Citytv Saskatchewan

Citytv Saskatchewan is an English-language cable television channel serving the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission as an educational programming service and operates as a cable-delivered, satellite-to-cable undertaking rather than as an over-the-air television station. The service is based in Regina, where its studios are shared with CBC's Regina facilities on Broad Street. The channel began on May 6, 1991, as the Saskatchewan Communications Network, commonly known as SCN. It was established by the Government of Saskatchewan after the province received a CRTC licence for a non-commercial educational broadcaster. In its public-broadcaster period, SCN was supported by provincial government funding and viewer donations. Its schedule focused on educational, cultural, children's and locally produced programming, and the channel periodically conducted pledge drives. One program associated with the service was the music performance series The Neighbors Dog. SCN faced financial and audience pressures as viewing habits and the television market changed. In March 2010, the Saskatchewan government announced that it intended to wind down the service, citing low ratings, while transferring some functions, including distance-education distribution, to SaskTel. Rather than immediately close the channel, the government continued operating it while evaluating potential buyers. In June 2010, it announced a sale to Bluepoint Investment Corporation. The CRTC approved the transaction and related licence amendments in December 2010. Under private ownership, SCN adopted a hybrid model influenced by Alberta's Access service. It retained a daily block of commercial-free educational programming, scheduled from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., but was permitted to broadcast advertising-supported entertainment programming after 3 p.m. The revised licence allowed up to 14 minutes of advertising per hour in the commercial portion of the schedule. The channel gradually introduced films and entertainment series, including a new prime-time lineup launched in September 2011. In December 2011, SCN announced an affiliation agreement with Rogers Communications. Beginning January 2, 2012, it carried Citytv programming from 3 p.m. until 6 a.m., while continuing educational, children's and local programming during the remaining hours. This arrangement was promoted as Citytv on SCN. Rogers subsequently announced its intention to acquire the service from Bluepoint. The CRTC approved the acquisition on June 21, 2012, and the transaction closed later that month. Rogers relaunched the channel as Citytv Saskatchewan on July 1, 2012, making it a de facto Citytv owned-and-operated service. The Citytv Saskatchewan schedule combines Citytv network entertainment with programming required by its educational licence. Children's programming is carried in a CityKids block from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by educational programming for older youth and adults until 3 p.m. The service is distributed on basic cable in Saskatchewan and is also available through Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct. Its satellite-to-cable classification gives it simultaneous-substitution rights for qualifying programming in the province, but it does not operate terrestrial transmitters. Unlike other major Citytv owned-and-operated stations, Citytv Saskatchewan has not carried a regional CityNews operation. Rogers stated that it intended to invest in the channel's infrastructure and develop a high-definition feed, but no local news service was planned at the relaunch. The brand therefore occupies a specialized position within the Citytv system: it is a commercial entertainment outlet during part of the day while continuing to fulfill the educational-service obligations inherited from SCN.

Citytv Saskatchewan originated as the Saskatchewan Communications Network, or SCN, a public educational television service created by the Government of Saskatchewan. The province received a CRTC licence for a non-commercial educational broadcaster in February 1991, and SCN began broadcasting on May 6 of that year. Its remit was broader than that of a conventional commercial station: it provided educational, cultural, children's and locally produced content to Saskatchewan audiences. Public funding and viewer donations supported the service, and SCN used pledge appeals to solicit contributions. Its programming included the music performance series The Neighbors Dog. The public model became increasingly difficult to sustain. SCN had limited audience reach and faced changing television economics, prompting the provincial government to announce in March 2010 that it would wind down the network. Some activities, including distance-education distribution, were expected to move to SaskTel. The planned shutdown was not implemented immediately because the government kept the channel operating while considering offers to purchase it. In June 2010, the government announced that SCN would be sold to Bluepoint Investment Corporation. The proposed transaction required regulatory approval because SCN's licence conditions defined it as an educational service. The CRTC approved the ownership transfer and licence amendments on December 23, 2010. The amended operating model allowed SCN to remain commercial-free during the daytime educational schedule, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., while permitting advertising-supported entertainment programming after 3 p.m., with a limit of 14 advertising minutes per hour in that portion of the day. Bluepoint's version of SCN resembled Alberta's Access service, which also combined educational obligations with commercial programming. Initially, the channel made relatively limited changes, although it began showing films during evening hours in summer 2011. A more substantial programming change arrived on September 12, 2011, when SCN introduced a prime-time lineup featuring contemporary American programs such as Supernatural and The Insider, as well as older series including Danger Bay, Family Ties and Frasier. SCN then entered a major affiliation and ownership transition. In December 2011, it announced an agreement with Rogers Communications to carry programming from Rogers' Citytv network between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. The arrangement began on January 2, 2012, under the Citytv on SCN presentation. Educational, children's and locally produced material continued outside the Citytv block so that SCN could meet its licence requirements. This gave Citytv a Saskatchewan presence without the construction of a separate conventional over-the-air station. Rogers later agreed to purchase SCN from Bluepoint. The CRTC approved the acquisition on June 21, 2012, and the transaction closed during the same month. Rogers relaunched the service as Citytv Saskatchewan on July 1, 2012. The channel became part of the Citytv system and was effectively operated as an owned-and-operated Citytv service, while retaining the hybrid schedule created under the earlier private ownership arrangement. Rogers committed to maintaining commercial-free educational programming from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The CityKids block occupies the 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. period, followed by educational programming aimed at older children, youth and adults until 3 p.m. Citytv entertainment programming occupies the later schedule. Rogers also indicated that it planned to improve the channel's infrastructure and introduce a high-definition feed, but it did not plan to add regional news programming. As a result, Citytv Saskatchewan differs from the other Citytv owned-and-operated stations that produce local CityNews broadcasts. The service is licensed as an educational programming undertaking and is carried on basic cable in Saskatchewan. It is also distributed through Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct. Its regulatory classification as a satellite-to-cable undertaking grants it simultaneous-substitution rights for applicable programming in Saskatchewan, but it does not operate over-the-air transmitters. Its identity consequently combines three layers: a provincially focused educational service inherited from SCN, a commercial entertainment schedule supplied through Citytv, and a cable-distribution model designed for Saskatchewan rather than for a conventional broadcast market.

• 2012

  Citytv programming begins on SCN

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  The Citytv on SCN affiliation begins on January 2, carrying Rogers-supplied entertainment programming during the later part of the day.

• 2012

  Rogers acquisition and Citytv Saskatchewan relaunch

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  Rogers completes its acquisition of SCN and relaunches the service as Citytv Saskatchewan on July 1.

• 2011

  SCN adopts a hybrid schedule

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  SCN expands into advertising-supported entertainment programming after 3 p.m. while retaining commercial-free educational programming during the daytime.

• 2010

  Government announces planned shutdown

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  The Saskatchewan government announces that it intends to wind down SCN because of low ratings, but continues operating it while considering a sale.

• 2010

  SCN is sold to Bluepoint

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  The provincial government announces the sale of SCN to Bluepoint Investment Corporation, later approved by the CRTC with licence amendments.

• 1991

  SCN launches

  [1]Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org

  The Saskatchewan Communications Network begins operation on May 6 as a publicly owned, non-commercial educational television service.

A Saskatchewan-focused hybrid television service that combines the entertainment schedule of the Citytv network with educational and children's programming required under its provincial educational-service licence.

• Cable television channel · 2012

  Citytv Saskatchewan

  The main Saskatchewan cable channel branded within the Citytv network. It carries Citytv entertainment programming during the afternoon and evening while preserving a daytime educational mandate. The service is distributed through cable and satellite-to-cable systems and has no over-the-air transmitters.

• Children's television programming block · 2012

  CityKids

  A children's programming block scheduled on Citytv Saskatchewan from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. It forms part of the channel's educational-service obligations and occupies the first portion of its daily commercial-free schedule.

• Educational television programming · 1991

  SCN educational programming

  The educational and cultural programming inherited from Saskatchewan Communications Network. Under the current licence structure, educational content for adults and older youth follows the children's block and is broadcast during the daytime schedule.

• 2012

  Acquire SCN and relaunch it as Citytv SaskatchewanM&A

  Background

  After becoming an affiliated outlet, SCN was acquired by Rogers Communications from Bluepoint Investment Corporation.

  Action taken

  Rogers completed the transaction after CRTC approval and relaunched the channel under the Citytv Saskatchewan name on July 1.

  Aftermath

  The service became a Citytv owned-and-operated outlet while retaining its educational programming requirement and daytime schedule.

  Source

• 2011

  Affiliate with CitytvStrategy

  Background

  SCN required a stronger commercial programming proposition while continuing to meet its educational licensing obligations.

  Action taken

  SCN entered an agreement with Rogers to carry Citytv programming from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m., beginning January 2, 2012.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement established a Citytv presence in Saskatchewan and prepared the channel for Rogers' subsequent acquisition.

  Source

• 2010

  Proceed with privatization instead of closing SCNStrategy

  Background

  The Saskatchewan government had announced a shutdown after citing low viewership, but evaluated purchase offers while keeping the channel operating.

  Action taken

  The government selected Bluepoint Investment Corporation as the buyer and pursued CRTC approval for the transfer and revised licence conditions.

  Aftermath

  SCN moved from a publicly funded educational broadcaster to a privately operated hybrid service with commercial entertainment programming after 3 p.m.

  Source

• 2010

  Adopt a hybrid educational and commercial formatStrategy

  Background

  The revised licence was intended to preserve SCN's educational function while creating advertising revenue and attracting additional viewers.

  Action taken

  SCN retained commercial-free programming from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and added advertising-supported entertainment programming afterward, subject to a 14-minute-per-hour advertising limit.

  Aftermath

  The channel added films and entertainment series and became a service comparable in structure to Alberta's Access network.

  Source

1. 1Citytv Saskatchewanen.wikipedia.org