CITO-TV

CITO-TV is a Canadian television station based in Timmins, Ontario. It is part of Bell Media's CTV Television Network and operates within the CTV Northern Ontario subsystem. The station provides CTV network programming, local and regional news coverage, advertising inventory, and related digital news content for audiences in Timmins and nearby communities. It also historically served viewers through an over-the-air rebroadcaster in Kapuskasing. The station began broadcasting on April 1, 1971, under the call sign CKSO-TV-2. It was created as a rebroadcast outlet for CKSO-TV in Sudbury, providing CTV service to Timmins while the established local station CFCL-TV continued to carry CBC programming. This arrangement differed from developments in Sudbury and North Bay, where new CBC affiliations were established after stations associated with J. Conrad Lavigne moved to CTV. In Timmins, CTV initially reached the market through a transmitter rather than a fully independent local station. During the 1970s, CKSO-TV-2 and CFCL-TV competed for advertising in a relatively small regional market. The rivalry placed financial pressure on both operations. In 1980, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the combination of Cambrian Broadcasting and Mid-Canada Communications into the MCTV twinstick. Following that transaction, CKSO-TV-2 adopted the CITO-TV call sign and began operating as a standalone station rather than simply functioning as CKSO's rebroadcaster. CITO-TV became part of Baton Broadcasting's station portfolio in 1990. Baton later became the sole corporate owner of the CTV network. Corporate ownership subsequently passed through CTVglobemedia and into Bell Media, which now owns and operates the station as a CTV affiliate. Although CITO-TV has its own local identity and facilities, its schedule is closely integrated with CICI-TV in Sudbury. The station is generally described as a de facto semi-satellite: it carries the same core programming as CICI-TV, while allowing for market-specific advertising and regional news inserts. The station's studios are located on Pine Street North near Hendry Avenue in Timmins. Its primary transmitter is situated near Highway 101, west of Connaught Road. The service has also included a Kapuskasing rebroadcaster on channel 10. Like many Canadian over-the-air television transmitters, CITO-TV's rebroadcast infrastructure became subject to questions about operating costs, declining over-the-air audiences, and the growing importance of cable and direct-to-home satellite distribution. Bell Media sought permission from the CRTC to remove selected analog transmitters, arguing that they generated little incremental revenue and duplicated the main station's programming. CITO-TV remains a local outlet under the CTV Northern Ontario banner. Its principal public role is the distribution of national CTV programming together with news and advertising relevant to Timmins and the surrounding region. The station's identity is therefore both local and network-based: it is a Timmins broadcasting operation, but its programming, ownership, and regional strategy are coordinated with CTV's wider Northern Ontario service.

CITO-TV originated in the restructuring of television service in Northern Ontario during the early 1970s. It went on air in Timmins on April 1, 1971, as CKSO-TV-2, a transmitter relaying the CTV programming of CKSO-TV in Sudbury. The arrangement reflected the different affiliation histories of Northern Ontario's television markets. In Timmins, CFCL-TV retained its CBC affiliation, so CTV service was initially supplied by a CKSO rebroadcaster rather than by a separate locally originated CTV station. The two principal television operations in Timmins, CKSO-TV-2 and CFCL-TV, competed for advertising revenue throughout the 1970s. The market was relatively small, and the competition contributed to financial difficulties for both stations. In 1980, the CRTC approved the merger of Cambrian Broadcasting and J. Conrad Lavigne's Mid-Canada Communications into the MCTV twinstick. As part of the restructuring, CKSO-TV-2 received the CITO-TV call sign and moved toward standalone station status. CITO-TV was acquired by Baton Broadcasting in 1990. Baton subsequently consolidated ownership of the CTV network, bringing the Timmins station into a larger national television group. The station later became part of CTVglobemedia and then Bell Media after Bell obtained full control of the CTVglobemedia broadcasting assets. CITO-TV is now operated as a CTV station within Bell Media's Northern Ontario structure. Operationally, CITO-TV has long been closely tied to CICI-TV in Sudbury. It functions as a de facto semi-satellite, carrying the same principal programming while retaining the ability to insert advertising and regional material intended for the Timmins market. Its facilities are in Timmins, with the main transmitter located near Highway 101 west of Connaught Road. A rebroadcaster has also served Kapuskasing on channel 10. The station's transmitter history has been affected by broader changes in Canadian television distribution. As cable and direct-to-home satellite subscriptions expanded, Bell Media argued that some analog repeaters attracted little viewership, produced no meaningful incremental revenue, and were expensive to maintain or replace. In 2016, the company sought CRTC permission to remove a number of transmitters, including CITO-TV-3 and CITO-TV-4. The applications acknowledged that transmitter shutdowns could affect regulatory privileges such as mandatory basic-service distribution and simultaneous-substitution rights. A later CRTC decision in 2019 authorized the closure of another transmitter associated with CITO-TV. The CITO-TV-2 transmitter ultimately stopped operating by December 3, 2021. These changes did not eliminate the Timmins station itself. CITO-TV continues to operate as a local CTV outlet, combining network programming with regional news coverage and advertising for Timmins and Northeastern Ontario.

• 2021

  CITO-TV-2 transmitter shuts down

  [1]CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The transmitter approved for closure in the later regulatory process ceased operation by December 3, 2021.

• 2019

  CRTC approves another transmitter closure

  [2]Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268crtc.gc.ca

  Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268 authorized closure of an additional CITO-TV transmitter.

• 2016

  Bell Media applies to delete analog transmitters

  [1]CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Bell Media included CITO-TV transmitters in a broad application to remove analog facilities with limited audiences and high operating costs.

• 1990

  Acquired by Baton Broadcasting

  [1]CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station joined Baton Broadcasting's group of television properties.

• 1980

  Adopts the CITO-TV call sign

  [1]CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After the creation of the MCTV twinstick, CKSO-TV-2 became CITO-TV and began operating as a standalone station.

• 1971

  Launch as CKSO-TV-2

  [1]CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting in Timmins as a CKSO-TV Sudbury rebroadcaster and CTV affiliate.

A local Timmins television outlet within the CTV Northern Ontario regional network, combining national CTV programming with market-specific news, advertising, and community coverage.

• Television programming · 1971

  CTV network programming

  CITO-TV distributes the CTV Television Network schedule to viewers in the Timmins area. The station's core schedule is coordinated with CICI-TV in Sudbury, making the service part of CTV's wider Northern Ontario regional operation.

• Local and regional news

  CTV Northern Ontario news

  The station carries regional CTV news coverage with material relevant to Northern Ontario and market-specific inserts for Timmins. Its news role complements the national CTV schedule and gives the station a local presence despite its close program relationship with the Sudbury outlet.

• Broadcast advertising · 1971

  Television advertising

  CITO-TV sells or distributes advertising targeted to Timmins and nearby communities. Local advertising is one of the principal distinctions between the station's market service and the broader programming feed shared with CICI-TV.

• 2019

  Closure of an additional CITO-TV transmitterStrategy

  Background

  Bell Media continued to rationalize analog transmission facilities that duplicated the main station's programming.

  Action taken

  The CRTC approved Bell Media's request in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268.

  Aftermath

  The affected CITO-TV-2 transmitter shut down by December 3, 2021.

  Source

• 2016

  Application to remove selected analog transmittersStrategy

  Background

  Bell Media stated that certain analog repeaters generated little or no incremental revenue, attracted limited audiences as cable and satellite distribution expanded, and were costly to maintain.

  Action taken

  Bell Media applied to delete several transmitters associated with CITO-TV and other CTV stations, accepting the possible loss of certain regulatory distribution privileges.

  Aftermath

  The transmitter network was subsequently reduced through regulatory approvals, while the main CITO-TV service continued operating.

  Source

• 1980

  Transition from CKSO-TV-2 to an independent CITO-TV serviceStrategy

  Background

  The Timmins market's two television operations faced financial pressure after competing for advertising in a relatively small market.

  Action taken

  Following CRTC approval of the MCTV twinstick merger, the station changed its call sign and began operating as a standalone station.

  Aftermath

  CITO-TV developed a distinct Timmins identity while remaining closely connected to the CTV Northern Ontario regional operation.

  Source

1. 1CITO-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268crtc.gc.ca
3. 3CTV News Northern Ontario: Timminsnorthernontario.ctvnews.ca