CKAL-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = CKAL-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Everywhere!
station_branding = Citytv Calgary
analog = 5 (VHF)
digital = "allocated 52 (UHF)"
other_chs = 2 CKAL-TV-1 Lethbridge
affiliations = Citytv
network =
airdate = September 20, 1997
location = Calgary, Alberta
callsign_meaning = C K(C)ALgary
-or-
CK ALberta
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Rogers Communications, Inc.
licensee = Rogers Broadcasting, Ltd.
sister_stations = CJCO-TV
former_affiliations = A-Channel (1997-2005)
effective_radiated_power = CKAL-TV: 79.4 kW
CKAL-TV-1: 100 kW
HAAT = CKAL-TV: 257.2 m
CKAL-TV-1: 191.9 m
coordinates = CKAL-TV:
coord|51|3|53|N|114|12|51|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
CKAL-TV-1:
coord|49|40|57|N|112|55|38|W|type:landmark|name=CKAL-TV-1
homepage = [http://www.citytv.com/calgary/ Citytv Calgary]

CKAL-TV is a television station based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Citytv system as of August 2, 2005, and was previously branded as A-Channel. The station is owned by Rogers Media as of October 31, 2007.

A transmitter in Lethbridge rebroadcasts the station on channel 2.

History

The station was launched by Craig Media as a VHF station on September 20, 1997, two days after its A-Channel sister station CKEM-TV in Edmonton went on the air for the first time. It billed itself as a station with a very deep connection to Calgary, with the slogan "Very independent, very Calgary!"

In September 1999, CKAL aired a simulcast edition of "Live@Five" and "News@Six" on A-Channel's sister station CKEM-TV Edmonton. This was due to a letter bomb that partially detonated at the Edmonton newsroom, injuring the assignment editor and one of the general assignment reporters. 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. CKEM's master control was moved to CKAL in 2003.

Nine employees working at CKAL were laid off on May 19, 2004 in addition to a 28-employee layoff at Craig Media's Toronto 1 station. Craig Media said the cuts were made to "further rationalize its operations and control costs". [ [http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/CalgarySun/Business/2004/05/19/464469.html] ]

Citytv

In 2004, Craig Media announced a deal to sell its conventional television assets, including the A-Channel stations, to CHUM. 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 will be relaunched as Citytv. The changes took effect August 2.

On July 12, 2006, it was announced that CTVglobemedia would acquire CHUM Limited and its assets, including the Citytv family. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html] . Also, as the result of this merger, CKAL added CHMI-TV to its master control duties and as a result of the takeover the station's local newscasts (with the exception of CityNews at Noon) were immediately discontinued. The local newscasts were replaced by a half-hour news magazine program called "Your City" at 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., along with "CityNews International" (produced in the CityNews studios in Toronto, Ontario). [ [http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html] ] [ [http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2006/12/c9578.html] ]

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 CKAL) to another buyer but can keep the A-Channel stations. On June 12, Rogers Media announced that it would acquire five Citytv stations (including CKAL) from CTVglobemedia. As a result, effective August 29, the station will be taking over master control duties for Citytv Vancouver. The Rogers transaction was approved by the CRTC on September 28. and was officially completed October 31.

Current CKAL-TV hosts

*Jill Belland, host "The City Show", news reporter
*AJ Demers, news reporter, host "The Spin"
*Jebb Fink, remote weather host, "Your City"
*Dave Kelly, co-host, "Breakfast Television"
*Sandra Jansen, anchor, "CityNews", anchor, "Your City"
*Mike McCourt, news reporter
*Aisling Slattery, co-host, news anchor, "Breakfast Television", news reporter
*Andrew Schultz, LiveEye, weather, "Breakfast Television", meteorologist, "CityNews"
*Mike Yawney, news reporter

References

External links

* [http://www.citytv.com/calgary/ Citytv Calgary]
* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listings_and_histories/television/histories.php?id=38&historyID=21 Canadian Communications Foundation - CKAL-TV History]
*RecnetCanada|CKAL-TV