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Access (TV channel)
Encyclopedia
CTV Two Alberta is a Canadian
English language
entertainment, information, and educational television channel
in the province
of Alberta
. It is owned by Bell Media as part of its secondary CTV Two television system
.
The channel is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as an educational programming service for the province of Alberta, and was formerly a public broadcaster owned by the Alberta government. Since becoming a private broadcaster, it has aired a mix of educational programming along with entertainment programming more favourable to advertisers and viewers.
The channel is also designated as a "satellite-to-cable undertaking" serving the whole of Alberta, and is therefore carried throughout the province on cable and licensed IPTV services on each service's basic tier. It is also available on both national satellite services, Bell TV and Shaw Direct. In addition, the station formerly operated two terrestrial transmitters, CJAL-TV (channel 9) in Edmonton
, where the channel's main studios are located, and CIAN-TV (channel 13) in Calgary
.
The channel was launched on June 30, 1973 as Access by the Alberta government through the Alberta Educational Communications Corporation (AECC) alongside CKUA Radio. Prior to this point, English-language educational programs aired on Radio-Canada
's television station CBXFT
in Edmonton. At its launch, Access was only available through cable, and did not broadcast over-the-air.
On January 9, 1984, AECC was granted a licence from the CRTC for a television station in Calgary (CIAN) and on December 1, 1986, AECC was granted another licence for a television station in Edmonton (CJAL) to rebroadcast the programs from CIAN. Both stations rebroadcast the Access feed.
After re-evaluating all provincial funding recipients, the Government of Alberta announced in 1993 that it would cease to directly fund Access past 1994. As a result, in 1995, Access was privatized and sold to Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Limited (LSTA), which is 60% owned by CHUM Limited
. In February 2005, CHUM Limited acquired the remaining 40% interest in LSTA (and renamed it Access Media Group
), giving the company 100% of its shares, including its ownership in Access.
On July 12, 2006, CTVglobemedia (CTVgm) announced that it would make a friendly takeover bid to buy CHUM Limited. Due to CTVgm's plans to keep CTV
and Citytv
, Rogers Communications
was expected to purchase Access (along with CHUM's A-Channel stations, CKX-TV
in Brandon, Canadian Learning Television
and SexTV: The Channel
) as announced on April 9, 2007, pending CRTC approval (and approval of CTVgm's purchase).
With the CRTC electing to force CTV to sell the Citytv stations instead, the Rogers deal was rendered void. As such, CTVgm retained Access along with the A-Channel stations, CKX-TV and all of CHUM's specialty channels, and sold the Citytv stations to Rogers. The takeover transaction was finalized on June 22, 2007. The A-Channel stations were rebranded as "A" on August 11, 2008; on the same date, Access debuted a new A-styled logo and began airing programming from "A" during certain primetime hours.
On June 8, 2011, it was revealed that Access would be re-launched as CTV Two Alberta on August 29, 2011, as part of a rebranding of the "A" system.
, broadcast television stations in Calgary and Edmonton were required to convert to digital broadcasting or sign off completely by August 31st, 2011.
As the channel is licensed as a satellite-to-cable undertaking, it is not required to offer over-the-air transmitters. Due to this, the costs of converting the two Access transmitters in Calgary and Edmonton to digital, and because the network already must be carried by cable and IPTV providers in the area as the province's designated educational broadcaster, it was decided that Access would cease the operations of CIAN and CJAL on August 31, 2011.
Specifically regarding its edcational programming, the channel produces, promotes, and delivers television-based multimedia learning opportunities to learners of all ages, in partnership with Alberta Learning, educational institutions, and educators. Many of the programs, including all of the dramas, are connected to and promote formal courses of study offered by the province's universities and colleges or the formal learning objectives of Alberta Learning.
The above programming includes primetime series from CTV Two, as well as syndicated shows, much of which must be related to some sort of educational aim. For example, in fall 2008, Access broadcast Mad Men
and Pushing Daisies
, tied to an English course at Mount Royal University titled "Reading the Popular", as well as Fringe
as part of Lethbridge Community College
's "Basic Television Production" course.
Starting March 9, 2009, Access began airing a province-wide news and current affairs magazine program called Alberta Primetime, from the CTV/Access studios in Edmonton. Resources from CTV's owned-and-operated stations in Edmonton (CFRN-TV
) and Calgary (CFCN-TV
) will be used to produce the program.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
entertainment, information, and educational television channel
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
in the province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. It is owned by Bell Media as part of its secondary CTV Two television system
Television system
A television system is a Canadian term for a group of television stations which share common ownership, branding, and programming, but are not considered a full television network....
.
The channel is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as an educational programming service for the province of Alberta, and was formerly a public broadcaster owned by the Alberta government. Since becoming a private broadcaster, it has aired a mix of educational programming along with entertainment programming more favourable to advertisers and viewers.
The channel is also designated as a "satellite-to-cable undertaking" serving the whole of Alberta, and is therefore carried throughout the province on cable and licensed IPTV services on each service's basic tier. It is also available on both national satellite services, Bell TV and Shaw Direct. In addition, the station formerly operated two terrestrial transmitters, CJAL-TV (channel 9) in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, where the channel's main studios are located, and CIAN-TV (channel 13) in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
.
History
Télévision de Radio-Canada
Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language television network. It is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, known in French as Société Radio-Canada. Headquarters are at Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, which is also home to the network's flagship station, CBFT-DT...
's television station CBXFT
CBXFT
CBXFT-DT is Radio-Canada's television station serving Franco-Albertans in Edmonton and some parts of Alberta.The station also has rebroadcast transmitters in Bonnyville, Falher, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Hinton, Red Deer, Jean Côté, Lac la Biche, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Peace River.The...
in Edmonton. At its launch, Access was only available through cable, and did not broadcast over-the-air.
On January 9, 1984, AECC was granted a licence from the CRTC for a television station in Calgary (CIAN) and on December 1, 1986, AECC was granted another licence for a television station in Edmonton (CJAL) to rebroadcast the programs from CIAN. Both stations rebroadcast the Access feed.
After re-evaluating all provincial funding recipients, the Government of Alberta announced in 1993 that it would cease to directly fund Access past 1994. As a result, in 1995, Access was privatized and sold to Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Limited (LSTA), which is 60% owned by CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
. In February 2005, CHUM Limited acquired the remaining 40% interest in LSTA (and renamed it Access Media Group
Access media group
Access Media Group was a privately held Canadian broadcasting and multimedia group based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada specializing in learning-based media, originally majority-owned by CHUM Limited...
), giving the company 100% of its shares, including its ownership in Access.
On July 12, 2006, CTVglobemedia (CTVgm) announced that it would make a friendly takeover bid to buy CHUM Limited. Due to CTVgm's plans to keep CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
and Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
, Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
was expected to purchase Access (along with CHUM's A-Channel stations, CKX-TV
CKX-TV
CKX-TV was a television station in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, formerly affiliated with CBC Television. Owned and operated by CTVglobemedia, it was the first privately owned television station in Manitoba...
in Brandon, Canadian Learning Television
Canadian Learning Television
Oprah Winfrey Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. OWN is a specialty television service targeted to women, offering a blend of lifestyle, information, and entertainment programming....
and SexTV: The Channel
SexTV: The Channel
W Movies is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel which focuses on films and film-related series aimed at women. It is a spinoff channel of W Network and is owned by Corus Entertainment.-As SexTV: The Channel:...
) as announced on April 9, 2007, pending CRTC approval (and approval of CTVgm's purchase).
On June 8, 2011, it was revealed that Access would be re-launched as CTV Two Alberta on August 29, 2011, as part of a rebranding of the "A" system.
Digital television
As part of Canada's transition to digital terrestrial televisionDigital television in Canada
Digital television in Canada is transmitted using the ATSC standards developed for and in use in the United States. Because Canada and the U.S...
, broadcast television stations in Calgary and Edmonton were required to convert to digital broadcasting or sign off completely by August 31st, 2011.
As the channel is licensed as a satellite-to-cable undertaking, it is not required to offer over-the-air transmitters. Due to this, the costs of converting the two Access transmitters in Calgary and Edmonton to digital, and because the network already must be carried by cable and IPTV providers in the area as the province's designated educational broadcaster, it was decided that Access would cease the operations of CIAN and CJAL on August 31, 2011.
Programming
CTV Two Alberta airs a variety of educational and informative programs along with entertainment programs all of which include children's programs, documentaries, feature films, talk shows, dramas, comedies and more. Since August 2008, CTV Two Alberta (known then as Access) has aired programming from Bell's secondary television system A (and additionally modified its branding to more closely resemble A's), while maintaining its educational mandate.Specifically regarding its edcational programming, the channel produces, promotes, and delivers television-based multimedia learning opportunities to learners of all ages, in partnership with Alberta Learning, educational institutions, and educators. Many of the programs, including all of the dramas, are connected to and promote formal courses of study offered by the province's universities and colleges or the formal learning objectives of Alberta Learning.
The above programming includes primetime series from CTV Two, as well as syndicated shows, much of which must be related to some sort of educational aim. For example, in fall 2008, Access broadcast Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
and Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is an American comedy-drama television series created by Bryan Fuller that aired on ABC from October 3, 2007 to June 13, 2009. The series stars Lee Pace as Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with his touch, an ability that comes with stipulations...
, tied to an English course at Mount Royal University titled "Reading the Popular", as well as Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
as part of Lethbridge Community College
Lethbridge Community College
Lethbridge College, formerly Lethbridge Community College, was opened in 1957 as the first public community college in Canada. Over 4,000 students attend the Lethbridge, Alberta, institution.-History:...
's "Basic Television Production" course.
Starting March 9, 2009, Access began airing a province-wide news and current affairs magazine program called Alberta Primetime, from the CTV/Access studios in Edmonton. Resources from CTV's owned-and-operated stations in Edmonton (CFRN-TV
CFRN-TV
CFRN-DT is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Edmonton, Alberta. It is an owned and operated station of the CTV Television Network....
) and Calgary (CFCN-TV
CFCN-TV
CFCN-DT is a Canadian television station, broadcasting in Calgary, Alberta. Owned and operated by Bell Media, it is a part of the CTV Television Network. The station also operates a semi-satellite in Lethbridge....
) will be used to produce the program.