CHRO-TV
A Canadian television station licensed to Pembroke, Ontario, serving Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley as part of the CTV2 system.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
CHRO-TV is a Canadian television station licensed to Pembroke, Ontario, and serving the wider Ottawa and Ottawa Valley region. The station broadcasts on channel 5 from its Pembroke transmitter and operates an Ottawa digital rebroadcaster, CHRO-DT-43, whose virtual channel remains 43 after its physical channel was reassigned to 35. It is affiliated with the CTV2 television system and is owned and operated by Bell Media alongside Ottawa CTV station CJOH-DT. The station began broadcasting on August 19, 1961, as CHOV-TV, a CBC Television affiliate owned by Gordon Archibald Ottawa Valley Broadcasting, which also owned radio station CHOV. Its early history was shaped by labour relations and financial pressure. Station employees unionized, a labour dispute followed, and the station temporarily went off the air for six days in August 1976 during a financial crisis. In 1977, Ottawa Valley Broadcasting sold the station to J. Conrad Lavigne. Under Lavigne, it adopted the CHRO-TV callsign and established a sales office in Ottawa, reflecting the station's dependence on access to the larger Ottawa advertising and viewing market. The station became part of the MCTV system in 1980. Although most MCTV outlets used the MCTV brand, the Pembroke station retained its call-letter identity while sharing the system's logo and programming schedule. Repeated efforts to expand its Ottawa presence eventually intersected with changes in ownership and Canadian broadcast regulation. When Baton Broadcasting acquired the MCTV stations in 1990, CHRO's cable carriage in Ottawa created an ownership and competition issue because Baton already owned CJOH-TV. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission nevertheless permitted the arrangement because Ottawa carriage was considered important to CHRO's survival and Pembroke alone was too small to sustain the service. CHRO therefore left the CBC and became a CTV affiliate, subject to programming controls intended to prevent unfair scheduling advantages over CJOH-TV. In 1997, CHRO moved to CHUM Limited in an exchange involving the ATV stations. CHUM obtained regulatory approval to add an Ottawa transmitter, which gave the station a true over-the-air presence in the capital. On September 7, 1998, CHRO became The New RO and joined CHUM's NewNet system. Its operational centre gradually shifted from Pembroke toward Ottawa. A small facility opened near CJOH's former Merivale Road site, and in October 2000 the station moved into CHUM's MarketMediaMall at 87 George Street in Ottawa's ByWard Market. The complex also housed CHUM radio properties and later became an important shared facility for Ottawa television operations. The station was renamed A-Channel in 2005 and A Ottawa in 2008. During this period, CHRO experienced substantial reductions in local news production, centralization of technical operations and increasing automation. In March 2009, most local news programming was cancelled, leaving an expanded morning program as the principal locally produced news service. This arrangement enabled the station to meet regulatory local-programming expectations while avoiding duplication with CJOH's higher-rated Ottawa evening newscasts. Bell Globemedia's acquisition of CHUM was completed in 2007 after regulatory restructuring. Although the transaction initially raised the possibility that the A stations would be sold, regulatory approval ultimately allowed CTV to retain CHRO. On August 29, 2011, the A system was relaunched as CTV Two, and CHRO became CTV Two Ottawa. The morning program was renamed CTV Morning Live, and the station began high-definition broadcasting on August 31, 2011. CHRO's Ottawa operations were further integrated with CJOH after a fire destroyed CJOH's long-time Merivale Road studios in February 2010. CJOH's newscasts were subsequently produced from the George Street facility. Today, CHRO-TV's principal role is as an Ottawa-area CTV2 service, with a schedule centred on CTV Morning Live Ottawa and other network programming. Its historical identity remains closely tied to Pembroke licensing, Ottawa carriage, shared ownership with CJOH and the evolution of Canadian private television from local analogue broadcasting to consolidated digital network operations.
History
CHRO-TV signed on August 19, 1961, as CHOV-TV, a CBC Television affiliate serving Pembroke and the Ottawa Valley. It was established by Gordon Archibald Ottawa Valley Broadcasting, the owner of AM radio station CHOV. Labour organization and financial instability were important early developments: employees unionized, a labour dispute occurred, and a financial crisis forced the station off the air for six days in August 1976. J. Conrad Lavigne acquired the station in 1977 and changed its callsign to CHRO-TV. He also opened a sales office in Ottawa, an early indication that the station needed access to the capital's larger commercial market. In 1980, Lavigne's company became part of the MCTV system. CHRO retained its callsign even though other MCTV stations generally used the MCTV name on air. The station pursued a stronger Ottawa presence during the 1980s. MCTV sought permission to leave the CBC and construct Ottawa facilities, but the regulatory process ultimately produced no immediate expansion for CHRO. Baton Broadcasting later acquired the MCTV stations in 1990. Because CHRO was distributed by cable in Ottawa and Baton already owned CJOH-TV, the arrangement raised concerns about effective dual ownership in the Ottawa market. The CRTC allowed CHRO to continue on the basis that Ottawa carriage was necessary for the station's viability, while imposing safeguards on programming schedules. CHRO ended its CBC affiliation and became a CTV affiliate. In 1997, CHRO was transferred to CHUM Limited. CHUM subsequently received approval to build an Ottawa rebroadcaster on channel 43, giving CHRO an over-the-air signal in the capital. On September 7, 1998, the station was renamed The New RO and joined the NewNet system. Its production and administrative operations moved progressively toward Ottawa. A temporary facility near CJOH's Merivale Road studios was followed by a move in October 2000 to CHUM's MarketMediaMall at 87 George Street in the ByWard Market. The facility also hosted several CHUM radio stations. CHUM consolidated parts of CHRO's technical and traffic operations in 2005. The station was renamed A-Channel in August of that year and A Ottawa in 2008. In January 2007, it introduced Ross Overdrive, an automated news-production system that reduced the need for several technical roles and affected about 25 staff members. In March 2009, CTVglobemedia cancelled nearly all local news programming other than the morning show and eliminated 34 Ottawa positions. The morning program was expanded to four hours on weekdays and two hours on Saturdays so the station could continue meeting CRTC local-programming requirements. Bell Globemedia announced its acquisition of CHUM in 2006, and the transaction was completed in June 2007 after regulatory changes. Although the proposed ownership structure initially contemplated selling the A stations, CTV ultimately retained CHRO. The regulator accepted continued common ownership of CHRO and CJOH partly because of CHRO's financial condition and the stations' established relationship. After a fire destroyed CJOH's former Merivale Road studios in February 2010, CJOH moved newscast production into CHRO's George Street facility. On August 29, 2011, the A system was relaunched as CTV Two, and CHRO became CTV Two Ottawa. Its morning show was renamed CTV Morning Live. The station also transitioned to high-definition broadcasting in August 2011. CHRO's Ottawa digital transmitter was originally assigned physical channel 43. Following spectrum changes associated with wireless reallocation, it moved to physical channel 35 on July 3, 2020, while continuing to use virtual channel 43. The station remains licensed to Pembroke, operates as part of Bell Media's CTV2 system and serves Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley through its main transmitter, digital rebroadcaster and shared Ottawa facilities.
- 2020
Digital transmitter reassigned
[1]The Ottawa transmitter changes physical frequency from channel 43 to 35 while retaining virtual channel 43.
- 2011
CTV Two identity and high definition
[1]CHRO becomes CTV Two Ottawa and begins HD broadcasting.
- 2009
Local news operation is sharply reduced
[1]Most local news programming is cancelled, leaving an expanded morning service.
- 2005
A-Channel rebrand
[1]The NewNet system is rebranded A-Channel.
- 2000
Moves to MarketMediaMall
[1]CHRO relocates its Ottawa operations to 87 George Street in the ByWard Market.
- 1998
Ottawa transmitter and NewNet launch
[1]The station begins Ottawa rebroadcasting and becomes The New RO.
- 1997
Transferred to CHUM Limited
[1]CHRO changes corporate ownership as part of an exchange involving the ATV stations.
- 1990
Becomes a CTV affiliate
[1]CHRO leaves CBC Television and affiliates with CTV under CRTC programming conditions.
- 1980
Joins MCTV
[1]The station becomes part of the MCTV system.
- 1977
Ownership changes and CHRO-TV callsign adopted
[1]J. Conrad Lavigne acquires the station, which adopts the CHRO-TV identity and opens an Ottawa sales office.
Products and positioning
A regional private television service linking Pembroke and the Ottawa Valley with Ottawa-based CTV2 programming, local morning news and selected community-oriented content.
Local morning news · 2011
CTV Morning Live Ottawa
CHRO's principal locally produced service is the Ottawa edition of CTV's morning-news franchise. It developed from A Morning after the CTV2 relaunch in 2011. The current format grew out of the 2009 decision to replace most of the station's other local newscasts with an expanded morning program, consisting of weekday and Saturday editions.
Broadcast television · 1961
CHRO-TV channel 5 service
The station's primary over-the-air service is licensed to Pembroke and transmits on analogue channel 5 according to the station's historical allocation. It serves Pembroke, the Ottawa Valley and surrounding communities with CTV2 programming and local content.
Digital rebroadcaster · 1998
CHRO-DT-43
The Ottawa digital rebroadcaster extends CHRO's service into the capital. It originally used physical channel 43 and, after spectrum reallocation, moved to physical channel 35 while retaining virtual channel 43.
Sports programming
Ottawa Senators broadcasts
CHRO carried approximately 20 regular-season Ottawa Senators games per year, generally on Thursday evenings, through the 2007–08 season. The broadcasts later returned exclusively to other sports networks.
Brand decisions
2011
Conversion to the CTV Two platformGeneration changeBackground
Bell Media sought to replace the A television system with a stronger connection to the CTV brand.
Action taken
CHRO was rebranded CTV Two Ottawa, its morning program became CTV Morning Live and the station adopted high-definition broadcasting.
Aftermath
CHRO became a continuing CTV2 regional outlet rather than an A-Channel-branded station.
2009
Consolidation of local news around the morning showStrategyBackground
CTVglobemedia cited recessionary conditions and the existence of higher-rated CJOH evening newscasts serving Ottawa.
Action taken
Nearly all CHRO local news programming was cancelled, the morning show was expanded, and 34 Ottawa employees were laid off.
Aftermath
CHRO retained a substantial morning operation to satisfy local-programming expectations while reducing duplicate evening coverage.
2007
Adoption of automated news productionStrategyBackground
CHUM pursued operating efficiencies across its television stations.
Action taken
CHRO introduced the Ross Overdrive automated production system for newscasts.
Aftermath
The change reduced the need for several technical roles and affected approximately 25 staff members.
1998
Launch of Ottawa rebroadcaster and The New RO brandProduct launchBackground
CHUM sought to strengthen CHRO's presence in Ottawa after acquiring the station.
Action taken
An Ottawa transmitter was added and CHRO joined NewNet under the The New RO identity.
Aftermath
The station gained an over-the-air Ottawa signal and shifted more operations toward the capital.
1990
Switch from CBC affiliation to CTV affiliationStrategyBackground
Baton Broadcasting's ownership of both CHRO and CJOH created a regulatory concern, but Ottawa cable carriage was considered necessary to CHRO's viability.
Action taken
CHRO ended its CBC relationship and joined CTV, subject to CRTC rules intended to limit scheduling advantages over CJOH.
Aftermath
The station became part of the private CTV ecosystem while retaining its Pembroke licence and Ottawa distribution.
Recent events
- 2020
Ottawa transmitter changes physical channel[1]
Regulation · Other
The digital rebroadcaster moves from physical channel 43 to channel 35 following Canadian spectrum reallocation while retaining virtual channel 43.
- 2011
A system is relaunched as CTV Two[1]
Product launch · Product generation
CHRO adopts the CTV Two Ottawa identity, renames its morning show CTV Morning Live and begins high-definition transmission.
- 2010
CJOH integrates operations with CHRO after studio fire[1]
Other
A fire at CJOH's Merivale Road studios leads CJOH to produce newscasts from CHRO's George Street facility.
- 2009
Most CHRO local news programming is cancelled[1]
Leadership change
CTVglobemedia cancels nearly all local news outside the morning program and lays off 34 Ottawa employees, citing recessionary conditions.
- 2006
Bell Globemedia announces proposed CHUM acquisition[1]
M&A
The proposed C$1.7 billion acquisition leads to uncertainty over the future ownership of CHRO and the other A stations.
- 2005
Technical operations are consolidated in Toronto[1]
Leadership change
CHUM announces consolidation of master control and traffic functions, affecting approximately 19 CHRO positions.
- 2005
CHRO is renamed A-Channel[1]
Other
The NewNet system is rebranded A-Channel, including the Pembroke and Ottawa service.
- 2000
Operations move to MarketMediaMall[1]
Other
CHRO relocates to CHUM's MarketMediaMall in Ottawa's ByWard Market.
- 1998
CHRO launches Ottawa rebroadcaster and becomes The New RO[1]
Product launch
After joining CHUM, the station adds an Ottawa transmitter and adopts The New RO branding as part of NewNet.
- 1990
CHRO leaves CBC affiliation and joins CTV[1]
Regulation
Following Baton Broadcasting's acquisition of MCTV, CHRO becomes a CTV affiliate under CRTC conditions governing programming coordination with CJOH.
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