CHMG-DT

CHMG-DT is a low-power independent community television station based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The station is owned by Télé-Mag inc. and operates under the Télé-Mag brand, a name formed from the French words for television and magazine. Its programming and identity are associated with local, community-oriented television rather than with a national commercial network or a large multichannel broadcasting group. The station originated in 1979 as Télé-Plus 24, a cable-only service. The number 24 referred to its cable channel position at the time. In 1994, the service was renamed Télé-Mag 24, retaining the channel reference while emphasizing its magazine-style television identity. The service later moved from cable channel 24 to channel 10, making the numerical element of the earlier name obsolete. Télé-Mag received regulatory approval to expand from cable distribution into terrestrial broadcasting in August 2003, when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission granted it a low-power television licence on channel 9 under the CHMG-TV call sign. The authorized transmission power was only 38 watts, consistent with the station's local and limited-coverage character. The over-the-air service began broadcasting on October 20, 2005. The station's studios are located on Jean-Perrin Street in the Les Rivières borough of Quebec City, close to Autoroutes 40 and 73. Its transmitter is located at Place de la Cité in Sainte-Foy. These facilities support a service focused on the Quebec City market and distinguish CHMG-DT from province-wide or national broadcasters. CHMG-TV began high-definition distribution through cable television in December 2010. Because its terrestrial transmitter operated at low power, it was not subject to Canada's mandatory analogue shutdown and digital-conversion requirement that took effect on August 31, 2011. The station subsequently converted its over-the-air transmission to digital through a flash cut sometime in 2020. The current digital call-sign form is CHMG-DT, while Télé-Mag remains the principal on-air brand. CHMG-DT's significance lies in its continuity as a locally rooted Quebec City television service. Its history spans cable community programming, licensed low-power terrestrial broadcasting, high-definition cable distribution, and eventual digital terrestrial transmission. Public reference material identifies the station's ownership, facilities, licensing history, transmission changes, and brand evolution, but does not provide a detailed public account of its executive team, financial performance, audience measurements, or specific program slate.

CHMG-DT traces its origins to 1979, when Télé-Mag began as a cable-only community television service called Télé-Plus 24. The original numerical designation referred to the service's position on cable channel 24. In 1994, the station adopted the name Télé-Mag 24. The Télé-Mag name combined the concepts of television and a magazine, reflecting the service's local magazine-style identity. Although the service later moved to channel 10, the number 24 ceased to describe its distribution position. For its first decades, Télé-Mag operated exclusively through cable distribution. A significant change came in August 2003, when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved a low-power terrestrial broadcasting licence. The authorization assigned channel 9 and the CHMG-TV call sign, with a transmission power of 38 watts. This created an over-the-air extension of the existing local television service while preserving its limited, community-scale footprint. The terrestrial station launched on October 20, 2005. Its studios were established on Jean-Perrin Street in Quebec City's Les Rivières borough, near Autoroutes 40 and 73. The transmitter was located at Place de la Cité in Sainte-Foy. The combination of these facilities supported service to the Quebec City area rather than a broad provincial or national market. Télé-Mag upgraded its cable distribution to high definition in December 2010. Its low-power terrestrial operation was treated differently from higher-power broadcasters during Canada's analogue television shutdown and digital conversion, which occurred on August 31, 2011. Because the transmitter was low power, CHMG-TV was not required to complete the conversion by that national deadline. The station eventually flash-cut its terrestrial signal to digital sometime in 2020, and the digital call-sign form CHMG-DT became associated with the service. Throughout these changes, Télé-Mag remained the station's on-air identity and Télé-Mag inc. remained its identified owner. The station's public history is therefore one of gradual technical and distributional expansion: from a cable community channel, to a licensed low-power analogue broadcaster, to high-definition cable distribution and later digital terrestrial transmission. Available reference material does not establish a detailed list of executives, individual programs, financial results, or major controversies.

• 2020

  Terrestrial transmission changes to digital

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station completes a later flash cut from analogue to digital terrestrial transmission.

• 2010

  High-definition cable service begins

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé-Mag starts high-definition broadcasting through cable television in December.

• 2005

  Over-the-air service launches

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHMG-TV begins terrestrial broadcasting on October 20 with a 38-watt transmitter.

• 2003

  Low-power broadcast licence approved

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC authorizes a low-power terrestrial station on channel 9 using the CHMG-TV call sign.

• 1994

  Service renamed Télé-Mag 24

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The cable service adopts the Télé-Mag 24 name, retaining the numerical reference to its former channel position.

• 1979

  Télé-Plus 24 begins cable operation

  [1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The service that later became Télé-Mag begins broadcasting as the cable-only community channel Télé-Plus 24.

A locally focused, independent community television station serving Quebec City through cable and low-power terrestrial broadcasting under the Télé-Mag brand.

• Community television service · 1979

  Télé-Mag

  The station's principal on-air brand and local television service. Télé-Mag provides the identity under which CHMG-DT is presented to viewers in the Quebec City area. The name is a blend of television and magazine, consistent with a locally oriented magazine-style community broadcaster.

• Digital broadcast station · 2020

  CHMG-DT digital terrestrial service

  The station's digital over-the-air service, developed from the original CHMG-TV low-power analogue operation. The terrestrial service launched in 2005 and later converted to digital through a flash cut sometime in 2020.

• 2020

  Digital terrestrial conversionGeneration change

  Background

  The station's low-power transmitter was not covered by the mandatory 2011 analogue shutdown and conversion deadline.

  Action taken

  CHMG-TV later completed a flash cut to digital terrestrial transmission.

  Aftermath

  The station continued its over-the-air service in digital form under the CHMG-DT designation.

  Source

• 2010

  High-definition cable upgradeOther

  Background

  Télé-Mag continued to distribute its programming through cable as television delivery standards advanced.

  Action taken

  The station began high-definition broadcasting via cable in December 2010.

  Aftermath

  Télé-Mag's cable viewers gained access to a high-definition version of the service.

  Source

• 2003

  Expansion from cable-only service to terrestrial broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  Télé-Mag had operated as a cable-only community service before seeking authorization to reach viewers through a low-power terrestrial signal.

  Action taken

  The CRTC granted Télé-Mag a 38-watt licence for channel 9 under the CHMG-TV call sign.

  Aftermath

  The terrestrial service launched in October 2005, extending the station's local distribution model beyond cable.

  Source

• 2020

  CHMG-DT completes digital terrestrial transition[1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Regulation

  The low-power station later converted its terrestrial transmission to digital through a flash cut. Its low-power status had exempted it from Canada's 2011 mandatory analogue shutdown deadline.

• 2010

  Télé-Mag launches high-definition cable distribution[1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The station began broadcasting in high definition through cable television in December, marking a technical upgrade to its distributed service.

• 2005

  CHMG-TV begins terrestrial broadcasting[1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The newly licensed low-power over-the-air service began broadcasting on October 20, extending Télé-Mag beyond its earlier cable-only operation.

• 2003

  CRTC grants Télé-Mag a low-power terrestrial television licence[1]CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission authorized Télé-Mag to operate a low-power terrestrial station on channel 9 under the CHMG-TV call sign. The approved transmission power was 38 watts.

1. 1CHMG-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Télé-Mag station historytele-mag.tv