CKY-DT
A CTV-owned television station serving Winnipeg and surrounding areas in Manitoba.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
CKY-DT is a Canadian television station serving Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a member station of the CTV Television Network. It broadcasts on VHF channel 7 and is owned and operated by Bell Media, the broadcasting subsidiary that operates CTV’s owned-and-operated stations. The station’s principal studios are on Graham Avenue in downtown Winnipeg, beside the Canada Life Centre, while its main transmitter is located near Lord Selkirk Highway, also known as Highway 75, in the rural municipality of Ritchot. The station began broadcasting on November 12, 1960, under the call sign CJAY-TV. It was created after the Canadian Board of Broadcast Governors reviewed competing applications for Winnipeg’s first commercial television station. The successful applicant, R. S. Misener and Associates, was associated with radio stations including CKY in Winnipeg, CFAM in Altona, and CKSB in St. Boniface. CJAY-TV joined the newly launched CTV network on October 1, 1961, becoming an important private alternative to the government-owned CBWT, which had previously been Winnipeg’s only television station. In 1973, after Moffat Broadcasting acquired a controlling interest, the station changed its call sign from CJAY-TV to CKY-TV. The new calls aligned the television station with Moffat’s CKY radio operations and gave it one of the few three-letter call signs in Canadian television. Moffat later sold its CKY radio properties while retaining the television station. In 2001, Moffat Broadcasting was acquired by Shaw Cablesystems, but Shaw did not retain CKY-TV. Bell Globemedia acquired the station, making it a CTV-owned-and-operated outlet. Bell Media subsequently became its corporate owner following the evolution of Bell Globemedia into CTVglobemedia and then Bell Media. Local news has been central to CKY-DT’s identity. In the early 1990s, general manager Vaughn Tozer recruited broadcaster Jim Wicks as lead news anchor and managing editor. A newsroom reorganization and changes to the on-air team helped the station’s evening newscast move from third place to first in Winnipeg ratings within several measurement periods. The station’s news operation has subsequently remained one of Manitoba’s leading local television news services, although its presenters and branding have changed over time. Since October 2005, its local news programs have generally used the CTV News branding. The station moved into new downtown Winnipeg studios on May 15, 2006. The facility was designed around the changing economics of local broadcasting and used modern production technology, while some equipment and the former news set were transferred to other CTV operations. Master control functions were centralized at CTV’s Toronto facility. CKY-DT later expanded its local morning programming with the launch of CTV Morning Live on September 26, 2011, a three-hour weekday program produced from Winnipeg. CKY-DT broadcasts local news, CTV network programming, national news, weather, sports and other scheduled television content. Because Winnipeg is in the Central Time Zone, the station schedules many prime-time programs one hour earlier locally than stations in Eastern Time, helping support simultaneous substitution arrangements with U.S. network programming distributed in the market. Its local schedule has traditionally included evening news and late-night national news, with programming adjusted to fit Canadian network and local requirements. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting at midnight on September 1, 2011, moving its digital signal to VHF channel 7. Over time, Bell Media has also reduced or discontinued a number of analog rebroadcast transmitters serving smaller Manitoba communities. These changes reflected declining over-the-air use, the growth of cable and direct-to-home distribution, and the cost of maintaining analog facilities. CKY-DT remains an active Winnipeg television station and a significant local news outlet within the CTV network.
History
Winnipeg had television service from the government-owned CBWT beginning in 1954, but no private commercial station. In January 1960, the Canadian Board of Broadcast Governors held hearings on three applications for a new station on channel 7. The proposals came from R. S. Misener and Associates, a group linked to several Manitoba radio stations; Perimeter Television Broadcasters, associated with Winnipeg radio station CJOB; and the Red River Television Association, connected with the Winnipeg Free Press and radio station CKRC. The BBG selected the Misener application. The resulting station, CJAY-TV, began broadcasting on November 12, 1960, and joined the CTV Television Network when that network launched on October 1, 1961. Its arrival gave Winnipeg a privately operated television service and established the station’s long-term relationship with CTV. Moffat Broadcasting acquired a controlling interest in the station, and on June 1, 1973, CJAY-TV adopted the CKY-TV call sign. The change linked the television outlet to Moffat’s CKY radio operations. Although Moffat later sold CKY-AM and CKY-FM, it continued to own the television station. The CKY call sign became a distinctive part of the station’s identity, and CKY-TV was one of the few Canadian television stations to use a three-letter call sign. The station’s local news service became particularly prominent during the 1990s. In August 1992, general manager Vaughn Tozer hired Jim Wicks as lead news anchor and managing editor. Tozer and Wicks reorganized the newsroom and on-air presentation, helping the evening newscast rise from third place to first place in Winnipeg audience ratings within three ratings periods. The “Wicks at 6” promotion and the pairing of Wicks with sports director Steve Vogelsang became notable elements of the station’s local identity. Personnel later changed, but the newscast continued to be described as Manitoba’s highest-rated local television newscast. In 2001, Shaw Cablesystems purchased Moffat Broadcasting. Shaw retained other assets but sold CKY-TV to Bell Globemedia, turning the station into a CTV owned-and-operated outlet. Its promotions, presentation and programming consequently became more closely aligned with other CTV-owned stations. Bell Globemedia later became CTVglobemedia, and the station ultimately became part of Bell Media. CKY-TV moved from its previous facility to new downtown Winnipeg studios on May 15, 2006. The new site was near the city’s arena district and was selected amid redevelopment pressures and changing space requirements. It incorporated updated production technology, while the previous news set was transferred to CFQC in Saskatoon and other technical equipment was redistributed within the CTV organization. Master control was moved to CTV’s Toronto operations centre. The relocation also reflected the reduced need for large local studio facilities as locally produced, non-news programming declined. The station’s local output expanded on September 26, 2011, with the launch of CTV Morning Live, a weekday program airing from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. from the Winnipeg studios. This complemented the established evening news operation, which had been branded CTV News since 2005. CKY-DT also completed Canada’s mandatory-market digital transition at midnight on September 1, 2011, beginning digital operation on VHF channel 7. Bell Media subsequently obtained regulatory approval to retire several analog rebroadcast transmitters. The company argued that the transmitters produced little incremental revenue, attracted limited audiences because most households received television through cable or direct-to-home services, and were expensive to maintain. Four transmitters received approval for closure in 2019, while the Thompson transmitter was shut down in 2021. The Brandon transmitter had already been off the air since 2024 and received approval for closure in 2025. These changes reduced CKY-DT’s over-the-air footprint outside Winnipeg while leaving the main station active. Today, CKY-DT operates as CTV’s Winnipeg station, delivering local news and weather alongside CTV network and national programming. Its Central Time Zone schedule is adjusted to accommodate Canadian network distribution and simultaneous substitution practices. The station remains one of Manitoba’s principal local television news providers.
- 2025
Approval for Brandon analog transmitter closure
[1]Bell Media received approval to close the CKYB analog transmitter, which had already been off the air since 2024.
- 2011
Launches CTV Morning Live and completes digital transition
[1]CKY-DT introduced a weekday morning newscast and replaced its analog transmission with a digital VHF channel 7 signal.
- 2010
Marks its fiftieth anniversary
[1]The station commemorated fifty years of broadcasting in Winnipeg.
- 2006
Relocates to downtown Winnipeg studios
[1]CKY-TV moved to a new production facility on Graham Avenue near the city’s arena district.
- 2005
Local news adopts CTV News branding
[1]The station’s local newscasts began using the CTV News name.
- 2001
Bell Globemedia acquires the station
[1]CKY-TV became a CTV-owned-and-operated station after Bell Globemedia purchased it from the Moffat assets being sold by Shaw.
- 1992
Newsroom reorganization strengthens local newscast
[1]General manager Vaughn Tozer hired Jim Wicks as lead anchor and managing editor, helping the station’s evening news move to first place in Winnipeg ratings.
- 1973
Call sign changes to CKY-TV
[1]Following Moffat’s acquisition of a controlling interest, the station adopted the CKY-TV call sign.
- 1961
Joins the CTV Television Network
[1]CJAY-TV became a CTV network affiliate when CTV began operations.
- 1960
CJAY-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The station launched on channel 7 as Winnipeg’s first commercial television station after approval by the Canadian Board of Broadcast Governors.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, full-service CTV network station combining Winnipeg and Manitoba news coverage with national and network television programming.
Local television news · 2005
CTV News Winnipeg
CKY-DT’s local news service covers Winnipeg and Manitoba through scheduled evening and late-night newscasts, weather, sports and regional reporting. The operation is the station’s principal locally produced offering and has historically been one of the leading television news services in the Manitoba market.
Morning television news · 2011
CTV Morning Live Winnipeg
A weekday morning program produced from CKY-DT’s Winnipeg studios. Introduced in 2011, it expanded the station’s local output into the early morning period with news, weather, traffic, interviews and community-oriented segments.
Network television · 1961
CTV network programming
As a CTV owned-and-operated station, CKY-DT carries the network’s scheduled entertainment, news and other programming. Its Central Time Zone schedule is adjusted to fit Winnipeg viewing patterns and Canadian simultaneous-substitution requirements.
Broadcast transmission · 2011
Digital terrestrial television service
CKY-DT’s main over-the-air service operates digitally on VHF channel 7. The station completed its analog-to-digital transition in September 2011.
Brand decisions
2019
Retirement of selected analog rebroadcast transmittersStrategyBackground
Bell Media said selected analog transmitters generated little incremental revenue, attracted limited audiences because of cable and direct-to-home penetration, and were costly to maintain.
Action taken
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission authorized closure of four CKY analog transmitters by July 2021.
Aftermath
The closures reduced CKY-DT’s over-the-air reach in several Manitoba communities while the main Winnipeg station remained in operation.
2011
Launch of CTV Morning LiveProduct launchBackground
CKY-DT sought to expand its locally produced news schedule beyond established evening broadcasts.
Action taken
The station launched a three-hour weekday morning newscast from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Aftermath
The new program increased the station’s local news presence and became part of its Winnipeg programming lineup.
2011
Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
Canadian television stations in designated mandatory markets were required to transition from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.
Action taken
CKY-TV ended analog transmission and began operating its digital signal on VHF channel 7 at midnight on September 1, 2011.
Aftermath
The station continued its terrestrial service in digital form, with its high-definition feed subsequently available through satellite distribution.
2006
Move to a smaller, modernized downtown facilityStrategyBackground
The previous studio site faced redevelopment pressure, while the station required less space because locally produced non-news programming had declined.
Action taken
CKY-TV relocated its studios to Graham Avenue near Winnipeg’s downtown arena district and redistributed selected equipment within the CTV group.
Aftermath
The move gave the station updated production facilities and aligned its physical footprint with its primarily news-focused local operation.
Recent events
- 2019
Bell Media receives approval to close selected analog transmitters[1]
Regulation
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission authorized Bell Media to shut down four CKY analog rebroadcast transmitters by July 2021, citing limited viewership, the availability of cable and direct-to-home services, and maintenance costs.
- 2011
CKY-DT launches CTV Morning Live[1]
Product launch
CKY-DT introduced a three-hour weekday morning newscast, expanding its local programming from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. The program was produced in Winnipeg and initially featured Kris Laudien and Eleanor Coopsammy.
- 2011
CKY-DT completes digital transition[1]
Product generation · Regulation
The station ended its analog broadcast and began operating its digital signal on VHF channel 7 as part of Canada’s transition to digital television in mandatory markets.
- 2006
CKY-TV moves to new downtown Winnipeg studios[1]
Other
The station relocated its studios to a newer facility on Graham Avenue near Winnipeg’s downtown arena district. The move accompanied a modernization of production facilities and greater centralization of technical operations within the CTV group.
- 2001
CKY-TV becomes a CTV-owned-and-operated station[1]
M&A
Bell Globemedia acquired CKY-TV after Shaw Cablesystems purchased Moffat Broadcasting but chose not to retain the Winnipeg television station. The transaction brought the station into CTV’s owned-and-operated group.
Sources2 sources
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