CJFB-TV
Encyclopedia
CJFB-TV was a television station in Swift Current, Saskatchewan
. In operation from 1957 to 2002 as a private affiliate of CBC Television
, it is now a repeater of the network's station in Regina
, CBKT
.
It broadcast on channel 5, cable 9 in Swift Current, channel 10 in Riverhurst
, channel 2 in Cypress Hills, channel 3 in Ponteix
, channel 2 in Eastend
, channel 7 in Shaunavon
, and channel 2 in Val Marie
.
.
Many baby boomers fondly remember Uncle Gord's Cartoon Party which was broadcast in the 1960s and early 1970s. Hosted by long time CJFB on-air personality Gordon Foth, the program was broadcast at noon on weekdays and featured cartoons such as "Popeye
" which were elderly even then. However, in the one-channel environment of Southwestern Saskatchewan, the program was enjoyed by many school-aged children at home for lunch.
In 1958 a weekly live television program reporting developments in agriculture, called Farming Today, was sponsored jointly by the Swift Current Research Station, the Swift Current Agricultural and Exhibition Association, and CJFB. The program was hosted by research station personnel and/or the local provincial agricultural representative. Research Station Staff involved in the program included: Baden Campbell, Peder Myhr and Mark Kilcher. Farming Today lasted for 25 years.
In 1976, after fighting an application by Regina
's CKCK
to extend CTV
service to Swift Current, CJFB agreed to a protective arrangement which allowed it to delete local advertising from the CKCK signal.
Towards the end of its life, the station also carried programming from Global
, similar to CKRD
, and had produced one season of an agriculture series called Agribiz before the series relocated to Regina
.
The Forsts didn't have the resources to convert the station to digital, and opted to sell CFJB to the CBC in 2002. On May 31, CJFB signed off for the final time with a look back at the station's history. The next day, the station became CBKT-4, a semi-satellite of Regina's CBKT, providing a full CBC schedule to the area. CJFB-TV-1 (Channel 2) in Eastend and CJFB-TV-2 (also Channel 2) in Val Marie were deleted, as they were in range of two existing CBKT rebroadcasters, CBCP-TV-1 (channel 7) in Shaunavon and CBCP-TV-3 (channel 3) in Ponteix, respectively. CITV
provides Global programming via local cable systems. CJFB-TV's demise marked it the first television station in Canada
to cease operations since 1991
, and also the first television station of the 2000s in Canada to cease operations. CBC affiliates CKOS-TV
in Yorkton
and CKBI-TV
in Prince Albert
would also be sold to the CBC in 2002
, also becoming CBKT semi-satellites
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. In operation from 1957 to 2002 as a private affiliate of CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, it is now a repeater of the network's station in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, CBKT
CBKT
CBKT-DT is the CBC's television station in Regina, Saskatchewan. It is located in the CBC Regina Broadcast Centre at 2440 Broad Street in downtown Regina, alongside CBK-AM-FM....
.
It broadcast on channel 5, cable 9 in Swift Current, channel 10 in Riverhurst
Riverhurst, Saskatchewan
Riverhurst is a village in the south-west Coteau Hills area of Saskatchewan, Canada and is north of Vermillion Hills. It is primarily a farming community....
, channel 2 in Cypress Hills, channel 3 in Ponteix
Ponteix, Saskatchewan
-External links:...
, channel 2 in Eastend
Eastend, Saskatchewan
-Infrastructure:The Saskatchewan Transportation Company provides intercity passenger and parcel express service to Eastend.-Attractions:Local Attractions:...
, channel 7 in Shaunavon
Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
The town of Shaunavon is situated in Southwest Saskatchewan at the junction of Highways 37 and 13. It is 110 kilometres from Swift Current, 163 kilometres from the Alberta border and 74 kilometres from the Montana border. Shaunavon was established in 1913 and settled along a railroad line...
, and channel 2 in Val Marie
Val Marie, Saskatchewan
-History:The first European investigation of the area was conducted by the Palliser Expedition , supported by the Royal Geographical Society and the British Government, and led by John Palliser, a wealthy Irish landowner. He was accompanied by geologist James Hector, and various cartographers and...
.
History
The station began broadcasting on December 23, 1957, beginning its schedule at 6pm, as a Christmas present to the community of Swift Current. From start to finish, Bill and Julie Forst and their family (via Swift Current Telecasting Co. Ltd.) owned and operated the station, and was a private affiliate of CBC TelevisionCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
.
Many baby boomers fondly remember Uncle Gord's Cartoon Party which was broadcast in the 1960s and early 1970s. Hosted by long time CJFB on-air personality Gordon Foth, the program was broadcast at noon on weekdays and featured cartoons such as "Popeye
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor is a cartoon fictional character created by Elzie Crisler Segar, who has appeared in comic strips and animated cartoons in the cinema as well as on television. He first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929...
" which were elderly even then. However, in the one-channel environment of Southwestern Saskatchewan, the program was enjoyed by many school-aged children at home for lunch.
In 1958 a weekly live television program reporting developments in agriculture, called Farming Today, was sponsored jointly by the Swift Current Research Station, the Swift Current Agricultural and Exhibition Association, and CJFB. The program was hosted by research station personnel and/or the local provincial agricultural representative. Research Station Staff involved in the program included: Baden Campbell, Peder Myhr and Mark Kilcher. Farming Today lasted for 25 years.
In 1976, after fighting an application by Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
's CKCK
CKCK-TV
CKCK-DT, VHF channel 8 , is a CTV owned and operated television station based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Originally signing on in 1954, CKCK was the first privately owned television station in Western Canada.-History:...
to extend 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...
service to Swift Current, CJFB agreed to a protective arrangement which allowed it to delete local advertising from the CKCK signal.
Towards the end of its life, the station also carried programming from Global
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
, similar to CKRD
CHCA-TV
CHCA-TV was a television station in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. It was owned by Canwest, and was part of the E! television system. The station was seen on VHF channel 6 and cable channel 11 in Red Deer...
, and had produced one season of an agriculture series called Agribiz before the series relocated to Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
.
The Forsts didn't have the resources to convert the station to digital, and opted to sell CFJB to the CBC in 2002. On May 31, CJFB signed off for the final time with a look back at the station's history. The next day, the station became CBKT-4, a semi-satellite of Regina's CBKT, providing a full CBC schedule to the area. CJFB-TV-1 (Channel 2) in Eastend and CJFB-TV-2 (also Channel 2) in Val Marie were deleted, as they were in range of two existing CBKT rebroadcasters, CBCP-TV-1 (channel 7) in Shaunavon and CBCP-TV-3 (channel 3) in Ponteix, respectively. CITV
CITV-TV
CITV-DT is a television station in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Known on air as Global Edmonton, the station is owned by Shaw Media, and is an owned-and-operated station of the Global Television Network. It transmits on channel 13 and cable 8 in Edmonton, and is carried on the Bell TV and Shaw...
provides Global programming via local cable systems. CJFB-TV's demise marked it the first television station in Canada
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...
to cease operations since 1991
1991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
, and also the first television station of the 2000s in Canada to cease operations. CBC affiliates CKOS-TV
CKOS-TV
CKOS-TV was a television station in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. In operation from 1958 to 2002 as a private affiliate of CBC Television, it now exists only as a repeater of the network's station in Regina, with the call sign CBKT-6....
in Yorkton
Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Yorkton is a city located in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, near the Manitoba border. Founded and incorporated in 1882 by a group of settlers from Ontario, it has grown to 15,038 residents as of the 2006 census. The city is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Orkney No. 244 and the Rural...
and CKBI-TV
CKBI-TV
CKBI-TV was a television station in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. In operation from 1958 to 2002 as a private affiliate of CBC Television, it is now a repeater of the network's station in Saskatoon, CBKST.-History:...
in Prince Albert
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
would also be sold to the CBC in 2002
2002 in television
The year 2002 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2002.For the American TV schedule, see: 2002–03 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
, also becoming CBKT semi-satellites
Sources
- Swift Current Research Station 1920-1985 : Serving Semiarid Agriculture by Mark R. Kilcher. (1986) Historical Series No. 25. Minister of Supply and Services Canada.