CKEM-TV
Encyclopedia
CKEM-DT is a television station
based in Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
. Owned and operated by Rogers Media
, it is part of the Citytv
system and was formerly the flagship station of Craig Media's A-Channel system between 1997-2005. A transmitter in Red Deer
rebroadcasts the station on channel 4.
The station was established by Craig Media Inc.
, and went on the air for the first time on September 18, 1997 as A-Channel. It promoted itself as a very locally-oriented station, with the slogan "Very independent, very Edmonton!"
In 1999, a letter bomb exploded in the A-Channel Newsroom, injuring the assignment editor and one of the general assignment reporters. A-Channel Edmonton simulcasted the Calgary editions of Live@Five and News@Six while police investigated the bombing. Local Edmonton newscasts resumed later on in the evening. Raymond Neal Best was charged with attempted murder and possession of explosive substances, in connection with the A-Channel letter bomb, and the attempted letter bombings aimed at both Calgary and Edmonton police chiefs.
On September 17, 2003, several employees who were members of the Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Local 1900 went on strike over worry of jobs being lost, wages, and jobs being moved to Calgary (including Master Control operations). The strike lasted 166 days. CKEM's master control moved in late 2003 to CKAL in Calgary
.
In 2004, Craig Media announced a deal to sell the A-Channel stations to CHUM Limited
. The sale was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on November 19, 2004, and became official on December 1. On February 3, 2005, CHUM announced that the A-Channel stations would be relaunched as Citytv
by that fall; the changes took effect on August 2.
) announced plans to take over CHUM Limited, previous parent company of Citytv Edmonton. On June 8, 2007, the CRTC announced its approval of CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited, but added a condition that CTVglobemedia must sell off CHUM's Citytv stations (including CKEM) to another buyer while keeping the A-Channel stations since they already have CFRN-TV
in the same market. The following Monday, it was announced that Rogers Communications
would buy the stations of the Citytv system. The sale was approved by the CRTC on September 28, 2007. The sale was finalized on October 31, 2007.
at Noon) were immediately cancelled after years of ratings struggle in the Edmonton market. The local newscasts were replaced by a half-hour news magazine program called Your City at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., along with a national and international newscast called CityNews International (produced in the Citytv
's CityNews
studios in Toronto
, Ontario
).
On January 19, 2010, CityNews at Noon, Your City along with a national and international newscast called CityNews International were cancelled as part of the Citytv
layoffs.
Reporters
After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion
, which takes place on August 31, 2011, CKEM-TV is required to begin digital broadcasts on its current assigned channel number, 51, however should the station sign-on before the analog shut off date, the station will broadcast on channel 17. However, through the use of PSIP
, digital television receivers will display CKEM-TV's virtual channel
as 51.1.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
based 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...
, 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...
, 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...
. Owned and operated by Rogers Media
Rogers Media
Rogers Media Inc is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., which owns Canada's largest publishing company, Rogers Publishing Limited, which has more than 70 consumer and business publications. Rogers Media Inc...
, it is part of the Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
system and was formerly the flagship station of Craig Media's A-Channel system between 1997-2005. A transmitter in Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
rebroadcasts the station on channel 4.
History
Craig Media Inc.
Craig Wireless Systems, Ltd. is a Canadian company which offers MMDS. In Manitoba and British Columbia,-History:The company has its roots in Craig Media, which was founded in 1948 by John Craig in Brandon, Manitoba, and began its foray in television broadcasting in 1955 with the launch of...
, and went on the air for the first time on September 18, 1997 as A-Channel. It promoted itself as a very locally-oriented station, with the slogan "Very independent, very Edmonton!"
In 1999, a letter bomb exploded in the A-Channel Newsroom, injuring the assignment editor and one of the general assignment reporters. A-Channel Edmonton simulcasted the Calgary editions of Live@Five and News@Six while police investigated the bombing. Local Edmonton newscasts resumed later on in the evening. Raymond Neal Best was charged with attempted murder and possession of explosive substances, in connection with the A-Channel letter bomb, and the attempted letter bombings aimed at both Calgary and Edmonton police chiefs.
On September 17, 2003, several employees who were members of the Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Local 1900 went on strike over worry of jobs being lost, wages, and jobs being moved to Calgary (including Master Control operations). The strike lasted 166 days. CKEM's master control moved in late 2003 to CKAL 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...
.
In 2004, Craig Media announced a deal to sell the A-Channel stations to 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...
. The sale was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on November 19, 2004, and became official on December 1. On February 3, 2005, CHUM announced that the A-Channel stations would be relaunched as Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
by that fall; the changes took effect on August 2.
CTVglobemedia takes over CHUM Limited
On July 12, 2006, Bell Globemedia (now known as CTVglobemediaCTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
) announced plans to take over CHUM Limited, previous parent company of Citytv Edmonton. On June 8, 2007, the CRTC announced its approval of CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited, but added a condition that CTVglobemedia must sell off CHUM's Citytv stations (including CKEM) to another buyer while keeping the A-Channel stations since they already have 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....
in the same market. The following Monday, it was announced that 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...
would buy the stations of the Citytv system. The sale was approved by the CRTC on September 28, 2007. The sale was finalized on October 31, 2007.
News operation
On July 12, 2006, the station's local newscasts (with the exception of CityNewsCityNews
CityNews is the title of local television newscasts currently seen on CITY-TV Toronto, Canada. It premiered on September 12, 1977 under the name CityPulse, then spread to Citytv stations in other cities across Canada. Due to severe financial issues, as of January 19, 2010, the only station that...
at Noon) were immediately cancelled after years of ratings struggle in the Edmonton market. The local newscasts were replaced by a half-hour news magazine program called Your City at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., along with a national and international newscast called CityNews International (produced in the Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
's CityNews
CityNews
CityNews is the title of local television newscasts currently seen on CITY-TV Toronto, Canada. It premiered on September 12, 1977 under the name CityPulse, then spread to Citytv stations in other cities across Canada. Due to severe financial issues, as of January 19, 2010, the only station that...
studios in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
).
On January 19, 2010, CityNews at Noon, Your City along with a national and international newscast called CityNews International were cancelled as part of the Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
layoffs.
Newscast titles
- A-Channel News Now (1997–2000)
- A-Channel News (2000–2005)
- CityNewsCityNewsCityNews is the title of local television newscasts currently seen on CITY-TV Toronto, Canada. It premiered on September 12, 1977 under the name CityPulse, then spread to Citytv stations in other cities across Canada. Due to severe financial issues, as of January 19, 2010, the only station that...
(2005–2006) - Breakfast TelevisionBreakfast TelevisionBreakfast Television is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program which airs on the Citytv stations . Each station produces its own local edition of Breakfast Television....
(morning newscast; 2005–present)
Breakfast Television
Hosts- Ryan Jespersen - co-host
- Bridget Ryan - co-host
- Stacey Brotzel - news anchor
- Michele McDougall - co-host/weather specialist
- Carla Turner - co-host/traffic reporter
Reporters
- Amanda Anderson - videojournalist
- Scott Malo - Red Deer Bureau videojournalist
- Kathy Mueller - videojournalist
- Sarah Offin - Red Deer Bureau videojournalist
- Nisha Patel - general assignment reporter
- Courtney Theriault - general assignment reporter
- Alice Wu - videojournalist
Digital television and high definition
As of May 26, 2010, CKEM-DT began testing and only broadcasted a test loop. On June 29, the station began broadcasting regular programming. The HD channel is broadcasting on 17.1.After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion
Digital 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...
, which takes place on August 31, 2011, CKEM-TV is required to begin digital broadcasts on its current assigned channel number, 51, however should the station sign-on before the analog shut off date, the station will broadcast on channel 17. However, through the use of PSIP
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
, digital television receivers will display CKEM-TV's virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
as 51.1.