CHOT-DT

Radio Nord Inc., owner of radio and TV stations in the Rouyn-Noranda area of northwestern Quebec, was licensed to operate a TVA network affiliate on channel 40 with a power of 341,200 watts at Ottawa-Hull. Local investors would be invited to purchase up to 49% of the shares of the new station. Tele-Metropole’s application was denied.

On October 2, Tele-Outaouais was authorized to decrease the effective radiated video power of CHOT-TV from 341,200 watts to 275,100 watts.

CHOT-TV commenced regular programming at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, October 30. It was an amazing day as the transmitter and associated RF systems were only delivered to an empty transmitter building only 16 days earlier – in the middle of a snowstorm. The “HOT” in the call sign: Hull-Ottawa Television.

The antenna is mounted on the Ryan Tower at Camp Fortune. It radiates the signal for CIVO (Channel 30), the Radio-Quebec station, and CHOT (Channel 40), the Tele-Outaouais station. The stations are transmitting through a temporary antenna pending installation of the new system in the near future. The CHOT transmitter is a Townsend TA-30NE.

Allain Gourd was president, Jean-Guy Langevin was director of engineering and Pierre Thibault was general manager.

Approval was granted for the transfer of CHOT-TV from Tele-Outaouais Inc. to parent company, Radio-Nord Inc. The previous plan where 49% of the station would be locally owned would not be implemented, however four new directors from the area would be added to the Radio-Nord board.

Jean-Pierre Pampalon was named general manager of CHOT-TV and the new CFGS-TV.

Radio Nord opened CFGS-TV in Hull. It was affiliated with the new TQS network.

On January 23, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CHOT-TV by adding to the licence the following condition of licence: In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast more than 12 minutes of advertising material in any clock hour in a broadcast day, in order to broadcast infomercials as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1994-139 and in accordance with the criteria contained in that public notice, as amended.

CHOT-TV and sister station CFGS-TV were authorized to add auxiliary studios at Ottawa.

Radio Nord opened CHLX-FM.

On August 27 the CRTC renewed until August 31, 2016, the licence of CHOT-TV. Conditions of licence include: The licensee shall broadcast not less than three hours and 10 minutes of local programming in each broadcast week.

On July 23, the CRTC approved the application by RNC Media Inc. to amend the licence for CHOT-TV Gatineau in order to add a digital transmitter in Gatineau (CHOT-DT) to simultaneously broadcast existing analog programming. The licensee submitted that the proposed amendment would allow it to adequately serve the population of Gatineau. The new transmitter will operate on channel 40 with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 46,500 watts (maximum ERP of 111,400 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 358 metres). The Commission noted that the population served in the local service area will increase from 1,154,197 to 1,185,893. In the regional service area and in the principal marketing area, it will increase from 1,246,518 to 1,334,401.

The deadline for stations in mandatory markets to switch from analog to digital was August 31. CHOT-TV became CHOT-DT on that date, retaining channel 40 (virtual 40.1) for its digital operation.