not yet required to switch to digital, since the CRTC did not designate Pembroke as a mandatory market.
Spectrum reallocation
[edit]As part of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction, channels 38 through 51 were removed from television broadcasting in the United States and Canada. CHRO-DT-43 was reassigned from channel 43 to channel 35, using virtual channel 43. The change was completed on July 3, 2020.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Under the ownership of Baton Broadcasting, the MCTV branding used on CHRO still remained. The previous MCTV logo was dropped in 1994 when all of the other Baton-owned stations adopted a similar logo, the only difference being the call letters. Unlike other Baton-owned stations, the MCTV stations did not use their call signs in their logos. The logo featured multicoloured rings around the acronym BBS.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Filter Items: CHRO http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf11282.html
- ^ Yonson, Doug (January 22, 1986). "CHRO-TV seeks to leave CBC". Ottawa Citizen. p. F16. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "CRTC ruling sparks network war". The Globe and Mail, March 3, 1987.
- ^ "Baton buys CJOH TV in Ottawa from Standard for $85 million". The Globe and Mail, July 15, 1987.
- ^ Atherton, Tony (April 29, 1989). "Drama unfolds as four firms go after new Ottawa TV licence". Ottawa Citizen. p. C11. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ Atherton, Tony (May 27, 1989). "Firm that owns CHRO sold; Deal for Northern Cable may halt bid for Ottawa licence". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ BBS logo on Canadian Trademarks Database
- ^ "Retrontario on Instagram: "We sent our VCR into a parallel dimension 🚨 #capitalcity #capitalpulse #1989 #markdailey #WTF #alternativeuniverse #retrontario #ottawa…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "CHUM submits bid for new Ottawa station". The Ottawa Citizen. December 16, 1988. p. 38. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "CITY-TV bids second time to launch Ottawa station". National Post. December 16, 1988. p. 19. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Decision CRTC 96-542: Disaffiliation of CHRO-TV Pembroke from the CTV Television Network; Addition of a transmitter of CHRO-TV at Ottawa and addition of a transmitter of CJOH-TV Ottawa at Pembroke". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. August 28, 1996.
- ^ a b Atherton, Tony (September 14, 1998). "'Remaking a station from scratch'". The Ottawa Citizen. p. F1. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "CHRO-TV | History of Canadian Broadcasting". www.broadcasting-history.ca. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ "Bell Globemedia makes $1.7B bid for CHUM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. July 12, 2006. Archived from the original on September 8, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
- ^ Ottawa Sun, 13-07-2006[usurped]
- ^ "CRTC expected to OK Rogers' $137.5M buy of CTVglobemedia TV channels". Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada News. April 9, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2007.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2007-165, June 8, 2007 (see paragraphs 22, 30–31)
- ^ "CTV expected to rebrand A Channel". Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. June 13, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 5, 2006.
- ^ on Tuesday August 5th Edition Of Inside A-Channel Sandra Blaikie confirms "A" debut on Monday August 11th Archived June 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "CTV Ottawa newsroom destroyed by fire", CTV Ottawa, February 7, 2010
- ^ CTV Ottawa to stay at A Ottawa indefinitely.
- ^ After the CTV fire, one last reunion at Merivale Road, CTV Ottawa, April 24, 2010
- ^ Bell Media’s /A\ Network to Become “CTV Two” This Fall Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "We couldn't find the page you are looking for!" (PDF).
- ^ CTV press release, March 3, 2009
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-328
- ^ 'A' channel cuts jobs, drops local newscasts, CBC News, March 3, 2009
- ^ Blaikie quits A Channel – Ottawa Citizen[permanent dead link ]
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for CHRO
- ^ Digital Television – Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) Archived August 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
External links
[edit]- CTV Morning Live Ottawa
- CTV Ottawa
- CHRO-TV at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the Canadian Communications Foundation
- CHRO-TV in the REC Canadian station database