CHAU-DT

CHAU-TV channel 5 opened on October 17. The station was affiliated with the CBC.

CHAU-TV joined Radio-Canada’s microwave network on March 24. 

Ad: Yes indeed, Mon Vieux! CHAU-TV is there to sell your product in French to the exclusive, closed French television market of the Baie des Chaleurs area! … The big bonus audience of Fox River, Gaspe, Perce, and Grand River will be most adequately served by the impending operation of the Gaspe Television Ltd. satellite of CHAU-TV on channel 5 atop Mont-Blanc, Que., located immediately behind Perce, with an effective radiated power of 401 watts video and 200 watts audio, at an average height of 1126 feet. CHAU-TV Channel 5. 

La Television de la Baie des Chaleur Inc. received approval to operate a new television station at Carleton – on channel 12 with effective radiated power of 23,500 watts video and 11,800 watts audio – directional – with effective antenna height above average terrain of 1,673 feet. The company was owned by Dr. Charles H. Houde, owner of CHNC-AM New Carlisle (QC), CKNB-AM Campbellton (NB) and bilingual CHAU-TV New Carlisle (QC). Leo Hachey was president of the company. La Television de la Baie des Chaleur Inc. applied unsuccessfully last year for a second licence to operate solely in English and use the existing facilities for all French programming. The renewed bid was for a similar arrangement. The applicant sought to serve the Bay of Chaleurs area on the Quebec-New Brunswick border. The Campbellton-Dalhousie area along the south side of the bay as well as parts of Quebec’s Gaspe were now receiving a mixed French (65%) and English (35%) TV service from CHAU-TV. Applications for a new station to cover this area also came from CHSJ-TV Saint John and CKCW-TV Moncton. CHAU’s president said the English applications from the other two would jeopardize his station’s existing bilingual operation in the area. He proposed that his station turn its existing service into an all-French station while using the same transmitter site atop Mount St. Joseph at Carleton to provide an all-English service to the area on channel 12.

The BBG approved CHAU-TV’s application for a satellite transmitter at Mont Blanc.

CHAU-TV New Carlisle had an effective radiated power of 52,500 watts video and 26,250 watts audio. It operated rebroadcast transmitters at the following locations: Ste. Maruerite-Marie (channel 2), St. Quentin (10), Port Daniel (10), Chandler (7), Perce (2), Gaspe (10), and Riviere-au-Renard (7).

CHAU-TV received permission to add a satellite transmitter at L’Anse a Valleau.

In September, CHAU-TV was authorized to simulcast all of the local programming offered by CBAFT-TV Moncton.

By this time CHAU-TV had the following retransmitters: CHAU-TV-1 Sainte Marguerite-Marie, CHAU-TV-2 Saint-Quentin (NB), CHAU-TV-3 Port Daniel, CHAU-TV-4 Chandler, CHAU-TV-5 Perce, CHAU-TV-6 Gaspe, CHAU-TV-7 Riviere-au-Renard, CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme, and CHAU-TV-9 L’Anse a Valleau.

The following rebroadcaster changes were approved: CHAU-TV-5 Perce (increase ERP from 465 watts video and 233 watts audio to 9,620 watts video and 962 watts audio), CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme (move from channel 6 to 5, power remains 5 watts), CHAU-TV-7 Riviere au Renard (increase ERP from 97.5watts video and 48.8 watts audio – omnidirectional to 205 watts video and 20.5 watts audio – directional), and CHAU-TV-2 St-Quentin (move from channel 10 to 9, power remains 5 watts).  The following rebroadcasters were approved: Murdochville (channel 5, 5 watts, directional), Kedgwick, New Brunswick (ch 2, 5 watts, directional) and St-Martin de Restigouche, New Brunswick (Ch 9, 5 watts, directional). All three would receive programming directly from CHAU-TV Carleton. 

CHAU-TV-6 Gaspe received approval to move from channel 10 to channel 13 and to increase power from 5 watts to an ERP of 157 watts. CHAU-TV-4 Chandler would switch from omnidirectional to a directional antenna.

CHAU-TV converted its studio facilities to colour – one of the last in the country to do so. The station had offered colour programs from other sources but was now able to produce local live colour programming.

Following public hearings, the CRTC announced that it was time for the CBC and CHAU-TV to act on improving French-language television services for northeastern New Brunswick and the Gaspe peninsula. The objective was for the CBC to provide full service to northeastern New Brunswick (from Moncton) and the Gaspe (from Matane) and for CHAU, now a CBC affiliate, to extend TVA service to both areas. All services were to be on VHF channels. The CBC proposed to move its rebroadcaster on channel 3 at Neguac to Allardville and increase its power so it would cover the Gaspe and Bathurst, N.B. Additional rebroadcasters would be needed at Campbellton and Dalhousie. The CRTC approved the power increase with the stipulation that the CBC submit applications by January of 1980 to complete service to the area, and that it meet with CHAU-TV to work out a plan for optimum utilization of VHF channels.

CHAU switched from Radio-Canada to the TVA network on December 18. Radio-Canada opened its own station at this time. CHAU received TVA programming from sister station CIMT-TV in Rivière-du-Loup.

CHAU-TV-9 l’Anse-a-Valleau was authorized to change channel from 7 to 5 and CHAU-TV-12 Murdochville received approval to change channel from 5 to 7.

CHAU-TV constructed a studio at Bathurst, New Brunswick, in order to better serve residents in that region.

The station’s licence was renewed following the construction of the Bathurst studio, and the purchase of equipment to cover news from Northeastern New Brunswick.

On January 12, Le Réseau de Télévision TVA Inc. was officially authorized to add CHAU-TV and its rebroadcasters as affiliates. As noted above, the affiliation began on December 18, 1983.

On January 29, the CRTC approved the applications for authority to transfer effective control of Baie des Chaleurs Television Inc., The Rimouski Broadcasting Company Limited and Shawinigan Falls Broadcasting Company Limited through the transfer of 1,000 common voting shares of Prades Inc. (100%) from Paul G. Desmarais (500) and Claude Pratte (500) to Power Corporation of Canada, which was indirectly controlled by Mr. Desmarais. As a result of this transaction, Power Corporation would acquire 100% control of Prades Inc. which held effective control of Baie des Chaleurs Television Inc., licensee of CHAU-TV Carleton and its rebroadcasting stations; The Rimouski Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CFLP Rimouski and the new FM station authorized by the CRTC, and The Shawinigan Falls Broadcasting Company Limited, licensee of CKSM Shawinigan.

On February 2, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CHAU-TV and its rebroadcasting stations by adding a condition of licence which stipulated that the station operate as an affiliate of the “Réseau Pathonic”. It would also continue to operate as a TVA affiliate.

On January 21, the CRTC renewed the licences for CHAU-TV Carleton and its rebroadcasting undertakings CHAU-TV-1 Sainte-Marguerite-Marie, CHAU-TV-3 Port-Daniel, CHAU-TV-4 Chandler, CHAU-TV-5 Percé, CHAU-TV-6 Gaspé, CHAU-TV-7 Rivière-au-Renard, CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme, CHAU-TV-9 L’Anse-à-Valleau and CHAU-TV-12 Murdochville, Quebec; and CHAU-TV-2 Saint-Quentin and CHAU-TV-11 Kedgwick, New Brunswick, to 31 August 1993. The Commission noted that CHAU-TV was affiliated to the TVA Television Network, as well as to the “Réseau Pathonic”. During its new term of licence, CHAU-TV would increase its weekly programming from 111 hours to 129 hours, of which 5 hours 45 minutes would consist of programming produced locally. Regularly-scheduled weekday newscasts, interviews and a weekly thirty-minute public affairs program would continue to comprise most of the licensee’s local programming. The Commission also took note of the licensee’s intention to improve the quality of its services to the region. The licensee would continue to emphasize the community orientation of its local programs and added studios at Gaspé, Quebec as well as at Caraquet and at Bathurst, New Brunswick. The licensee also created a network of news stringers and provided financial assistance to regional authors and scholarships for new local artists. The Commission acknowledged CHAU-TV’s endeavours in this regard and took note of its plans to broadcast during the next licence term programs which promoted local talent, including a ten-part series of programs directed to the youth of the region.

On September 15, Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc. was authorized to add a rebroadcast transmitter for CHAU-TV at Tracadie, on channel 9 with a transmitter power of 10 watts.

Yvon Goulet assumed responsibility for programming in addition to being program director. Gilles Barriault was named technical director.

On December 21, Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc. (Federal charter) was granted authority to acquire CHAU-TV and its rebroadcasting stations from Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc. (Provincial charter). There was no change of ownership or control.

On October 22, Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc. was authorized to delete CHAU-TV-12 Murdochville. In order to eliminate the problem of CHAU-TV-12’s poor signal quality, the signal of CHAU-TV would have to be delivered to Murdochville via microwave. CHAU-TV stated it did not have the necessary financial resources for such an undertaking.

Yvon Goulet was promoted to vice president and general manager of CHAU-TV.

CHAU-TV was denied a reduction in local news. It had committed to 5:45 hours per week and wanted to cut that to 1:40. The CRTC settled on three hours a week, noting that CHAU-TV was in a favorable financial situation compared with other Quebec stations. 

On January 23, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CHAU-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.

On March 24, the CRTC approved the application by Corus Entertainment Inc. (through subsidiary 5191992 B.C. Ltd.) to acquire CHAU-TV from Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs inc.  (Power Broadcasting Inc./Diffusion Power inc.).

On August 10, CHAU-TV Communications ltée (formerly 3760464 Canada Inc.) was given approval to  acquire CHAU-TV (and its transmitters) from 591992 B.C. Ltd., which was a wholly-owned subsidiary CHAU-TV Communications ltée. The transaction constituted an intracorporate reorganization having no impact on the ultimate ownership or management of the station.

By this time, CHAU-TV operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CHAU-TV-1 Sainte-Marguerite-Marie, CHAU-TV-3 Port-Daniel, CHAU-TV-4 Chandler, CHAU-TV-5 Percé, CHAU-TV-6 Gaspé, CHAU-TV-7 Rivière-au-Renard, CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme, CHAU-TV-9 L’Anse-à-Valleau, Quebec, and CHAU-TV-2 Saint-Quentin, CHAU-TV-10 Tracadie and CHAU-TV-11 Kedgwick, NB.

On August 27 the CRTC renewed until August 31, 2016, the licence of CHAU-TV and its transmitters (Quebec: CHAU-TV-1 Sainte-Marguerite-Marie, CHAU-TV-3 Port-Daniel, CHAU-TV-4 Chandler, CHAU-TV-5 Percé, CHAU-TV-6 Gaspé, CHAU-TV-7 Rivière-au-Renard, CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme and CHAU-TV-9 L’Anse-à-Valleau; New Brunswick: CHAU-TV-2 Saint-Quentin, CHAU-TV-10 Tracadie-Sheila and CHAU-TV-11 Kedgwick). Conditions of licence include: The licensee shall broadcast not less than four hours and 20 minutes of local programming in each broadcast week.

The CRTC approved the change to the ownership of Quebecor Media Inc. through the transfer of the shares held by Capital d’Amérique CDPQ inc. in QMI to CDP Capital d’Amérique Investissement inc., another CDPQ subsidiary. This transaction does not affect the effective control of QMI and of its licensee subsidiaries. QMI owns, through TVA Group Inc. and Videotron Ltd., broadcasting distribution undertakings, television programming undertakings, a pay-per-view undertaking, specialty services and a video-on-demand undertaking.

On January 7, the CRTC approved the application by CHAU-TV Communications ltée to amend the licence for CHAU-TV to add post-transition digital transmitters at the following locations: 

Carleton-sur-Mer on channel 5 with an average effective radiated power of 5,560 watts (maximum ERP of 9,850 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 482.2 metres); Sainte-Marguerite-Marie on channel 3 with an average ERP of 522 watts (maximum ERP of 1,680 watts with an EHAAT of 199.6 metres); Port-Daniel on channel 10 with an ERP of 7 watts (maximum ERP of 21 watts with an EHAAT of 152 metres); Chandler on channel 26 with an average ERP of 75 watts (maximum ERP of 184 watts with an EHAAT of 22.3 metres); Percé on channel 13 with an average ERP of 3,767 watts (maximum ERP of 10,375 watts with an EHAAT of 389.7 metres); Gaspé on channel 7 with an ERP of 130 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 75.6 metres); Rivière-au-Renard on channel 4 with an average ERP of 300 watts (maximum ERP of 990 watts with an EHAAT of 228 metres); Cloridorme on channel 11 with an average ERP of 37 watts (maximum ERP of 110 watts with an EHAAT of 30.4 metres); Anse-à-Valleau will operate on channel 12 with an average ERP of 43 watts (maximum ERP of 75 watts with an EHAAT of 54.1 metres); St-Quentin on channel 31 with an average ERP of 67 watts (maximum ERP of 226 watts with an EHAAT of 96.2 metres); Tracadie-Sheila on channel 9 with an ERP of 25 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 48.9 metres); and Kedgwick on channel 27 with an ERP of 93 watts (non-directional antenna with an EHAAT of 66.6 metres). 

August 31 was the deadline for the conversion of analog television stations to digital in mandatory markets. Although CHAU-TV was not in a mandatory market the station planned to convert to digital on a voluntary basis by November 30. This would include the station’s rebroadcast transmitters. CHAU-TV would continue to broadcast on channel 5 (virtual channel 5.1) as CHAU-DT. CHAU-TV-1 Ste-Marguerite-Marie would continue to operate on channel 3 as CHAU-DT-1. CHAU-TV-2 Saint-Quentin (NB) would still use channel 31 for CHAU-DT-2. CHAU-TV-3 Port-Daniel would still use channel 10 as CHAU-DT-3. CHAU-TV-4 Chandler would move from channel 6 to channel 26 as CHAU-DT-4. CHAU-TV-5 Percé would continue operations on channel 13 as CHAU-DT-5. CHAU-TV-6 Gaspé would continue to operate on channel 7 as CHAU-DTV-6. CHAU-TV-7 Rivière-au-Renard would still use channel 4 as CHAU-DT-7. CHAU-TV-8 Cloridorme would continue to operate on channel 11 as CHAU-DT-8. CHAU-TV-9 Anse-à-Valleau would still use channel 12 as CHAU-DT-9. CHAU-TV-11 Kedgwick (NB) would move from channel 3 to channel 27 as CHAU-DT-11.

On April 8, the CRTC approved the application by CHAU-TV Communications ltée relating to the licence for CHAU-DT Carleton to change the channel of its CHAU-DT-5 Percé transmitter from 13 to 11. All other technical parameters would remain the same. According to the licensee, the signal of CBCT-DT Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island sometimes caused interference with the signal of CHAU-DT-5. The licensee submitted that the use of channel 11 would rectify the situation.

On October 11, the CRTC approved CHAU’s application to operate a transmitter in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, broadcasting on channel 12R with an average ERP of 41 watts (maximum ERP of 100 watts with an EHAAT of 147.2 metres).