CBWFT-DT

CBWFT-DT is the Winnipeg-based Ici Radio-Canada Télé station serving Manitoba's Francophone population and selected communities in Northwestern Ontario. It is part of Société Radio-Canada, the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and operates alongside CBC Television station CBWT-DT. The two services share production and studio facilities in downtown Winnipeg, at the intersection of Portage Avenue and Young Street, while CBWFT-DT's principal transmission equipment is located atop the Richardson Building. The station began broadcasting on April 24, 1960, becoming the first French-language television station west of Ontario. Its opening transmission took place at 3 p.m. from Winnipeg's Notre Dame Auditorium and included a ceremony attended by Manitoba political figures, CBC executives, Radio-Canada representatives and station staff. CBWFT initially operated on channel 6 with an effective radiated power of 2,800 watts. Two videotape recorders were installed for the launch, each valued at $75,000 at the time. The station's original schedule was relatively short, generally six to twelve hours a day, with longer weekend programming. In its early years, CBWFT did not yet have a direct microwave connection to Radio-Canada's national television network. National programs were therefore delivered to Winnipeg on videotape and film, often with delays of approximately one week. News and selected live events, including hockey broadcasts, were exceptions. The station's connection to the Radio-Canada microwave network was completed by October 1966, enabling it to carry the live 6 p.m. edition of Le Téléjournal. After the launch of the Anik A satellite in 1972, CBWFT moved primarily to satellite distribution for the national Radio-Canada feed, retaining microwave facilities for distribution within its broader regional coverage area. CBWFT changed technical channels with CBWT on November 15, 1964. It moved to channel 3 and received a higher-powered transmitter at a site near Starbuck, Manitoba. For much of the following period, the service identified itself as CBWFT canal 3 Winnipeg, and in the early 1980s it used the combined designation CBWFT 3/10, reflecting its over-the-air channel and Winnipeg cable position. On January 1, 1986, the station adopted the regional identity Radio-Canada Manitoba. The station has also played a role in extending French-language television across the Prairies. A CBWFT retransmitter in Regina was converted into the separately licensed CBKFT service in 1976. CBKFT later received authorization to produce its own regional news program, Ce Soir, in 1985. Within Manitoba, CBWFT's regional news operation continued to evolve. In 2005, the long-running Ce Soir program was renamed Le Téléjournal, aligning its title with Radio-Canada's national French-language news branding. The local edition is normally thirty minutes long, with an extended Wednesday edition and a late-evening repeat. CBWFT completed its transition from analog to digital television on December 9, 2011, following delays associated with the installation of its antenna. Its digital transmission uses UHF channel 32 while retaining virtual channel 3. The station formerly operated eleven analog rebroadcast transmitters across Manitoba and in Central-Time-Zone portions of Northwestern Ontario. Following federal funding reductions affecting CBC/Radio-Canada, the corporation shut down its remaining analog television transmitters on July 31, 2012; those facilities were not converted to digital. Today, CBWFT-DT functions as a regional public-service television outlet. Its role combines national French-language programming from Ici Radio-Canada Télé with locally relevant journalism and regional storytelling for Manitoba's French-speaking communities. The station's continuing importance is tied less to commercial brand expansion than to public broadcasting, linguistic representation and access to French-language news and cultural programming in a predominantly English-speaking province.

CBWFT-DT traces its origins to Radio-Canada's effort to establish French-language television in Winnipeg and serve Francophone communities west of Ontario. CBC announced in February 1959 that it intended to appear before the Board of Broadcast Governors, the predecessor of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, to seek authority for a Winnipeg-area French-language television service. The application led to CBWFT's launch on April 24, 1960. The station opened from Winnipeg's Notre Dame Auditorium with a ceremonial broadcast attended by Manitoba's lieutenant-governor and premier, CBC's president, Radio-Canada management and regional station personnel. It initially transmitted on channel 6 at 2,800 watts and maintained a limited daily schedule. The launch included two videotape recorders, which provided important production and time-shifting capacity for a new regional operation. At the start, national Radio-Canada programming could not be delivered directly to Winnipeg by microwave. Instead, videotapes and films were physically transported from Montreal. This created substantial delays for much of the schedule, although news and live programming such as hockey were treated differently. The technical situation improved on October 31, 1966, when CBWFT was connected to the Radio-Canada microwave network and could carry a live feed of the 6 p.m. Le Téléjournal. Satellite distribution became the station's principal means of receiving the national feed after the first Anik A satellite was launched in 1972. A major technical change occurred on November 15, 1964, when CBWFT exchanged frequencies with CBWT and moved to channel 3. A more powerful transmitter was installed near Starbuck, improving regional coverage. The station used the identity CBWFT canal 3 Winnipeg through the 1960s and 1970s, later adopting CBWFT 3/10 to reflect its Winnipeg cable placement. In 1986, it became known as Radio-Canada Manitoba, a regional identity that emphasized its service to the province. CBWFT also contributed to the development of French-language television elsewhere in the Prairies. A Regina rebroadcaster carrying CBWFT programming became CBKFT in 1976. That service subsequently obtained its own licence and began producing a separate regional news program in 1985. CBWFT itself continued to operate as the principal French-language television service for Manitoba, with coverage extending to some communities in Northwestern Ontario. The station's local news identity changed in 2005, when the established Ce Soir newscast was renamed Le Téléjournal. The local program generally runs for thirty minutes, includes a longer Wednesday edition and is repeated later in the evening. This naming change placed the regional bulletin within Radio-Canada's broader Le Téléjournal brand architecture while retaining its local focus. CBWFT's later history has been shaped by the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and by public-broadcaster budget pressures. Its Winnipeg transmitter converted to digital operation on December 9, 2011, using UHF channel 32 with virtual channel 3. The conversion followed delays involving antenna installation. In April 2012, CBC announced substantial reductions in response to federal funding cuts. As part of the resulting plan, the corporation ended operation of its remaining analog television rebroadcasters on July 31, 2012, and did not convert those facilities to digital. The station remains an active Radio-Canada outlet in Winnipeg. Its core function is to combine national French-language television with regional reporting and community representation for Manitoba's Francophone audience. Unlike a commercial product brand, CBWFT-DT is primarily a public-service broadcast identity whose value lies in linguistic access, local news and cultural connection.

• 2012

  Analog rebroadcasters shut down

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Following CBC budget reductions, the station's remaining analog television rebroadcasters were shut down on July 31 and were not converted to digital.

• 2011

  Digital television transition

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBWFT's Winnipeg transmitter completed its transition from analog broadcasting to digital transmission on December 9.

• 2005

  Ce Soir renamed Le Téléjournal

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBWFT's long-running regional news program adopted the Le Téléjournal name used by Radio-Canada's national news operation.

• 1986

  Radio-Canada Manitoba identity introduced

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the regional name Radio-Canada Manitoba.

• 1985

  Separate Regina regional news service authorized

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBKFT received a separate licence to broadcast its own Ce Soir regional news program.

• 1976

  Regina rebroadcaster becomes CBKFT

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  A Regina retransmitter carrying CBWFT programming became the CBKFT service.

• 1972

  Satellite distribution adopted

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Following the launch of the Anik A satellite, CBWFT shifted primarily from microwave delivery to satellite reception for the Radio-Canada network feed.

• 1966

  Live Radio-Canada microwave connection

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station was connected to the Radio-Canada microwave network, allowing it to carry the live national Le Téléjournal feed.

• 1964

  Move to channel 3

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBWFT exchanged frequencies with CBWT and moved to channel 3, supported by a higher-powered transmitter near Starbuck, Manitoba.

• 1960

  CBWFT begins broadcasting

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBWFT signed on April 24 as a French-language television station on channel 6, becoming the first such station west of Ontario.

• 1959

  Application planned for a Winnipeg French-language station

  [1]CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CBC announced that it would seek broadcast authorization to extend Radio-Canada television service into the Winnipeg area.

A regional French-language public broadcaster serving Manitoba's Francophone communities through national Radio-Canada programming, local journalism and cultural coverage.

• Regional television news · 2005

  Le Téléjournal Manitoba

  CBWFT's regional French-language news bulletin, formerly known as Ce Soir, provides Manitoba-focused reporting within Radio-Canada's Le Téléjournal naming system. The regular edition is generally thirty minutes, with a longer Wednesday broadcast and a late-evening repeat. It connects national public-broadcasting resources with local coverage for Francophone viewers.

• French-language television network programming · 1960

  Ici Radio-Canada Télé programming

  CBWFT carries programming from Ici Radio-Canada Télé, Radio-Canada's French-language television service. Its schedule combines national news, entertainment, information and cultural programming with regional material produced for Manitoba viewers. Historically, the service received national programming first through transported videotapes and films, then through microwave and satellite distribution.

• Digital television transmission · 2011

  CBWFT-DT digital terrestrial service

  The station's Winnipeg digital signal operates on UHF channel 32 and uses virtual channel 3. The digital service replaced the station's analog transmission and continues CBWFT's over-the-air role in the Winnipeg market.

• 2012

  Closure of remaining analog rebroadcastersStrategy

  Background

  Federal funding reductions led CBC/Radio-Canada to implement substantial budget cuts affecting television transmission infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The corporation shut down CBWFT's remaining analog television rebroadcasters on July 31 and did not convert them to digital.

  Aftermath

  Over-the-air access outside the principal digital service area was reduced, while the Winnipeg transmitter continued operating digitally.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion to digital broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  Canadian television broadcasters were transitioning from analog to digital transmission, while CBWFT faced delays related to antenna installation.

  Action taken

  CBWFT converted its Winnipeg transmitter to digital operation on December 9, using UHF channel 32 and virtual channel 3.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its primary Winnipeg service digitally, while some analog rebroadcast infrastructure remained subject to later CBC budget decisions.

  Source

• 2005

  Regional news rebrandingStrategy

  Background

  Radio-Canada used Le Téléjournal as the name of its national French-language news program and sought a more consistent identity for regional editions.

  Action taken

  CBWFT renamed its long-running Ce Soir regional bulletin Le Téléjournal.

  Aftermath

  The local news service became more visibly integrated with Radio-Canada's national news-brand structure.

  Source

• 1964

  Frequency exchange and transmitter upgradeStrategy

  Background

  CBWFT and CBC Television station CBWT required a revised channel arrangement to support their respective services and coverage objectives.

  Action taken

  CBWFT moved from channel 6 to channel 3 and received a higher-powered transmitter near Starbuck, Manitoba.

  Aftermath

  The station operated thereafter under the channel 3 identity that became central to its Winnipeg branding.

  Source

1. 1CBWFT-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ici Manitobaici.radio-canada.ca