CBKFT-DT

CBKFT-DT is a French-language television station operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation under the Ici Radio-Canada Télé brand. Based in Regina, Saskatchewan, it serves the province's Fransaskois population and forms part of a CBC/Radio-Canada twinstick with English-language CBC Television station CBKT-DT. The two television services share the CBC Regina Broadcast Centre with CBC and Radio-Canada radio operations, including CBK, CBK-FM and CBKF-FM. CBKFT-DT broadcasts from its Regina facility, while additional studio resources have been maintained in Saskatoon. The station's regulatory history began when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission licensed CBKFT in June 1975. It began broadcasting on September 27, 1976, initially as a rebroadcaster of CBWFT in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its early service covered Regina and Saskatoon, although reception and schedule availability in Saskatoon were initially incomplete. This arrangement reflected the limited scale of French-language television infrastructure in the Prairies and Radio-Canada's use of regional transmitters to extend network programming beyond major francophone centres. In 1985, CBKFT received a new licence that authorized eleven additional transmitters and enabled it to operate as a distinct Saskatchewan television station rather than simply functioning as a rebroadcasting extension of CBWFT. The station consequently became a more autonomous regional outlet for French-language news, public affairs and network programming. Its role is closely associated with the Fransaskois community, including viewers in Regina, Saskatoon and other Saskatchewan communities. CBKFT converted its Regina signal from analog to digital on August 31, 2011, using VHF channel 13. Its digital virtual channel is 13.1 through the Program and System Information Protocol. A Saskatoon rebroadcaster, CBKFT-1, was among the transmitters for which the CRTC temporarily permitted continued analog operation after the national digital transition deadline. That authorization lasted until August 31, 2012. CBC subsequently announced broad reductions in response to federal funding cuts, and its remaining analog television rebroadcasters, including Radio-Canada transmitters, were shut down on July 31, 2012 rather than converted to digital. These changes reduced over-the-air reach in some Saskatchewan communities while leaving the originating CBKFT-DT service operating digitally. Today, CBKFT-DT functions as a regional Radio-Canada television service rather than a standalone commercial brand. Its principal value is local access: it connects Saskatchewan's French-speaking audience with Ici Radio-Canada Télé programming and regional coverage produced for or about the province. The station operates within the broader public-service mandate and infrastructure of the CBC/Radio-Canada network.

CBKFT-DT's origins lie in the expansion of French-language public broadcasting into Saskatchewan. The CRTC approved the station's licence on June 9, 1975, and the CBC launched CBKFT on September 27, 1976. At first, the station was a rebroadcaster of CBWFT in Winnipeg, extending Radio-Canada programming to Regina and Saskatoon. Saskatoon reception was initially inconsistent, and the city did not immediately receive the complete schedule. The station's role changed materially in 1985, when a new licence authorized eleven transmitters and allowed CBKFT to function as an independent Saskatchewan station rather than simply repeating CBWFT. This gave the service a clearer regional identity and strengthened its capacity to serve the province's Fransaskois audience. Its main base remained in Regina, and the station later maintained studio facilities in Saskatoon's Hutchinson Building, formerly shared with English-language CBC station CBKST before that station closed in July 2012. CBKFT is part of a CBC/Radio-Canada twinstick with CBKT-DT. Both television stations share the CBC Regina Broadcast Centre at 2440 Broad Street with the CBC's Regina radio operations. The CBKFT transmitter is located near McDonald Street and Highway 46, northeast of Regina proper. This infrastructure supports the station's originating service and its regional relationship with other public broadcasters. The station's transition to digital broadcasting occurred during Canada's 2011 mandatory-market conversion. On August 31, 2011, CBKFT flash-cut its primary signal to digital on VHF channel 13. Receivers identify the service through virtual channel 13.1. The CRTC allowed a number of CBC transmitters, including CBKFT-1 in Saskatoon, to remain analog temporarily through August 31, 2012. CBC ultimately chose not to convert its remaining analog television rebroadcasters. Amid federal funding reductions and associated budget cuts, the remaining CBC and Radio-Canada analog transmitters were shut down on July 31, 2012. CBKFT-DT therefore represents the continuing originating Radio-Canada television service in Saskatchewan, while its former analog rebroadcast network illustrates the operational and financial pressures affecting Canadian public broadcasting. Its enduring purpose is to provide French-language national and regional television to the Fransaskois community across a geographically large province.

• 2012

  Analog rebroadcaster shutdowns

  [1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBC and Radio-Canada ended their remaining analog television rebroadcasts on July 31 following funding-related cuts.

• 2011

  Digital conversion

  [1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBKFT's main signal moved to digital broadcasting on VHF channel 13 and virtual channel 13.1.

• 1985

  Independent Saskatchewan station

  [1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  A new licence added eleven transmitters and separated CBKFT's operation from its previous purely rebroadcasting role.

• 1976

  Broadcast launch

  [1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBKFT began broadcasting on September 27 as a rebroadcaster of CBWFT in Winnipeg.

• 1975

  CRTC licence granted

  [1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC licensed CBKFT on June 9, creating the regulatory foundation for a Radio-Canada television service in Saskatchewan.

A public-service French-language television outlet for Saskatchewan's Fransaskois population, combining national Ici Radio-Canada Télé programming with regional service and local access.

• French-language television station · 1976

  CBKFT-DT television service

  The station's core offering is a French-language Ici Radio-Canada Télé service for Saskatchewan. It combines network programming with regional access and coverage intended for the province's Fransaskois audience. The originating digital signal broadcasts on VHF channel 13 and is identified by receivers as virtual channel 13.1.

• Analog television rebroadcaster

  CBKFT-1 former rebroadcast service

  CBKFT-1 was a Saskatoon-area rebroadcasting outlet associated with CBKFT. It was temporarily permitted to remain analog during the Canadian digital transition but was ultimately shut down with CBC and Radio-Canada's remaining analog television transmitters in 2012.

• 2012

  Closure of remaining analog rebroadcastersStrategy

  Background

  CBC implemented substantial budget reductions following federal funding cuts and chose not to convert its remaining analog television rebroadcasters.

  Action taken

  CBC and Radio-Canada shut down the remaining analog television transmitters, including CBKFT-related analog rebroadcast facilities, on July 31.

  Aftermath

  The originating CBKFT-DT service remained available digitally, but some over-the-air communities lost analog rebroadcast coverage.

  Source

• 2011

  Transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  Canada's mandatory-market television transition required affected broadcasters to change transmission technology, while CBC had initially planned to leave some rebroadcasters analog.

  Action taken

  CBKFT flash-cut its originating signal to digital VHF channel 13, using virtual channel 13.1.

  Aftermath

  The Regina service continued digitally, while some related analog transmitters received temporary regulatory permission to continue.

  Source

• 1985

  Move from rebroadcaster to independent Saskatchewan stationStrategy

  Background

  CBKFT initially repeated programming from CBWFT in Winnipeg and had limited or incomplete reception in parts of its intended Saskatchewan market.

  Action taken

  A revised licence authorized eleven transmitters and enabled CBKFT to operate as its own station.

  Aftermath

  The change gave Radio-Canada a more autonomous regional television operation serving Saskatchewan's Fransaskois population.

  Source

• 2012

  CBC ends remaining analog television rebroadcasts[1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following budget reductions, CBC and Radio-Canada shut down their remaining analog television rebroadcasters, including CBKFT-related analog transmitters, on July 31.

• 2011

  CBKFT converts its Regina signal to digital[1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The station flash-cut to digital broadcasting on VHF channel 13, with virtual channel 13.1.

• 1985

  CBKFT receives expanded licence and independent station status[1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A revised licence added eleven transmitters and allowed CBKFT to operate as its own Saskatchewan station rather than solely rebroadcasting CBWFT.

• 1976

  CBKFT begins broadcasting as a CBWFT rebroadcaster[1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  CBKFT launched on September 27 as a Winnipeg-originated Radio-Canada rebroadcaster serving Regina and Saskatoon.

• 1975

  CRTC licenses CBKFT for Saskatchewan service[1]CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The CRTC granted a licence for CBKFT, establishing the basis for a Radio-Canada television service in Saskatchewan.

1. 1CBKFT-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ICI Saskatchewanici.radio-canada.ca