CBIT-TV

CBIT-TV , CBC-TV, Sydney

Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

StationYearChannelNetwork AffiliateOwner/Info
CBIT-TV19715CBCCanadian Broadcasting Corp.

1971

On April 29, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was issued a licence for a new Television station at Sydney, operating on channel 5 with an effective radiated power of 54,000 watts video and 10,800 watts audio. It would operate with a directional antenna from a 468 foot tower. Studios would be co-located with CBI-AM at 285 Alexandra Street.

The new station was also authorized to operate two rebroadcast transmitters: Chiticamp (channel 2 with effective radiated power of 2,470 watts video and 490 watts audio, directional with antenna height of  611 feet) and Mulgrave (ch 12 with ERP of 129 watts video and 26 watts audio, directional, with antenna height of 611 feet).

On the same date CJCB-TV was given approval to disaffiliate from the CBC Television network. It had offered network service to the area since it signed on the air in 1954.

A rebroadcast transmitter was approved for Pleasant Bay, operating on channel 8 with one watt of power (directional). It would receive programming from the authorized transmitter at Cheticamp.

1972

CBIT began broadcasting on September 26. CBIT-2 Cheticamp and CBIT-3 Pleasant Bay began operations on the same date and CBIT-1 Mulgrave followed on September 30.

1974

CBIT received permission for new rebroadcast transmitters: Mabou (channel 3 – 5 watts – directional – to rebroadcast CBIT-1 Mulgrave) and Margaree (channel  8 –5 watts – directional – to rebroadcast CBIT-2 Cheticamp).

On December 21, CBIT-4 Mabou began broadcasting.

1975

CBIT-5 Margaree commenced operations on January 22.

A rebroadcast transmitter was approved for North East Margaree (channel 13 – 5 watts – directional). It would rebroadcast CBIT-2 Cheticamp.

1976

CBIT-6 at Northeast Margaree began operations on December 17.

1977

CBIT was upgrading its studio facilities substantially so that it could improve local programming.

1980

On February 1, CBIT-17 Bay St. Lawrence signed on.

CBIT-16 at Dingwall began operations on October 1.

1982

CBIT-15 Ingonish signed on the air on July 1.

On December 6, CBIT-16 began operations at Inverness.

1983

CBIT-18 Whycocomagh signed on February 1.

1984

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CBIT-TV’s licence until September 30, 1985.

On June 5, CBIT-20 Middle River was given approval to relocate the antenna site approximately 1.6 kilometers north of its present location.

On November 19, CBIT-20 Middle River began broadcasting.

1985

The CRTC refused to allow local advertising on CBIT. The CBC requested the advertising as a cost-saving measure. The station was spending $250,000 a year for a master control system employing four technicians and two clerical workers, to replace ads in the feed from CBHT Halifax. Without the system, the CBC could lose $400,000 in national selective spots, but believed this could be offset by selling CBIT and CBHT as a package. No effort would be made to sell locally. However, CHUM Ltd. claimed any increase in competition from CBIT would jeopardize the viability of CJCB-TV in Sydney.

1987

CBIT-5 Margaree received approval April 22 to increase transmitter power from 5 watts to 10 watts and to change the channel from 8 to 11. 

1991

On December 5, 1990, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced its intention to implement, effective immediately, various reductions in service and other measures intended to address an estimated budget shortfall of approximately $108 million for the coming fiscal year. One of the changes would have CBIT Sydney receive its programming from CBHT Halifax. The station would not become a rebroadcaster, but would operate as a contributing bureau. CBIT would maintain master control facilities at Sydney so that the station could continue to broadcast station identification (including call sign, channel designation and location) as required by the Department of Communications, as well as public service announcements, occasional specials, and commercial messages. (CRTC approved in 1991)

1995

On October 27, CBIT-20 Middle River was authorized to change channel from 11 to 9 in order to avoid interference to CIHF-TV-7 Sydney. 

2000

As of 2000, CBIT operated the following transmitters: CBIT-17 Bay St. Lawrence, CBIT-2 Cheticamp, CBIT-16 Dingwall, CBIT-15 Ingonish. CBIT-19 Inverness, CBIT-4 Mabou, CBIT-5 Margaree, CBIT-20 Middle River, CBIT-6 Northeast Margaree, CBIT-3 Pleasant Bay and CBIT-18 Whycocomagh.

2009


CBIT-15 Ingonish, CBIT-16 Dingwall, CBIT-17 Bay St. Lawrence, CBIT-18 Whycocomagh, CBIT-19 Inverness, CBIT-2 Cheticamp, CBIT-20 Middle River, CBIT-3 Pleasant Bay, CBIT-4 Mabou, CBIT-5 Margaree and CBIT-6 Northeast Margaree.

2010

On August 9, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence of CBIT and its transmitters to March 31, 2011.

2011

On March 29, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBIT-TV until August 31, 2012. The Commission noted that it did not intend to renew authorizations for full-power analog transmitters operating in the mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets beyond August 31, 2011. By that time, the Commission expected licensees to have the necessary authority to broadcast in digital. In addition, the Commission imposed the following condition of licence on stations that operated in mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets: Unless otherwise authorized by the Commission, the licensee shall not transmit analog television signals after 31 August 2011 in mandatory markets designated as such by the Commission in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2011-184 or transmit television signals on channels 52 to 69. The CRTC also noted that pursuant to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-69, it did not intend to renew authorizations to operate transitional digital transmitters included in these licences, beyond August 31, 2011. 

2012

On July 17, the CRTC announced that effective 1 August 2012, it would revoke the broadcasting licences for CBIT Sydney and CBKST Saskatoon and their transmitters. The Commission also approved the request to amend the licences for 23 English- and French-language television stations operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in order that reference to all analog transmitters be deleted. The CBC planned to cease operation of all these transmitters on 31 July 2012. The licences for the following transmitters were revoked: CBIT-17 Bay St. Lawrence, CBIT-2 Cheticamp, CBIT-16 Dingwall, CBIT-15 Ingonish, CBIT-19 Inverness, CBIT-4 Mabou, CBIT-5 Margaree, CBIT-20 Middle River, CBIT-6 Northeast Margaree, CBIT-3 Pleasant Bay, and CBIT-18 Whycocomagh. CIBT-TV Sydney operated as a retransmitter of CBHT Halifax. It did not originate any local programming.

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