CIVI-DT

CIVI-DT is a television station licensed to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The station operates as part of Bell Media’s CTV2 system and is paired with Vancouver-based CTV station CIVT-DT. Its principal service area is Victoria and Vancouver Island, while a rebroadcaster, CIVI-DT-2, extends the station’s over-the-air service into the Vancouver area from Mount Seymour. The station is associated with local news, regional public-affairs coverage and the broader CTV2 programming service. CIVI began broadcasting on October 4, 2001, after CHUM Limited won a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission licence competition for a new Victoria station. It launched under the highly localized identity “The New VI” and was the first original station associated with CHUM’s NewNet system. The launch was intended to challenge CHEK-TV, which had long been the dominant local television outlet on Vancouver Island. CHUM invested more than $20 million in restoring and modernizing a historic building on Pandora Avenue in Victoria. The facility, informally known as “Pandora’s Box,” had been designed by Francis Rattenbury and had previously served industrial and other purposes. The original station emphasized local identity and personality-driven programming. Its schedule included news and current-affairs programming as well as shows focused on youth culture, First Nations communities, environmental issues, arts and local culture. Early news programming used the “VILand News” identity and adopted a mobile, presenter-led studio style associated with other NewNet stations. The station also operated a Nanaimo bureau and used distinctive field production techniques, including weather reports delivered from a sailboat in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. However, CIVI faced difficult ratings and financial conditions in a market where CHEK-TV had an established audience. The station underwent several ownership and branding transitions. It became part of a CHUM twinstick with Vancouver station CKVU after CHUM acquired that station. In 2005, CIVI was rebranded “A-Channel Victoria” following CHUM’s acquisition of Craig Media’s broadcasting assets. When CTVglobemedia acquired CHUM in 2007, CIVI remained with CTV rather than moving to Rogers Communications, which acquired the Citytv stations. CIVI subsequently became “A Vancouver Island” in 2008 and used the “A News” identity for its local news operation. Bell Media, which succeeded CTVglobemedia, rebranded the A stations as CTV Two in 2011. On August 29 of that year, CIVI became “CTV Two Vancouver Island,” while its news programming adopted the CTV News identity. The station later became commonly identified with the CTV2 brand. Its news operation has been reduced over time. Weekend evening newscasts were cancelled in 2021, and further Bell Media cost reductions in 2023 resulted in the replacement of the former early-evening schedule with a weekday 4:30 p.m. local newscast repeated at 6 p.m., alongside a late broadcast. Although CIVI retains a Victoria-area identity and facilities, its newscasts have increasingly relied on the Vancouver operation of sister station CIVT-DT. Since 2023, the station’s newscasts have been produced from CIVT’s Vancouver studios, while CIVI continues to maintain a presence in the Victoria area. Bell Media listed the station’s Broad and Pandora building for sale in 2024, with a proposed relocation of CIVI and co-owned radio operations to Esquimalt. The station’s digital broadcast signal uses virtual channel 53, and its transmitter is located on the roof of Camosack Manor near Rockland.

CIVI-DT is a Victoria television station whose history reflects the consolidation and rebranding of Canadian private broadcasting networks. At the end of the 1990s, CHUM Limited and Craig Media sought to expand beyond their existing regional station footprints. When the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission called for applications for a new Victoria television licence, CHUM won the licence in 2000. The station began broadcasting on October 4, 2001, under the name “The New VI.” Its launch made it the first original station in CHUM’s NewNet system. The service was designed to provide a distinctly Vancouver Island-oriented alternative to established broadcaster CHEK-TV. CHUM invested more than $20 million in the station’s physical plant, restoring a historic Victoria building on Pandora Avenue and equipping it for modern television production. The building, known as “Pandora’s Box” in station usage, had originally been designed by architect Francis Rattenbury and had served the Brackman-Ker Milling Company among other occupants. CIVI’s initial programming strategy relied heavily on local identity and an unusually visible collection of presenters. Its original schedule included Island Underground, focused on youth culture; The New Canoe, produced for and about First Nations communities; Environ-Mental, covering environmental issues; and the VI Parade, focused on arts and culture. The station also carried programming from other CHUM operations, imported American shows, syndicated content and a Sunday movie presentation. The news operation, initially called VILand News, used a walking and presenter-led format rather than a conventional anchor desk. Its schedule included an extended evening block, a late newscast and a morning program produced partly through the station’s Nanaimo presence. Weather presenter Tony Latimer became associated with reports from a sailboat equipped for remote transmission. The station struggled to attract a large audience against CHEK-TV. Its evening news schedule was revised several times, including a 2002 division into VILand Live, VILand Voices and VILand News. In July 2004, CHUM eliminated 29 positions in an effort to address financial losses and weak ratings. It also hired Hudson Mack, a longtime CHEK anchor, as chief anchor and news director. The station then adopted a more conventional presentation style, including an anchor desk, and targeted an older audience under the VI News identity. The changes narrowed the ratings gap with CHEK, although CIVI remained behind its established competitor. CIVI became part of a CHUM twinstick after CHUM acquired Vancouver station CKVU and converted it to the Citytv identity. Regulatory requirements limited the amount of programming CKVU could share with CIVI and required separately managed newscasts. In 2005, after CHUM acquired Craig Media’s broadcasting assets, CIVI was renamed A-Channel Victoria. The station’s ownership changed again during the 2007 CHUM transaction. Rogers Communications initially sought the A-Channel stations, but regulatory conditions resulted in Rogers receiving the Citytv stations while CTVglobemedia retained the A-Channel group, including CIVI. On August 11, 2008, the station became A Vancouver Island and its news operation was called A News. It introduced an A Morning program in September 2008, but that broadcast was cancelled in March 2009 because of economic pressures and was replaced by a simulcast of the morning program from sister radio station CFAX. Bell Media, following its acquisition and control of CTV assets, announced a further network rebrand. On August 29, 2011, CIVI became CTV Two Vancouver Island, later generally styled as CTV2 Vancouver Island, while its news programming adopted the CTV News name. The news operation received industry recognition, including Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2005 and 2006 and honours from the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters. Over time, however, the station’s local schedule contracted. Weekend 6 p.m. newscasts ended in February 2021 as part of Bell Media budget cuts. Additional reductions announced in 2023 led to a weekday 4:30 p.m. newscast repeated at 6 p.m., with the operation increasingly produced from the Vancouver studios of sister station CIVT-DT. The station’s remaining late newscast occupies a 35-minute time slot, and weekend newscasts are no longer produced. CIVI ended its analog signal on August 31, 2011, as part of Canada’s transition to digital television. Its digital transmission continued on UHF channel 23 while retaining virtual channel 53. The main transmitter is located on the roof of Camosack Manor near Victoria’s Rockland area. CIVI-DT-2 operates on virtual and UHF channel 17 from Mount Seymour, providing a rebroadcast service in the Vancouver area. In 2024, Bell Media listed the Broad and Pandora studio property for sale and indicated plans to move CIVI and co-owned radio operations to Esquimalt, where the station’s current offices are located near Esquimalt Municipal Hall.

• 2024

  Victoria studio property is listed for sale

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Bell Media listed the Broad and Pandora building and outlined a planned relocation to Esquimalt.

• 2023

  News production moves toward Vancouver

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station’s remaining local news output was reduced and produced from CIVT-DT’s Vancouver studios.

• 2021

  Weekend newscasts are cancelled

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Bell Media discontinued CIVI’s weekend 6 p.m. newscasts during budget reductions.

• 2011

  Digital transition and CTV Two rebrand

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended analog transmission on August 31 and became CTV Two Vancouver Island on August 29.

• 2008

  A Vancouver Island branding begins

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CIVI joined the A network identity and adopted A News branding.

• 2007

  CTVglobemedia becomes owner

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CTVglobemedia completed the acquisition of CHUM’s television assets and retained CIVI.

• 2005

  Station becomes A-Channel Victoria

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The NewNet identity was replaced by A-Channel branding.

• 2004

  News operation is restructured

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHUM reduced staffing and appointed Hudson Mack as chief anchor and news director.

• 2001

  CIVI signs on as The New VI

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CIVI began broadcasting on October 4 as the first original station in CHUM’s NewNet system.

• 2000

  CHUM wins the Victoria television licence

  [1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC awarded CHUM Limited a licence for a new television station serving Victoria.

A regional commercial television service combining CTV2 programming with local news and community coverage for Victoria and Vancouver Island.

• Television broadcasting · 2001

  CIVI-DT terrestrial television service

  The station’s principal over-the-air service for Victoria and surrounding Vancouver Island communities. It carries CTV2 programming alongside local news and other regional content. The service uses virtual channel 53 and a digital UHF transmission.

• Local news · 2001

  CTV News Vancouver Island

  CIVI’s local news operation, formerly presented under the VILand News, VI News and A News identities. Its current schedule is substantially smaller than at launch and includes a weekday local newscast repeated in the early evening, plus a late broadcast.

• Television rebroadcasting

  CIVI-DT-2

  A rebroadcaster serving the Vancouver area from a transmitter atop Mount Seymour. It uses virtual and UHF channel 17 and extends CIVI’s broadcast footprint beyond Vancouver Island.

• 2024

  Planned relocation of Victoria operationsStrategy

  Background

  Bell Media listed the station’s Broad and Pandora studio building for sale.

  Action taken

  Bell Media indicated plans to relocate CIVI and related radio operations to Esquimalt.

  Aftermath

  The property sale and proposed relocation marked another change in the station’s physical operating footprint.

  Source

• 2023

  Centralization and reduction of local news productionStrategy

  Background

  Further Bell Media cuts affected the station’s local news schedule and production structure.

  Action taken

  CIVI replaced its early-evening news block with a 4:30 p.m. weekday newscast repeated at 6 p.m.; production shifted to CIVT-DT’s Vancouver studios.

  Aftermath

  CIVI retained a local news service but with fewer original hours and greater reliance on the Vancouver operation.

  Source

• 2021

  Cancellation of weekend evening newscastsStrategy

  Background

  Bell Media implemented budget reductions affecting local television operations.

  Action taken

  CIVI discontinued its weekend 6 p.m. newscasts.

  Aftermath

  The station’s weekend local news presence was reduced.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion to CTV TwoStrategy

  Background

  Bell Media sought a unified identity for the former A television stations.

  Action taken

  CIVI became CTV Two Vancouver Island on August 29, with its news programming renamed CTV News.

  Aftermath

  The station became part of the CTV2 brand architecture.

  Source

• 2007

  CIVI remains with CTVglobemedia after the CHUM saleM&A

  Background

  Rogers proposed acquiring the A-Channel stations, but regulatory conditions attached to the CHUM transaction affected which assets could be transferred.

  Action taken

  Rogers acquired the Citytv system while CTVglobemedia retained CIVI and the A-Channel stations.

  Aftermath

  CIVI became part of the CTV corporate family and later moved into Bell Media’s CTV2 portfolio.

  Source

• 2005

  Adoption of A-Channel brandingStrategy

  Background

  CHUM’s acquisition of Craig Media’s broadcasting assets led to a common identity for the NewNet stations.

  Action taken

  CIVI was renamed A-Channel Victoria on August 2.

  Aftermath

  The station remained under the A identity until the subsequent A Vancouver Island rebrand in 2008.

  Source

• 2024

  Bell Media lists CIVI’s Broad and Pandora building for sale[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Bell Media listed the historic Victoria studio property for sale and indicated plans to relocate CIVI and related radio operations to Esquimalt.

• 2023

  CIVI reduces local news schedule and shifts production to Vancouver[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following further Bell Media reductions, CIVI replaced its early-evening local news schedule with a weekday 4:30 p.m. newscast repeated at 6 p.m.; production was anchored from CIVT-DT’s Vancouver studios.

• 2021

  CIVI ends weekend evening newscasts[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Bell Media cancelled the station’s weekend 6 p.m. newscasts as part of company-wide budget reductions.

• 2011

  CIVI is rebranded as CTV Two Vancouver Island[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Bell Media rebranded the A television stations as CTV Two, bringing CIVI into the CTV2 family and changing its news identity to CTV News.

• 2008

  CIVI becomes A Vancouver Island[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station joined the broader A network identity and changed its news branding to A News.

• 2007

  CTVglobemedia retains CIVI in CHUM transaction[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Although Rogers initially proposed acquiring the A-Channel stations, regulatory conditions surrounding the CHUM sale led Rogers to receive the Citytv system while CTVglobemedia retained CIVI.

• 2005

  CIVI adopts the A-Channel Victoria identity[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following CHUM’s acquisition of Craig Media’s broadcasting assets, CIVI and the other NewNet stations were rebranded under the A-Channel name.

• 2001

  CIVI-DT launches as The New VI[1]CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  CHUM Limited launched CIVI in Victoria as the first original station in its NewNet television system, with a strong emphasis on locally oriented programming and a street-party opening.

1. 1CIVI-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CTV News Vancouver Islandvancouverisland.ctvnews.ca