CBKST-TV

CBKST Saskatoon signed on the air October 17. It operated on channel 11 with an effective radiated power of 325,000 watts.

When CBKST had its licence renewed, the following rebraodcast transmitters were also renewed (this list may not represent all of CBKST’s transmitters as some licences may have been renewed on other dates): CBKST-1 Stranraer and CBKST-2 La Ronge.

CBKST received approval to add transmitters at Beauval (channel 7, 1,880 watts), Iles-a-la-Crosse (ch 9, 105 watts), Buffalo Narrows (ch 11, 321 watts), Leoville (ch 12, 39,200 watts), La Loche (ch 13, 180 watts), and Palbere (ch 8, 5 watts).

On March 28, CBKST was authorized to add CBKPT Patuanak to its list of rebroadcasters. It had operated as a transmitter of CBKT Regina.

The CRTC approved the CBC’s application to change the program source of CBKST to originate from the studios of CBKT Regina. While CBKST would no longer produce any locally-originated programming, the CBC would continue to operate CBKST as a contributing bureau and maintain master control facilities in Saskatoon allowing the station to continue to broadcast station identification (including call sign channel designation and location) as required by the Department of Industry, as well as public service announcements, occasional specials and commercial messages.

On November 23, CBKST-2 La Ronge was authorized to increase power from a transmitter power of 8.9 watts to an effective radiated power of 190 watts. The increase would provide service to an additional 500 residents.

As of 2000, CBKST Saskatoon operated the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBKBT Beauval, CBKDT Buffalo Narrows, CBKCT Ile-à-la-Crosse, CBKDT-2 La Loche, CBKST-2 La Ronge, CBKST-3 Leoville, CBCS-TV-1 Meadow Lake, CBKST-5 Montréal Lake, CBKDT-1 Palmbere, CBKPT Patuanak, CBKST-6 Pinehouse Lake, CBKST-8 Southend, CBKST-4 Stanley Mission, and CBKST-1 Stranraer.

On October 10, the purchase of CKBI-TV Prince Albert (on-air since January 27, 1958) by the CBC from CTV Television Inc. was approved. CKBI-TV (channel 5, ERP of 100,000 watts) and its rebroadcast transmitters CKBI-TV-5 Big River (channel 4, ERP of 27 watts), CKBI-TV-3 Greenwater Lake (ch 4, ERP of 9,500 watts), CKBI-TV-2 North Battleford (ch 7, ERP of 43,700 watts), CKBI-TV-6 Spiritwood (ch 6, ERP of 9,900 watts), and CKBI-TV-7 Tisdale (ch 13, transmitter power of 8.4 watts) were affiliated stations of the CBC and would now become rebroadcast transmitters of CBKST Saskatoon. At this time, CKBI-TV operated on channel 5 with effective radiated power of 100,000 watts.

On August 5, CBKST received approval to operate a transmitter in Nipawin – CKBI-TV-4 – channel 10 – ERP of 4,340 watts. The transmitter had operated as a radiocommunication distribution undertaking to rebroadcasts the programming of CKBI-TV Prince Albert. In 2002, the CRTC approved the application by the CBC to acquire CKBI-TV Prince Albert from CTV Television Inc. and the addition of the station to CBKST’s licence. It was now no longer necessary to hold a separate RDU licence for CKBI-TV-4.

The CBKST licence was amended to delete transmitters CBKST-12 Big River and CBKST-14 Tisdale. These transmitters were no longer required because viewers received identical programming via CBKST-3 Leoville and CBKST-11 Greenwater Lake.

On May 12 the CRTC renewed CBKST’s licence, including the following rebroadcast transmitters: CBCS-TV-1 Meadow Lake, CBKBT Beauval, CBKCT Ile-a-la-Crosse, CBKDT Buffalo Narrows, CBKDT-1 Palmbere, CBKDT-2 La Loche, CBKPT Patuanak, CBKST-1 Stranraer, CBKST-10 North Battleford, CBKST-11 Greenwater Lake, CBKST-13 Spritwood, CBKST-2 La Ronge, CBKST-3 Leoville, CBKST-4 Stanley Mission, CBKST-5 Montreal Lake, CBKST-6 Pinehouse Lake, CBKST-8 Southend, CBKST-9 Prince Albert and CBKST-15 Nipawin.

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

On March 29, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for CBKST-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. The CRTC approved an amendment to the technical parameters of CBKT Regina in order to change the technical parameters of CBKST Saskatoon. This technical amendment was submitted subsequent to the Corporation’s request filed on July 14, for authority to maintain certain analogue transmitters in mandatory markets. The application reflected a reduction in effective radiated power from 325,000 watts to 10,000 watts. The reduction in ERP would also reduce potential interference to CFRE-DT Regina once it became operational. All other technical parameters remained unchanged. CBKST would operate at the existing CBC broadcast site and use its existing antenna. It would rebroadcast the full signal of CBKT-DT Regina after August 31. On August 16, the CRTC approved applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to continue to operate 22 analog television rebroadcasting transmitters until August 31, 2012 in markets that the Commission identified as mandatory for conversion to digital transmission, and to make associated technical changes. This approval included CBKST Saskatoon. Approval of the CBC’s proposal, and related technical amendments, would provide additional time for affected households that rely on over-the-air service in mandatory markets to find other means to access the CBC’s television services. Approval of the proposal would also provide an opportunity for the Commission to discuss the CBC’s plans for its over-the-air transmitter system at the time of the CBC’s licence renewal hearing, now scheduled for June 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: CBKBT Beauval, CBKDT Buffalo Narrows, CBKST-11 Greenwater Lake, CBKCT Ile-à-la-Crosse, CBKDT-2 La Loche, CBKST-2 La Ronge, CBKST-3 Leoville, CBCS-TV-1 Meadow Lake, CBKST-5 Montreal Lake, CBKST-15 Nipawin, CBKST-10 North Battleford, CBKDT-1 Palmbere Lake, CBKPT Patuanak, CBKST-6 Pinehouse Lake, CBKST-9 Prince Albert, CBKST-8 Southend, CBKST-13 Spiritwood, CBKST-4 Stanley Mission, and CBKST-1 Stranraer. CBKST Saskatoon operated as a retransmitter of CBKT Regina. It did not originate any local programming.