Global Saskatchewan
Global Saskatchewan is a Corus Entertainment television operation comprising CFRE-DT in Regina and CFSK-DT in Saskatoon.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Global Saskatchewan is the regional television operation of Canada's Global Television Network in Saskatchewan. It consists of CFRE-DT, channel 11, serving Regina and the surrounding area under the Global Regina identity, and CFSK-DT, channel 4, serving Saskatoon under the Global Saskatoon identity. Although the two stations maintain distinct local news identities and reporting responsibilities, they share much of their non-local programming and operate as a coordinated provincial service. The stations originated in CanWest Capital Corporation's successful proposal for a new commercial television service in Saskatchewan. CanWest, which already operated Global stations in Ontario and CKND-TV in Winnipeg, proposed separate Regina and Saskatoon facilities with local news, alternative entertainment programming, and support for local drama production. The proposal was initially challenged by competing applications from Allarcom Limited and a consortium involving Harvard Communications and Saskatchewan private broadcasters. The licensing process became unusually contentious after the federal cabinet ordered the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to reconsider its initial approval of CanWest's application. Following a second CRTC review, CanWest proceeded with construction of two stations at the same time, a notable undertaking in Canadian broadcasting. CFRE-TV in Regina and CFSK-TV in Saskatoon began broadcasting on September 6, 1987, using the Saskatchewan Television, or STV, brand. The stations carried largely common network and entertainment programming while producing separate local news for their respective cities. In 1994, a fibre-optic connection allowed master control for the Saskatoon operation to be centralized in Regina, further integrating the stations outside their local programming. The STV name was retired in 1997 as CanWest expanded the Global Television Network brand nationally. The Regina station subsequently became known as Global Regina, while the Saskatoon station became Global Saskatoon. Their news operations evolved through several schedule and format changes, including the replacement of late-night network programming with sports coverage, changes to early-evening news, and the eventual integration of sports material into expanded late local newscasts. Global Saskatchewan expanded its local morning-news presence in late 2011, launching a three-hour Regina morning newscast on November 28 and a corresponding Saskatoon program on December 5. In 2012, the Prime News and News Final programs were consolidated into News Hour Final. Beginning in 2021, Saskatchewan and Manitoba evening newscasts adopted a multi-market production model in which the programs for Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg were presented from Winnipeg with production staff based in Regina. CFRE transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasting in August 2011, becoming the first Regina station to transmit a digital or high-definition signal. The station's former CFRE-TV-2 rebroadcasting transmitter in Fort Qu'Appelle was approved for closure by the CRTC in 2019. Global Saskatchewan remains an active regional television and local-news operation within Corus Entertainment's Global network.
History
Global Saskatchewan developed from CanWest Capital Corporation's effort to establish a third commercial television service in Saskatchewan. In 1984, the CRTC invited applications for an additional service. CanWest proposed a paired Regina-Saskatoon operation initially referred to as SaskWest, with the on-air name STV. Its plan drew on CanWest's experience operating CKND-TV in Winnipeg and the Global Television Network in Ontario. The proposal called for separate local news operations in the two cities, shared entertainment and network programming, and programming intended to complement existing television services. Competing proposals came from Allarcom Limited, the owner of Edmonton's CITV, and a consortium associated with Harvard Communications and several Saskatchewan private stations. The competing applicants differed over the extent of local production, the use of cable distribution, and whether a new service could be economically supported by the province's advertising market. A technical complication also affected the process because an additional Regina channel depended on a planned CBC transmitter project that was later cancelled. CanWest changed its proposed Regina channel from 13 to 11. The CRTC selected CanWest's application on September 12, 1985. The decision was challenged by Harvard and Allarcom, who appealed through the Federal Court of Appeal and to the federal cabinet. On November 8, 1985, the cabinet ordered the CRTC to reconsider the applications. The review addressed whether Regina and Saskatoon should be treated as one television market or two, and whether the existing stations could withstand a new competitor. The intervention delayed construction and produced substantial political and industry debate. A second CRTC hearing opened in February 1986. CanWest pointed to the profitability of existing stations, while the competing applicants argued that economic conditions and the advertising market could not support the proposed service. In April 1986, the CRTC reaffirmed the CanWest decision, finding that Regina and Saskatoon were separate markets but that the existing broadcasters could absorb the competition. CanWest then constructed the Regina and Saskatoon facilities concurrently, an unusual undertaking for a Canadian broadcaster. The two stations began broadcasting on September 6, 1987, as CFRE-TV channel 11 in Regina and CFSK-TV channel 4 in Saskatoon. Branded STV, they shared non-local programming but maintained separate local news. The service initially offered noon, early-evening, and late-evening news, along with entertainment programs shared with other CanWest stations. Operational integration increased in 1994 after a fibre-optic connection was completed between Regina and Saskatoon. Master control for the Saskatoon station was centralized in Regina, while the two cities retained their own local news responsibilities. In 1997, the STV name disappeared as CanWest expanded the Global Television Network identity across Canada. The stations became Global Regina and Global Saskatoon, later commonly described together as Global Saskatchewan. The news schedule changed repeatedly as the operation adapted to network programming and audience habits. The late newscast originally aired at 10:30 p.m., allowing the station to carry The World Tonight from Global in Toronto. After that program ended in 1991, Sportsline occupied the slot. In 1994, the early news was reformatted as 555 Live, and in 2001 the six o'clock local news moved to 5:30 p.m. to accommodate the launch of Global National. Sportsline became Global Sports and continued until 2005, when the western Canadian sports programs were cancelled and sports coverage was incorporated into longer late local newscasts. In 2007, the late-hour format was divided into Prime News at 10 p.m. and Evening News at 11 p.m. Local coverage expanded again in 2011, when Global Regina and Global Saskatoon introduced three-hour morning newscasts. In 2012, Prime News and News Final were consolidated into News Hour Final. From 2021, the Saskatchewan and Manitoba evening programs used a multi-market production model, with presentation from Winnipeg and production personnel based in Regina. The Regina station moved to digital transmission on August 10, 2011, using VHF channel 11, while the Saskatoon station completed its digital transition shortly afterward on UHF channel 42 while retaining virtual channel 4. In June 2019, the CRTC approved Corus's application to close the CFRE-TV-2 rebroadcasting transmitter in Fort Qu'Appelle. The service continues as part of Corus Entertainment's Global television and news portfolio.
- 2021
Multi-market news production model adopted
[1]Evening newscasts serving Saskatchewan and Manitoba began being presented from Winnipeg with production staff based in Regina.
- 2019
Fort Qu'Appelle transmitter closure approved
[1]The CRTC authorized the shutdown of the CFRE-TV-2 rebroadcasting transmitter.
- 2011
Morning news expansion
[1]Global Regina launched a three-hour morning newscast on November 28, followed by Global Saskatoon on December 5.
- 2011
CFRE digital conversion
[1]CFRE began digital broadcasting on VHF channel 11 on August 10.
- 1997
Global branding introduced
[1]The STV name was replaced by the Global Television Network identity.
- 1994
Master control centralized in Regina
[1]A fibre-optic connection enabled centralization of Saskatoon master control in Regina outside local programming.
- 1987
STV begins broadcasting
[1]CFRE-TV Regina and CFSK-TV Saskatoon launched on September 6 under the Saskatchewan Television brand.
- 1986
Licence decision reaffirmed
[1]The CRTC again approved CanWest's application after a second hearing.
- 1985
Initial CanWest licence approval
[1]The CRTC selected CanWest's proposal for paired Regina and Saskatoon stations.
- 1985
Cabinet remand
[1]The federal cabinet sent the licensing decision back to the CRTC for reconsideration.
Products and positioning
A commercial television and local-news service combining the reach of the national Global Television Network with city-specific reporting for Regina and Saskatoon.
Local television station · 1987
Global Regina
The Regina service of Global Saskatchewan, broadcast by CFRE-DT on channel 11. It provides local news, weather, sports, and regional reporting for Regina and nearby communities while carrying Global network programming.
Local television station · 1987
Global Saskatoon
The Saskatoon service of Global Saskatchewan, broadcast by CFSK-DT on channel 4. It combines Saskatoon-focused news and community coverage with programming supplied by the Global Television Network.
News programming · 1987
Global Saskatchewan local news
A coordinated but locally differentiated news operation serving Regina and Saskatoon. Its schedule has included morning, early-evening, late-evening, weather, traffic, and sports coverage, with production increasingly organized across multiple markets.
Brand decisions
2019
Closure of the CFRE-TV-2 rebroadcasterOtherBackground
Corus sought regulatory approval to discontinue the Fort Qu'Appelle rebroadcasting transmitter.
Action taken
The CRTC approved the shutdown of CFRE-TV-2.
Aftermath
The Global Regina service continued without that terrestrial rebroadcasting antenna.
2011
Expansion into local morning newsProduct launchBackground
Global was expanding morning-news programming across several Canadian markets.
Action taken
Global Regina introduced a three-hour morning newscast on November 28, followed by Global Saskatoon on December 5.
Aftermath
The stations broadened their daily local-news schedules beyond midday and evening programming.
1997
Replacement of the STV identity with GlobalStrategyBackground
CanWest was extending the Global Television Network brand across its Canadian stations.
Action taken
The Saskatchewan Television name was discontinued and the stations adopted Global branding.
Aftermath
The Regina and Saskatoon services became known as Global Regina and Global Saskatoon.
1987
Launch of the paired STV stationsProduct launchBackground
CanWest received approval to establish an additional commercial television service in Saskatchewan after a contested licensing process.
Action taken
It built and launched CFRE-TV in Regina and CFSK-TV in Saskatoon on September 6, 1987.
Aftermath
The two stations formed the foundation of the later Global Regina and Global Saskatoon operation.
Recent events
- 2019
CRTC approves closure of CFRE-TV-2 rebroadcasting transmitter[1]
Regulation
The CRTC approved Corus Entertainment's request to shut down the CFRE-TV-2 transmitter serving Fort Qu'Appelle.
- 2012
Saskatchewan news programs move to consolidated News Hour Final format[1]
Other
The Prime News and News Final programs were combined into the hour-long News Hour Final.
- 2011
Global Regina launches a three-hour morning newscast[1]
Product launch
Global Regina added a three-hour local morning news program as part of a broader expansion of morning programming across Global's regional stations.
- 2011
CFRE completes digital transition[1]
Product generation
CFRE began digital transmission on VHF channel 11, becoming the first Regina station to broadcast a digital or high-definition signal.
- 1997
STV adopts the Global Television Network brand[1]
Other
The STV identity was retired when CanWest extended the Global brand across its Canadian television operations.
- 1987
STV launches in Regina and Saskatoon[1]
Product launch
CFRE-TV in Regina and CFSK-TV in Saskatoon began broadcasting on the same day as Saskatchewan Television, establishing the two-station service.
- 1986
CRTC reaffirms CanWest's Saskatchewan licences[1]
Regulation
Following a second hearing, the CRTC again approved CanWest's proposal, concluding that existing stations could economically withstand the additional competition.
- 1985
CRTC awards Saskatchewan third-service licences to CanWest proposal[1]
Other
The CRTC selected CanWest's SaskWest proposal for a new commercial television service in Saskatchewan after reviewing competing applications.
- 1985
Federal cabinet orders reconsideration of Saskatchewan television decision[1]
Regulation
After an appeal by competing applicants, the federal cabinet sent the licensing matter back to the CRTC for reconsideration, focusing on the structure and economic capacity of the Regina and Saskatoon markets.
Sources2 sources
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