CFTM-DT

CFTM-DT is a French-language television station serving Montreal, Quebec, and the flagship outlet of the TVA network. The station broadcasts on channel 10 and operates from Montreal under the ownership of Groupe TVA, a Quebecor subsidiary. Its role extends beyond local broadcasting: because CFTM has historically been the largest and most influential TVA station, much of the network's national programming has originated with or been relayed from its Montreal operation. The station began broadcasting on February 19, 1961, under the ownership of Joseph Alexandre de Sève and his company, Télé-Métropole. In its earliest period, CFTM relied in part on kinescoped programming from European broadcasters, including RTL and Télé Monte Carlo, before developing a more distinctive local and regional schedule. Its importance grew quickly through program-sharing arrangements with stations in other Quebec markets. On April 14, 1963, CFTM began sharing programming with CJPM-TV in Chicoutimi, now part of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean market. CFCM-TV in Quebec City joined the arrangement in 1964. These relationships formed the practical foundation of what became TVA, although the network was not formally established until September 12, 1971. CFTM's dominant position within TVA continued for decades. Before Télé-Métropole acquired majority control of TVA in 1990, the Montreal station already supplied a substantial share of the network's schedule. At one point, it produced as much as 90 percent of TVA programming. The network feed has consequently often functioned as an expanded distribution of CFTM's output, with local Montreal breaking-news and severe-weather interruptions sometimes affecting viewers across the TVA system. The station also played a central role in TVA's expansion beyond Quebec. Beginning November 1, 1981, CFTM's signal was distributed by Cancom to cable operators across Canada under the TCTV service, although the service was not generally available in the largest Canadian cities. TCTV largely carried CFTM programming, supplemented by local material and selected programming from other TVA affiliates. After the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved TVA's national network licence in 1998, the TCTV service ended. From May 1, 1999, Canadian cable companies were required to carry a TVA station, and CFTM became the TVA outlet distributed in most markets outside Quebec, subject to regional exceptions. A time-shifted version is also available to western Canadian cable systems. CFTM transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasting during Canada's digital television conversion. Although it received earlier regulatory approval and extensions to launch a digital service, the final conversion occurred in the early hours of September 1, 2011. The analogue transmitter was shut down during a movie, and a digital signal began broadcasting shortly afterward on virtual channel 10. In May 2025, CFTM moved its operations to the Journal de Montréal building on Rue Frontenac in Montreal's Ville-Marie borough. The site is shared with Qub Radio and the TVA network. Its transmitter remains located on Voie Camillien-Houde near Mount Royal. Today, CFTM combines Montreal news and public-affairs programming with the national schedule of TVA, serving both as a local station and as the network's principal production and distribution hub.

CFTM-DT signed on in Montreal on February 19, 1961, a few weeks after CFCF-TV. The station was established by Joseph Alexandre de Sève through Télé-Métropole. Early programming included kinescoped material obtained from European broadcasters such as RTL and Télé Monte Carlo, but CFTM soon developed a stronger local identity and became the principal television operation associated with Télé-Métropole. Its regional influence expanded through program-sharing agreements. On April 14, 1963, the day CJPM-TV began broadcasting in Chicoutimi, CFTM started exchanging and sharing programming with that station. CFCM-TV in Quebec City joined the arrangement in 1964. Although these stations did not yet constitute a formally licensed network, their collaboration created the operating model that eventually became TVA. TVA was formally established on September 12, 1971. CFTM remained the dominant station within the new network. It was already responsible for a very large portion of TVA's programming before Télé-Métropole obtained majority control of TVA in 1990. At its peak, the Montreal station produced as much as 90 percent of the network schedule. This concentration gave CFTM an unusual role: it was both a local Montreal broadcaster and the principal source of programming seen by TVA audiences elsewhere in Quebec and Canada. Network viewers could also be affected when CFTM interrupted the common feed for Montreal breaking news or weather alerts. The station's distribution footprint broadened in the 1980s. From November 1, 1981, Cancom distributed a CFTM-based service called TCTV to cable operators around Canada. TCTV primarily carried CFTM programming, supplemented by local news and selected content from other TVA affiliates. It was not broadly available in most major cities, but it established an important national distribution path for TVA programming. The service ended after the CRTC approved TVA's national network licence in 1998. Beginning May 1, 1999, cable companies across Canada were required to carry a TVA station. CFTM became the TVA service carried in most markets outside Quebec, with certain areas instead receiving stations from neighbouring regions. Western Canadian systems also received a version delayed by three hours to align with Pacific Time. CFTM's transition to digital television involved several regulatory steps. The CRTC approved a request in March 2006 for digital broadcasting on UHF channel 59 and later granted extensions for the launch. A further extension was granted during a 2009 TVA licence-renewal hearing. The station ultimately completed its conversion in connection with Canada's analogue shutdown. At 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2011, it ended analogue transmission during a film and began transmitting digitally a few minutes later while retaining channel 10 as its virtual channel identity. For many years, CFTM operated from facilities associated with Télé-Métropole and TVA in Montreal. In May 2025, it moved to the Journal de Montréal building on Rue Frontenac in the Ville-Marie borough. The facility is shared with Qub Radio and the TVA network. The station's transmitter is located on Voie Camillien-Houde near Mount Royal. CFTM remains active as TVA's Montreal flagship, combining regional news and programming with the network output that reaches audiences across Canada.

• 2025

  Move to the Journal de Montréal building

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFTM relocated its studios to Rue Frontenac in Montreal, co-locating with Qub Radio and TVA network operations.

• 2011

  Digital television conversion

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFTM ended analogue transmission shortly after midnight on September 1 and commenced digital broadcasting.

• 1999

  Mandatory national carriage of TVA

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Beginning May 1, Canadian cable companies were required to carry a TVA station; CFTM became the outlet used in most markets outside Quebec.

• 1998

  TVA receives a national network licence

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC approved TVA's national network licence, replacing the earlier TCTV distribution model.

• 1990

  Télé-Métropole gains majority control of TVA

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé-Métropole acquired majority control of TVA, formalizing the relationship between CFTM's owner and the network.

• 1981

  Launch of TCTV distribution

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  A CFTM-based service began national cable distribution through Cancom under the TCTV name.

• 1971

  Formal creation of TVA

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The TVA network was formally established on September 12, with CFTM serving as its dominant Montreal outlet.

• 1964

  Quebec City station joins the arrangement

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFCM-TV in Quebec City joined the developing inter-station programming network.

• 1963

  First major program-sharing arrangement

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFTM began sharing programming with CJPM-TV in Chicoutimi, establishing an early component of the future TVA system.

• 1961

  Launch of CFTM

  [1]CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFTM began broadcasting in Montreal on February 19 under Joseph Alexandre de Sève and Télé-Métropole.

The leading Montreal outlet and operational flagship of TVA, positioned as a mass-market French-language television service combining local news and programming with national network content.

• French-language television station · 1961

  CFTM-DT local television service

  The station's core service is a French-language broadcast for Montreal and surrounding areas. It combines local news, weather, public-affairs and entertainment programming with content supplied through the TVA network. CFTM broadcasts digitally using channel 10 as its virtual channel identity and acts as the principal local production centre for TVA's Montreal audience.

• National television network programming · 1971

  TVA network feed

  CFTM supplies or relays a substantial portion of the programming distributed by TVA. Historically, the station produced most of the network schedule, and the common feed has often been closely tied to CFTM's output. This role makes the station more than a local affiliate: it is the operational flagship through which much TVA programming reaches audiences across Quebec and Canada.

• Cable distribution service · 1981

  TCTV

  TCTV was a CFTM-based service distributed by Cancom to cable operators beginning in 1981. It carried much of CFTM's schedule, along with some local programming and content from other TVA affiliates. The service provided a national distribution route before TVA obtained a national network licence and was subsequently discontinued.

• 2025

  Relocation to a shared Quebecor media facilityStrategy

  Background

  CFTM, Qub Radio and TVA network operations were brought together in the Journal de Montréal building.

  Action taken

  The station moved its studios to the Rue Frontenac building in Montreal.

  Aftermath

  CFTM continued operating as TVA's Montreal flagship from a facility shared with related media operations.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion from analogue to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Background

  Canada's national digital television transition required affected stations to replace analogue transmission.

  Action taken

  CFTM shut down its analogue transmitter and began digital broadcasting shortly afterward on virtual channel 10.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating under the channel 10 identity with a digital terrestrial signal.

  Source

• 1998

  Transition to a licensed national TVA networkStrategy

  Background

  The earlier TCTV distribution model was replaced by a formal national network structure.

  Action taken

  The CRTC approved TVA's national network licence.

  Aftermath

  TCTV ended, and CFTM became the TVA station carried in most Canadian markets outside Quebec after mandatory carriage took effect in 1999.

  Source

• 1981

  Expand CFTM programming through TCTVStrategy

  Background

  TVA programming needed a broader distribution mechanism beyond Quebec's existing station network.

  Action taken

  Cancom began distributing a CFTM-based service to cable operators across Canada under the TCTV name.

  Aftermath

  TCTV extended the reach of CFTM and TVA content until TVA's national network licence made the arrangement unnecessary.

  Source

1. 1CFTM-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TVA Nouvelles Montréaltvanouvelles.ca