CJCH-DT
CTV television station serving Halifax and the wider Atlantic Canadian region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
CJCH-DT is a television station serving Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the broader Atlantic Canadian market. The station operates as part of the CTV Television Network and is owned and operated by Bell Media. Historically identified as CJCH-TV, it began broadcasting on January 1, 1961, as an independent station and joined CTV when the network launched on October 1 of the same year. Its current digital call sign is CJCH-DT. The station is the flagship of the CTV Atlantic regional system. Its role extends beyond serving Halifax alone: CJCH-DT produces most of the regional programming distributed across the CTV Atlantic system, with other stations carrying the shared output alongside local commercial elements and local news inserts. Its programming identity is therefore closely tied to CTV’s Atlantic regional news operation, rather than being limited to a stand-alone city station. CJCH-DT’s studios are located on Robie and Russell streets in Halifax, while its transmitter is situated on Washmill Lake Drive on the western side of the city. The station historically operated a network of analogue repeaters in Nova Scotia and other parts of the Atlantic service area. As Canadian television distribution shifted toward cable, direct-broadcast satellite, and digital transmission, Bell Media sought authorization to retire several analogue transmitters that it considered costly to maintain and that provided limited incremental reach or distinct programming. Ownership of the station has changed as the Canadian broadcasting industry consolidated. CHUM Limited sold CJCH-TV, together with ATV and the Atlantic Satellite Network, to Baton Broadcasting in 1997 after regulatory approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The station later returned to common ownership with its former radio namesake when CTVglobemedia acquired CHUM Limited in 2007; the television station became part of the Bell Media structure after Bell’s subsequent ownership of CTV assets. CJCH-DT completed the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting on August 31, 2011. Later regulatory decisions permitted the closure of additional repeaters, including transmitters associated with CJCH-TV-3 and CJCH-TV-4, and authorization was granted in 2025 for the closure of CJCH-TV-6. These changes reflect the station’s adaptation to a broadcasting environment in which most viewers receive television through cable, satellite, or other multichannel platforms. The station’s public-facing brand is integrated with CTV Atlantic and CTV News Atlantic. Its principal offerings are regional television news, network programming, and related local broadcast services. The station has also been associated with notable Canadian television journalists, including Steve Murphy, who served as a weeknight anchor until his retirement in November 2021, and Gord Martineau, who had an early on-air association with the station before moving to Toronto’s Citytv flagship.
History
CJCH-TV began broadcasting in Halifax on January 1, 1961, initially operating as an independent television station. It became one of the original affiliates of the CTV Television Network when CTV began operations on October 1, 1961. The station’s early development placed it within the expansion of private Canadian television broadcasting outside the country’s largest metropolitan markets. For much of its history, CJCH was associated with the Atlantic Television system and with CHUM Limited. On February 26, 1997, CHUM sold CJCH-TV, along with ATV and the Atlantic Satellite Network, to Baton Broadcasting. The transaction required regulatory review and received CRTC approval on August 28, 1997. Under Baton and the broader CTV structure, CJCH became an important component of CTV’s Atlantic regional service. The station’s ownership connections changed again after CTVglobemedia acquired CHUM Limited on June 22, 2007. That transaction brought CJCH-TV and CJCH radio back under common ownership, although the television and radio operations remained distinct services. The television station subsequently formed part of Bell Media’s broadcasting portfolio and continued operating as a CTV station. CJCH-DT serves as the flagship of the CTV Atlantic regional system. In this role, it produces most of the programming used throughout the regional service, while the other stations may add local news inserts and commercials. The station’s output is centered on regional television broadcasting and local news, with its identity closely connected to the CTV Atlantic and CTV News Atlantic brands. The station maintains studios on Robie and Russell streets in Halifax. Its principal transmitter is located on Washmill Lake Drive on the western side of the city. Historically, a group of repeaters extended the station’s terrestrial reach. The changing economics of over-the-air broadcasting eventually led Bell Media to seek permission to close some of these facilities. In its 2016 licence-renewal applications, Bell argued that certain analogue transmitters generated no incremental revenue, attracted little additional viewership because of cable and direct-broadcast satellite penetration, and imposed maintenance and replacement costs. The company also acknowledged that transmitter closures could affect regulatory privileges such as basic-service distribution and simultaneous substitution. CJCH-DT ended its analogue broadcasts on August 31, 2011, beginning digital transmission on the same date. This transition was part of the broader modernization of Canadian television transmission. Subsequent regulatory decisions allowed additional repeater closures. In 2019, the CRTC authorized Bell Media to shut down the CJCH-TV-3 and CJCH-TV-4 transmitters by December 3, 2021. In 2025, Bell Media received authorization to close CJCH-TV-6. The station has also been associated with recognized Canadian broadcast personalities. Gord Martineau had a brief early connection with the station before moving to Citytv’s Toronto flagship, while Steve Murphy served as a prominent weeknight anchor until retiring on November 30, 2021. CJCH-DT remains an active Halifax-based CTV station and a central production outlet for CTV’s Atlantic regional television operation.
- 2025
CJCH-TV-6 closure authorized
[1]Bell Media received CRTC authorization to close the CJCH-TV-6 transmitter.
- 2019
Repeater closures authorized
[1]The CRTC authorized closure of the CJCH-TV-3 and CJCH-TV-4 transmitters.
- 2011
Digital conversion
[1]Analogue broadcasting ended and digital broadcasting began on August 31.
- 2007
Return to common ownership with CJCH radio
[1]CTVglobemedia’s acquisition of CHUM Limited brought the television and radio CJCH operations under common ownership again.
- 1997
Sale to Baton Broadcasting
[1]CHUM Limited sold CJCH-TV and associated Atlantic broadcasting assets to Baton Broadcasting, with CRTC approval granted later in the year.
- 1961
Launch as an independent station
[1]CJCH-TV began broadcasting in Halifax on January 1 as an independent television station.
- 1961
Becomes an original CTV station
[1]The station joined the CTV Television Network when the network launched on October 1.
Products and positioning
A flagship CTV Atlantic television station combining Halifax service with regional programming and news production for Atlantic Canada.
Regional television service
CTV Atlantic
The regional CTV service for Atlantic Canada, with CJCH-DT serving as its Halifax flagship and principal production outlet. The service combines shared regional programming with local inserts and market-specific commercial content on other participating stations.
Television news
CTV News Atlantic
The station’s local and regional news offering, covering Halifax and Atlantic Canadian issues through television broadcasts and associated digital distribution under the CTV Atlantic news brand.
Broadcast transmission · 2011
CJCH-DT over-the-air service
The station’s digital terrestrial television service from Halifax. Its main transmitter operates from Washmill Lake Drive, while several historical analogue repeaters have been or are being retired following regulatory approvals.
Brand decisions
2025
Closure of CJCH-TV-6StrategyBackground
Bell Media continued to adjust its terrestrial transmission footprint as audiences increasingly used cable, satellite, and other multichannel distribution systems.
Action taken
The CRTC authorized Bell Media to close the CJCH-TV-6 transmitter under Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-29.
Aftermath
The decision further reduced the station’s legacy repeater infrastructure while leaving the primary CJCH-DT service active.
2019
Closure of CJCH-TV-3 and CJCH-TV-4StrategyBackground
Bell Media sought to reduce the cost of maintaining analogue infrastructure in a market increasingly served by cable and satellite distribution.
Action taken
The CRTC authorized Bell Media to close the two transmitters by December 3, 2021.
Aftermath
The authorized closures reduced the station’s analogue repeater network without changing its main Halifax operation.
2016
Application to retire analogue repeatersStrategyBackground
Bell Media stated that selected analogue transmitters provided little additional viewership or revenue while requiring ongoing maintenance.
Action taken
Bell Media applied during licence renewals to delete a number of CJCH-associated transmitters, including CJCH-TV-2 and CJCH-TV-8.
Aftermath
The applications formed part of a broader rationalization of terrestrial transmission assets and were followed by later CRTC permissions for additional closures.
2011
Conversion from analogue to digital transmissionGeneration changeBackground
Canadian television broadcasting was moving from analogue transmission toward digital terrestrial delivery.
Action taken
CJCH-DT ceased analogue broadcasts and began digital transmission on August 31, 2011.
Aftermath
The station continued its Halifax broadcast service in digital form.
Recent events
- 2025
CRTC authorizes closure of CJCH-TV-6 transmitter[1]
Regulation
Bell Media received authorization under Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-29 to close the CJCH-TV-6 transmitter.
- 2021
Steve Murphy retires from weeknight anchoring[1]
Leadership change
Long-serving weeknight anchor Steve Murphy retired from the station on November 30, 2021.
- 2019
CRTC authorizes closure of two CJCH repeaters[1]
Regulation
Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-268 granted Bell Media permission to close the transmitters associated with CJCH-TV-3 and CJCH-TV-4, with shutdowns scheduled by December 3, 2021.
- 2016
Bell Media applies to retire analogue repeaters[1]
Regulation
As part of regular licence-renewal applications, Bell Media sought permission to delete several CJCH-associated analogue transmitters, citing limited viewership, the growth of cable and satellite distribution, and maintenance costs.
- 2011
CJCH-DT completes analogue-to-digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station ceased analogue transmission and began digital broadcasting on August 31, completing its transition under Canada’s digital television framework.
- 1997
CHUM sells CJCH-TV and related Atlantic broadcasting assets[1]
M&A
CHUM Limited agreed to sell CJCH-TV, ATV, and the Atlantic Satellite Network to Baton Broadcasting. The transaction received CRTC approval later that year.
- 1961
CJCH-TV joins the CTV network at its launch[1]
Other
The Halifax station, which had begun broadcasting as an independent outlet earlier in the year, became one of the original stations of the CTV Television Network when the network commenced operations.
Sources2 sources
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