CJBN-TV

On June 27, Norcom Telecommunications Ltd. received approval from the CRTC to operate a CTV affiliated television station serving Kenora, Dryden, Ear Falls, Fort Frances, Ignace, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout. Norcom, controlled by Carl W. Johnson, also received licences to operate cable television systems in the region.

Norcom’s CJBN Broadcasting Ltd. launched CJBN-TV. It operated on channel 13 with a transmitter power of 10 watts. With a potential audience of only 5,800 households, it was the smallest television market area in Canada. Carl Johnson originally applied for a license to operate a central time zone Satellite Relay Distribution System, and needed a CTV affiliate signal. Winnipeg’s CKY signal was not available, so he acquired a licence for CJBN-TV, and affiliated with CTV.

The microwave system required to deliver CJBN’s CTV service was activated in March and the full system was operational by August. Due to a serious lack of funding for CJBN, Bell Canada disconnected the microwave system on December 1st.

CJBN-TV received approval on June 22 to increase power. The existing transmitter power of 10 watts would be raised to an effective radiated power of 177.5 watts.

The power increase approved last year was now operational.

The CJBN Broadcasting Ltd. name was eliminated and CJBN-TV was now operated directly by the parent company, Norcom Telecommunications Ltd.

Rick Harrow was appointed general sales manager. He had been with Winnipeg’s CKY-TV for seven years.

Norcom Telecommunications Ltd. was noted as being controlled by LeBlanc and Royle Communications Inc. CJBN was also noted for its initiatives with respect to native broadcasting, including providing facilities for the production of native programs and training the personnel of Wawatay Television.

On February 1, the CRTC approved the transfer of Norcom Telecommunications Ltd. from LeBlanc & Royle Enterprises Inc. to L&R Investment Partnership (95.37%), the partners of which were LeBlanc & Royle and LeBlanc Enterprises Ltd. Prior to approval, LeBlanc & Royle Enterprises held 94.84%.

Legally, the call sign was still CJBN but the station began calling itself CJTV.

On November 22, the sale of Norcom Telecommunications Ltd. to Shaw Communications Inc. was approved. The sale included CJBN-TV and Norcom’s cable television systems.

On July 27, the CRTC renewed the licence for CJBN-TV until August 31, 2016. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2010-952-1, the Commission stated that it would consider the benefits and other implications of treating Shaw Cablesystems and Shaw Media Inc., both wholly owned subsidiaries of Shaw Communications Inc., as a single designated large ownership group for the purposes of the group-based licence renewals. However, during the proceeding, Shaw Cablesystems requested that the CJBN-TV licence renewal application be considered separately since the station was operated independently from the services owned by Shaw Media and was an affiliate of the CTV television network. In its application, Shaw Cablesystems stated that it intended to continue to operate the station as a CTV affiliate station and was willing to adhere to that affiliation as a condition of licence. Given that CJBN-TV operated as a small stand-alone service that was distinct from Shaw Media’s television services and that the Commission did not receive interventions opposing Shaw Cablesystems’ request to have its application considered separately, the Commission reviewed this application separately from the applications by Shaw Media. With respect to local programming, CJBN-TV produced a weekly local 30-minute magazine-style program with interviews and stories on issues affecting the residents of Northwestern Ontario. CJBN-TV also produced a daily weather report for the communities of Thunder Bay, Red Lake, Atikokan, Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora and Winnipeg. Throughout the year, CJBN-TV produced other local programs including local coverage of elections and debates and programs covering local fishing tournaments. In its application, Shaw Cablesystems argued that as a stand-alone independent television station, CJBN-TV did not have the resources to meet harmonized local programming requirements. However, Shaw Cablesystems stated that it would accept a condition of licence requiring the station to broadcast a minimum of 30 minutes a week of local programming.

The CRTC approved an increase in average ERP to 275 watts (non-directional antenna) and a decrease in the effective height of antenna above average terrain to 70.2 metres.

On March 23, the CRTC approved an application by Shaw Communications Inc. on behalf of Shaw Media Inc. and its licensed subsidiaries, for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization by transferring all of Shaw Communications’ shares in Shaw Media to Corus Entertainment Inc. or one of its subsidiaries. Since the creation of Corus in 1999, the Commission had regarded the two companies to be effectively controlled by J.R. Shaw and this reorganization wouldn’t change that. The deal was expected to close on April 1.

In early April, Corus Entertainment completed its $2.65 billion acquisition of Shaw Media. Corus now had 45 specialty TV services, 15 conventional TV channels, 39 radio stations, a global content business, and a portfolio of digital assets.

Shaw Communications announced November 30 that it would close CJBN-TV. The station’s two local productions (Fishing with Gussy and Good Morning Sunset Country) would continue to air on Shaw TV (cable) in Kenora.

CJBN-TV shut down at the end of the broadcast day on January 27. Three jobs were lost.

On February 22, the CRTC approved the application by Shaw Cablesystems Ltd. to revoke the licence of CJBN-TV.