CFCM-DT

CFCM-DT is a French-language television station serving Quebec City and surrounding areas in Quebec, Canada. It operates as a TVA station and is one of the longest-established private television outlets in the province. The station began broadcasting on July 17, 1954, making it Quebec's first private television station. Its original service was bilingual, combining programming from both CBC Television and Radio-Canada. The station was established by Télévision de Québec, a consortium involving the Famous Players theatre chain and Quebec City's two private AM radio stations, CHRC and CKCV. At launch, CFCM was connected to Montreal through a microwave relay system supported by several relay stations. Its original facilities included studios and a transmitter near Cité-Universitaire. The transmitter was installed on a tall lattice tower and initially provided coverage across a broad area around Quebec City. CFCM ended its English-language programming on March 17, 1957, when Télévision de Québec launched CKMI-TV as a separate service. After Radio-Canada opened CBVT on channel 11 in 1964, CFCM lost its network affiliation and became an independent French-language station. The loss of roughly 45 hours of weekly network programming led to the cancellation of several local productions. CFCM subsequently joined with Montreal's CFTM-TV and Chicoutimi's CJPM-TV to create the TVA network. The first TVA network broadcast took place on September 12, 1971. During much of the 1970s through the 2000s, CFCM was promoted on air as Télé-4, reflecting its channel 4 position. Although much of its schedule became linked to the broader TVA service, the station retained a distinct local role through Quebec City news programming and has historically been the city's dominant commercial television station. The station's ownership history reflects the consolidation of Quebec's private television sector. Télévision de Québec underwent an ownership restructuring in the late 1960s and early 1970s to comply with Canadian ownership requirements. Famous Players reduced its stake, and the company was renamed Télé-Capitale in 1972. Télé-Capitale was acquired in stages by La Verendrye Management Corporation in 1979 and 1982, then sold to Pathonic Corporation in 1984 because of financial pressures and a high debt load. Pathonic later became associated with the Pathonic Network and was acquired by Télé-Métropole, which integrated the station into TVA in 1989 and 1990. In 1992, Télé-Métropole sought regulatory permission to reduce CFCM's local production from 21 hours per week to 10 hours, citing economic conditions. The proposal drew criticism from Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission commissioners and opposition from Quebec City's mayor. Since that period, CFCM has functioned largely as a semi-satellite of CFTM, while continuing to produce local newscasts for the Quebec City market. CFCM-DT began digital transmission in August 2011. In February 2018, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approved the relocation of the station's transmitter from its former Sainte-Foy facilities on Myrand Street to Édifice Marie-Guyart in downtown Quebec City. The move supported redevelopment of the former site and placed the transmitter near other broadcasters, including CIVQ-TV and CFAP-DT. The relocation reduced effective radiated power from 210 kilowatts to 80 kilowatts. As of October 2022, the station's local schedule included a ten-minute bulletin embedded in TVA's noon newscast and two 30-minute local newscasts at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

CFCM-DT's history begins with the development of private television in Quebec. The station went on air on July 17, 1954, as Quebec's first private television station. It was created by Télévision de Québec, a local consortium that included Famous Players and the CHRC and CKCV radio stations. Its initial facilities were built near Cité-Universitaire, and its transmitter used a high lattice tower designed to provide a substantial regional coverage area. Microwave links connected the station with Montreal and enabled it to carry network programming. CFCM initially served as a bilingual CBC/Radio-Canada affiliate. This arrangement ended in stages as the Quebec television market expanded. On March 17, 1957, Télévision de Québec launched CKMI-TV, allowing CFCM to discontinue English-language programming. The opening of Radio-Canada's CBVT on channel 11 on September 7, 1964, removed CFCM's French-language network affiliation as well. CFCM then operated independently and lost a large volume of network programming, which also affected its local production schedule. The station became part of the cooperative structure that formed TVA. CFCM, CFTM-TV in Montreal, and CJPM-TV in Chicoutimi combined their programming and distribution resources, with the first TVA network broadcast airing on September 12, 1971. CFCM was commonly branded Télé-4 for several decades. It remained a major Quebec City broadcaster even as the station's schedule became increasingly integrated with TVA's network output. Ownership changed repeatedly. Télévision de Québec faced regulatory pressure in the late 1960s because Famous Players, its largest shareholder, was linked to an American parent and Canadian broadcasting rules required qualifying Canadian ownership. After a proposed sale was rejected and the regulator demanded an ownership plan, Famous Players reduced its stake to 20 percent by selling shares to three Quebec City companies. Télévision de Québec adopted the Télé-Capitale name in 1972. La Verendrye Management Corporation acquired the business in two stages in 1979 and 1982. The company later sold it to Montreal-based Pathonic Corporation in 1984, citing a heavy debt burden. Pathonic became associated with the Pathonic Network and was ultimately acquired by Télé-Métropole, now identified with TVA, in transactions completed in 1989 and 1990. The station's local programming became a regulatory and civic issue in the early 1990s. Télé-Métropole applied to cut CFCM's weekly local production from 21 hours to 10 hours on economic grounds. CRTC commissioners criticized the proposal, and the mayor of Quebec City also objected. Although CFCM subsequently operated largely as a semi-satellite of CFTM, it preserved local news service and continued to hold a leading position in the Quebec City market. CFCM entered digital broadcasting in August 2011. A further technical change followed in 2018, when the CRTC approved the relocation of its transmitter from the former Myrand Street studios in Sainte-Foy to Édifice Marie-Guyart. The relocation freed the former site for residential development and colocated the transmitter with other television facilities. Effective radiated power was lowered from 210 kW to 80 kW. In the 2022 schedule described in reference material, the station provided a short local component at noon and two evening local newscasts, balancing regional coverage with TVA network programming.

• 2018

  Transmitter moves to Édifice Marie-Guyart

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC approved relocation of the transmitter from Sainte-Foy to downtown Quebec City, with lower effective radiated power.

• 2011

  Digital transmission begins

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFCM-DT signed on its digital signal in August.

• 1992

  Local production reduction proposal

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé-Métropole sought approval to reduce weekly local production from 21 hours to 10 hours, prompting criticism from CRTC commissioners and Quebec City's mayor.

• 1989

  Integration into TVA ownership

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé-Métropole began acquiring the Pathonic interests associated with CFCM; the broader transaction was completed in 1990.

• 1984

  Pathonic acquires the station group

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé-Capitale was sold to Pathonic Corporation after its previous owner cited substantial debt.

• 1972

  Télévision de Québec becomes Télé-Capitale

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station's operating company adopted the Télé-Capitale name during an ownership restructuring.

• 1971

  TVA network launches

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFCM joined CFTM-TV and CJPM-TV in the first TVA network broadcast on September 12.

• 1964

  CFCM becomes independent

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The launch of CBVT in Quebec City ended CFCM's Radio-Canada affiliation and left the station operating independently.

• 1957

  English programming ends

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFCM discontinued English-language programming after the launch of CKMI-TV by Télévision de Québec.

• 1954

  CFCM begins broadcasting

  [1]CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CFCM went on air on July 17 as Quebec's first private television station, initially operating as a bilingual CBC/Radio-Canada affiliate.

A long-established French-language commercial broadcaster focused on Quebec City news and regional service while carrying the wider TVA network schedule.

• Television news

  CFCM-DT local news

  Regional French-language news programming for Quebec City and its surrounding market. The service remains the station's main distinct contribution within a schedule that otherwise draws heavily on TVA network programming. The documented 2022 schedule included a short local bulletin during the network noon newscast and two 30-minute local newscasts at 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

• Television network service · 1971

  TVA network programming

  CFCM carries programming from the French-language TVA network, the Quebec commercial television network formed in 1971 by CFCM and other private francophone stations. Network carriage provides entertainment, information, and national or provincial programming alongside the station's Quebec City-specific output.

• 2018

  Transmitter relocation and power reductionOther

  Background

  The former transmitter facilities near the station's Sainte-Foy studios were affected by plans for residential redevelopment.

  Action taken

  The CRTC approved moving the transmitter to Édifice Marie-Guyart and reducing effective radiated power from 210 kW to 80 kW.

  Aftermath

  The new site placed CFCM's transmission facilities near CIVQ-TV and CFAP-DT in downtown Quebec City.

  Source

• 1992

  Proposal to reduce local productionStrategy

  Background

  Télé-Métropole argued that economic conditions justified reducing CFCM's weekly local production from 21 hours to 10 hours.

  Action taken

  The owner applied to the CRTC for authorization to make the reduction.

  Aftermath

  The proposal was sharply criticized by CRTC commissioners and Quebec City's mayor. CFCM subsequently operated largely as a semi-satellite of CFTM while retaining local news programming.

  Source

1. 1CFCM-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TVA Québectvanouvelles.ca