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: 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- 11.2/154
AB Lloydminster CKSA-TV 2Z 116/221
BC Kelowna CHBC-TV 2Z 3.7/498
BC Pr. George CKPG-TV 2Z 8.3/330
BC Vancouver CBUT 2+ 100/593
MB Mafeking CBWYT 2Z 15/113
NF Bonne Bay CBYT-3 2Z 5.15/33
NS Cheticamp CBIT-2 2- 7.35/186
ON Kapuskasing CBLT-9 2+ 4.6/121
ON Kearns CBLT-8 2Z 70/212
ON Thunder Bay CKPR-TV 2Z 56/366
SK Cypress Hill CBCP-TV-2 2+ 6.75/275
SK Spiritwood CBKST-13 2+ 21.1/164
BC Chilliwack CBUT-2 3Z 1.51/214
BC Terrace CFTK-TV 3Z 13.8/454
NF Baie Verte CBNAT-1 3Z 12.2/277
NS Halifax CBHT 3 100/270
ON Pembroke CBOT-6 3Z 43.3/152
QC Sept-Iles CBSET 3Z 3.7/239
SK Ponteix CBCP-TV-3 3Z 19/239
SK Warmley CBKT-7 3- 100/390
AB Pivot CHAT-TV-1 4+ 4.9/191
BC Kamloops CFJC-TV 4+ 3.7/152
MB L. Du Bonnet CBWT-2 4Z 16.8/116
NB Campbellton CBAT-TV-4 4- 25.12/413
NB Saint John CBAT-TV 4+ 100/384
NF Hawke's Bay CBYT-9 4+ 4.8/66
NF Hermitage CBNT-24 4+ 50/243
ON North Bay CBLT-4 4- 100/223
ON Ottawa CBOT 4+ 100/397
PE St. Edward CBCT-1 4Z 1.03/90
SK Greenwater L CBKST-11 4+ 17/223
SK Moose Jaw CBKT-1 4- 100/242
AB Edmonton CBXT 5+ 318/203
BC Dawson Creek CJDC-TV 5Z 9.5/313
MB Brandon CKX-TV 5+ 100/406
MB Jackhead CBWGT-1 5Z 6.4/183
NF Corner Brook CBYT 5Z 15.7/149
NF Marystown CBNT-3 5+ 96.2/238
NS Sydney CBIT 5- 100/142
ON Fort Frances CBWCT 5Z 95.8/201
ON Hearst CBCC-TV 5+ 8.11/147
ON S. S. Marie CBLT-5 5Z 76/183
ON Toronto CBLT 5Z 100/463
QC Malartic CBVD-TV 5- 19.2/187
QC Quebec CBVE-TV 5- 13.85/140
SK Pelican Nars CBWBT-3 5- 1.9/164
SK Pr. Albert CBKST-9 5Z 100/237
SK Swift Curr. CBKT-4 5- 13.3/155
SK Yorkton CBKT-6 5- 54.6/162
AB Bonnyville CBXFT-1 6Z 100/179
AB Falher CBXFT-2 6- 5.35/82
AB Medicine Hat CHAT-TV 6Z 58/202
BC Mcbride CBUHT-3 6Z 3/-159
BC Pr Rupert CFTK-TV-1 6+ 2.44/594
MB Winnipeg CBWT 6- 100/307
NB Bon Accord CBAT-TV-1 6- 100/346
NB Chatham CBAT-TV-3 6Z 12.76/106
NF St. Andrew's CBYT-5 6+ 1/35
NF St. Anthony CBNAT-4 6Z 12.74/180
ON Timmins CBLT-7 6+ 100/175
QC Montreal CBMT 6+ 100/259
SK Wynyard CBKT-8 6Z 11/187
ON Kenora CBWFT-7 2+ 6.8/119
QC Carleton CBGAT-14 2- 100/467
QC Montreal CBFT 2Z 100/276
QC Rimouski CJBR-TV 2Z 100/300
QC Riv.-au-Ren. CBGAT-22 2+ 4.2/219
MB St Rose Du CBWFT-4 3+ 3.92/37
MB Winnipeg CBWFT 3- 59/307
NB Allardville CBAFT-3 3Z 94/165
NS Yarmouth CBHFT-1 3- 38.25/170
QC Bearn/Fabre CKRN-TV-3 3- 3.64/165
QC La Tuque CBFT-14 3- 28/124
QC Mont-Laurier CBFT-2 3+ 28.2/155
SK Pr. Albert CBKFT-2 3+ 10.8/206
QC Rouyn-Nor. CKRN-TV 4Z 98.4/257
NB Fredericton CBAFT-1 5- 60/195
ON Dryden CBWFT-9 6Z 19.6/146
QC Beauceville CBVT-6 6Z 10/154
QC Gde.-Vallee CBGAT-3 6- 2.27/243
QC Matane CBGAT 6+ 7.31/215
AB Lac La Biche CFRN-TV-5 2+ 8.66/104
NB Moncton CKCW-TV 2Z 100/30
NS Sheet Harbr CJCH-TV-5 2+ 1.5/70
ON S. S. Marie CHBX-TV 2- 100/182
ON Wiarton CKCO-TV-2 2- 100/286
SK Melfort CKBQ-TV 2- 15.5/150
SK Regina CKCK-TV 2Z 100/179
AB Edmonton CFRN-TV 3Z 609/217
AB Peace River CFRN-TV-2 3- 4.30/170
NB Florencevlle CKLT-TV-1 3+ 35/194
NS Pt Hawkesbur CJCB-TV-6 3+ 15/89
ON Elliot Lake CICI-TV-1 3Z 19/122
ON Timmins CITO-TV 3+ 100/147
SK Stranraer CFQC-TV-1 3- 100/268
AB Calgary CFCN-TV 4Z 100/188
AB Lloydminster CITL-TV 4- 130/220
MB Brandon CKYB-TV 4+ 100/407
NS Sydney CJCB-TV 4Z 180/98
ON Hearst CITO-TV-3 4- 7.11/165
ON Thunder Bay CHFD-TV 4- 56/366
NS Halifax CJCH-TV 5Z 100/256
ON Sudbury CICI-TV 5Z 100/324
PE St Edward CKCW-TV-2 5+ 1.1/103
NS Inverness CJCB-TV-1 6Z 9.4/310
NS Caledonia CJCH-TV-6 6+ 100/192
ON Deseronto CJOH-TV-6 6- 100/204
SK N Battleford CFQC-TV-2 6+ 30.3/178
SK Willow Bunch CKCK-TV-2 6- 52.7/263
QC Ste-Mar-Mar CHAU-TV-1 3- 11.2/207
NB Edmundston CIMT-TV-1 4- 3.16/99
QC Quebec CCFCM-TV 4Z 100/140
QC Riv-Au-Rend CHAU-TV-7 4+ 5.46/227
QC Carleton CHAU-TV 5Z 81.7/493
QC Sept Iles CFER-TV-2 5+ 100/284
QC Chicoutimi CJPM-TV 6Z 100/134
AB Calgary CICT-TV 2+ 100/301
MB Minnedosa CKND-TV-2 2- 100/396
ON Bancroft CIII-TV-2 2+ 100/390
ON North Bay CFGC-TV-2 2+ 3.4/90
BC 100 Mi House CITM-TV 3Z 1.3/584
ON Owen Sound CIII-TV-4 4+ 37/130
SK Saskatoon CFSK-TV 4Z 100/138
BC Kelowna CHKL-TV 5- 7/510
BC Kamloops CHKM-TV 6+ 4/153
ON Ottawa CIII-TV-6 6Z 50/257
ON Paris CIII-TV 6+ 100/316
These stations in Newfoundland carry Global programs but CTV news:
NF Grand Bank CJOX-TV-1 2+ 9.26/117
NF Argentia CJOM-TV 3Z 14/164
NF Grand Falls CJCN-TV 4Z 100/182
NF Stephenville CJSV-TV 4- 8.34/138
NF St John's CJON-TV 6+ 212.8/250
ON Barrie CKVR-TV 3+ 100/342
ON Pembroke CHRO-TV 5+ 100/163
AB Lethbridge CKAL-TV-1 2Z 100/191
AB Red Deer CKEM-TV-1 4+ 7/229
AB Calgary CKAL-TV 5Z 79.4/257
BC Courtenay CKVU-TV-1 5Z 17.7/83
QC Quebec CFAP-TV 2+ 98/168
QC Forestville CFTF-TV-4 4Z 7.5/120
QC Jonquiere CFRS-TV 4+ 100/566
ON North Bay CICA-TV-6 6z 95,000/203
was formerly an Ontario-only network. As such, all its transmitters
were UHF or high-band VHF. Note the similarity to the Global logo;
the networks are co-owned. They have recently acquired two channel
6 stations in western Canada:
AB Red Deer CKRD-TV 6- 100/249
BC Victoria CHEK-TV 6Z 100/496
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.
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.
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© D. Smith W9WI 2009
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