CFTK-TV
CFTK-TV is a Bell Media television station in Terrace, British Columbia, serving northwestern British Columbia with CTV2 programming and local news.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
CFTK-TV is a Canadian television station based in Terrace, British Columbia. The station serves communities across northwestern British Columbia and operates rebroadcast transmitters in Prince Rupert and Smithers. Its primary analogue channel is 3, while the Prince Rupert transmitter operates on channel 6 and the Smithers transmitter on channel 5. CFTK's studios are located on Lazelle Avenue in Terrace, and its main transmission facilities are located on Thornhill Mountain. The station began broadcasting on November 1, 1962. For much of its history, CFTK functioned as a regional broadcaster whose schedule combined locally produced programming with content supplied by larger Canadian television organizations. During the 1990s it was associated with Northern Television, a two-station sub-network that also involved CKPG-TV in Prince George. Northern Television carried a mixture of American syndicated programming, shows associated with CHUM Limited's NewNet and A-Channel services, and CBC programming. Ownership and affiliation changed several times. Telemedia owned CFTK from 1999 until Standard Broadcasting acquired the station in 2002. At the time of the Standard transaction, Northern Television was discontinued and replaced by Great West Television, a regional arrangement involving CFTK-TV and CKPG-TV. Great West Television subsequently became less significant as the Canadian television market and network relationships changed. In 2006, after CBC Television moved toward a full 24-hour schedule, CFTK dropped its syndicated programming and carried a substantially larger amount of CBC programming outside its local news output. For a period, the station effectively operated as a semi-satellite of Vancouver's CBUT while retaining a distinct local news operation. Astral Media acquired CFTK in 2007 as part of its purchase of most of Standard Broadcasting's assets. Bell Canada's acquisition of Astral Media was approved in 2013 after an earlier proposal had been rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Bell retained CFTK and committed to maintaining the station's existing licence conditions, including its CBC affiliation, until the end of the applicable licence term. A major programming change occurred in 2016. Bell and CBC agreed to end CFTK's CBC affiliation early, and the station began carrying programming from Bell's CTV Two system on February 22, 2016. The service is now associated with the CTV2 television network while continuing to produce local news for its regional audience. Its weekday news schedule includes one-hour programs at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., supplemented by a weekend half-hour program called Week in Review. CFTK expanded its regional reach when Bell Media received approval in 2017 to reactivate a former CBC transmitter in Smithers. The facility became CFTK-TV-2 and began rebroadcasting CFTK programming on channel 5. Together with the Prince Rupert transmitter, this infrastructure allows the station to serve a geographically dispersed market in northern British Columbia. CFTK's principal public role is therefore that of a regional television outlet: it combines national network content with news and information relevant to Terrace, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and surrounding communities.
History
CFTK-TV began broadcasting on November 1, 1962, from Terrace, British Columbia. Its purpose was to provide television service to Terrace and nearby communities in a region characterized by long distances and dispersed settlements. The station later developed a broader regional footprint through transmitters serving Prince Rupert and Smithers. During the 1990s, CFTK was connected with Northern Television, a two-station sub-network that also included CKPG-TV. The arrangement combined regional station operations with imported American programs and programming associated with CHUM Limited's NewNet and A-Channel services. CBC programming was also part of the schedule. Telemedia acquired ownership of CFTK in 1999, before Standard Broadcasting purchased the station in 2002. The 2002 ownership change coincided with the end of Northern Television and the launch of Great West Television, a new regional arrangement involving CFTK and CKPG-TV. Great West Television did not remain a major long-term programming structure. By October 2006, CBC Television had moved to a 24-hour schedule, changing the economics and scheduling environment for affiliated stations. CFTK discontinued its syndicated programming and increased its CBC output outside local news. The resulting schedule made the station functionally similar to a semi-satellite of Vancouver's CBUT, although CFTK continued to maintain its own local identity and news operation. Astral Media acquired CFTK in 2007 through its purchase of most Standard Broadcasting assets. Bell Canada subsequently proposed to acquire Astral Media. The first proposal was rejected by the CRTC in 2012, but Bell submitted a revised plan in 2013 that involved divestitures while retaining CFTK. The revised transaction was approved by the Competition Bureau in March 2013 and by the CRTC in June 2013. Bell agreed to preserve CFTK's existing licence conditions, including its CBC affiliation, through the end of the relevant licence period. The station's most important modern programming decision followed in 2015 and 2016. Bell applied to end CFTK's CBC affiliation, and the CRTC made the application public on October 28, 2015. Bell and CBC reached an agreement to terminate the affiliation early on October 5 of that year. CFTK began carrying CTV2 programming on February 22, 2016. The change shifted the station from a CBC-affiliated local broadcaster to a Bell-owned CTV2 outlet. To satisfy Canadian carriage requirements, television service providers in the region that did not already carry CBUT were required to add a CBC Television service by the disaffiliation date. CFTK later strengthened its coverage in the Bulkley Valley when Bell applied in October 2017 for a Smithers rebroadcast transmitter. The CRTC approved the application on December 12, 2017. The new CFTK-TV-2 service reused a former CBC-owned facility, CBCY-TV-2, which had rebroadcast CBUT until its closure on July 31, 2012, during CBC budget reductions. The reactivated transmitter broadcasts on channel 5. Today, CFTK operates as an active Bell Media station associated with CTV2. It retains studios on Lazelle Avenue in Terrace, uses a transmitter on Thornhill Mountain, and serves Prince Rupert and Smithers through rebroadcast facilities. Local news remains central to the station's identity. Weekday newscasts run for one hour at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., while a weekend half-hour recap, Week in Review, provides a summary of regional coverage.
- 2017
Smithers transmitter approved
[1]Approval is granted for CFTK-TV-2, a Smithers rebroadcast transmitter operating on channel 5.
- 2016
CTV2 affiliation begins
[1]CFTK ends its CBC affiliation and starts carrying CTV2 programming on February 22.
- 2007
Astral Media acquisition
[1]Astral Media acquires CFTK as part of its purchase of most Standard Broadcasting assets.
- 2006
Schedule shifts toward CBC programming
[1]CFTK drops syndicated programming and increases CBC content after CBC Television adopts a 24-hour schedule.
- 2002
Standard Broadcasting acquisition and Great West Television
[1]Standard Broadcasting acquires CFTK and the Northern Television arrangement is replaced by Great West Television.
- 1999
Telemedia ownership begins
[1]Telemedia owns CFTK before transferring the station to Standard Broadcasting in 2002.
- 1990
Association with Northern Television
[1]During the 1990s, CFTK participates in the Northern Television two-station sub-network with CKPG-TV.
- 1962
CFTK-TV launches
[1]CFTK-TV begins broadcasting in Terrace, British Columbia, on November 1.
Products and positioning
A regional commercial television station combining CTV2 network programming with locally produced news and community coverage for northwestern British Columbia.
Local television news
CFTK-TV local news
CFTK's core locally produced service consists of weekday one-hour newscasts broadcast at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The programs provide regional reporting for Terrace and surrounding communities, giving the station a distinct local role within its CTV2 schedule.
Regional news recap
Week in Review
Week in Review is a half-hour weekend program that summarizes selected regional stories from the station's news coverage and extends CFTK's local information service beyond its weekday broadcasts.
Network television programming · 2016
CTV2 programming
Since February 22, 2016, CFTK has carried programming from Bell Media's CTV2 system. This network schedule forms the national and general-interest programming component of the station's service, alongside CFTK's locally produced news.
Broadcast transmission
CFTK regional transmission service
CFTK distributes its service from Terrace and through rebroadcast transmitters in Prince Rupert and Smithers. The network of facilities extends coverage across northwestern British Columbia, a geographically broad market that cannot be served effectively from Terrace alone.
Brand decisions
2017
Reactivate Smithers rebroadcast serviceProduct launchBackground
Bell sought to expand CFTK's regional reach by reusing a former CBC-owned transmitter in Smithers.
Action taken
The CRTC approved a new CFTK-TV-2 transmitter on December 12, 2017. The facility broadcasts on channel 5.
Aftermath
Smithers regained a local rebroadcast service carrying CFTK programming after the earlier CBC transmitter had been closed.
2016
Switch from CBC Television to CTV2StrategyBackground
Bell Media applied to end CFTK's CBC affiliation, and Bell and CBC agreed to terminate the affiliation before its scheduled end.
Action taken
CFTK began airing CTV2 programming on February 22, 2016, while continuing its local news operation.
Aftermath
The station became a Bell-owned CTV2 outlet. Television providers in the region without an appropriate CBC service were required to add one to comply with Canadian carriage rules.
2006
End syndicated programming and increase CBC contentStrategyBackground
CBC Television moved to a 24-hour schedule in October 2006, altering the programming environment for CFTK.
Action taken
CFTK dropped syndicated programming and increased CBC programming outside its local news broadcasts.
Aftermath
The station effectively operated as a semi-satellite of Vancouver's CBUT for the remainder of its CBC affiliation.
2002
Replace Northern Television with Great West TelevisionStrategyBackground
Following Standard Broadcasting's acquisition of CFTK, the earlier Northern Television two-station sub-network was discontinued.
Action taken
CFTK and CKPG-TV were associated under the Great West Television name, with a schedule combining regional operations and supplied programming.
Aftermath
Great West Television later largely ceased to exist as CBC Television's schedule and the stations' affiliation arrangements changed.
Sources2 sources
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