CHAU-DT

CHAU-DT is a French-language television station based in Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec, Canada. The station broadcasts on channel 5 and is affiliated with TVA, the Quebec French-language commercial television network. Its service area extends across the Gaspésie region and into northern New Brunswick, with a particularly broad network of rebroadcast transmitters for a privately owned Quebec television station. The station also maintains a bureau in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and works in conjunction with sister station CIMT-DT in Rivière-du-Loup to distribute TVA programming across much of eastern Quebec and New Brunswick. The station was founded by physician Charles Houde through La Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs and began broadcasting on October 17, 1959. In its first years, CHAU operated as a bilingual affiliate of both the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Société Radio-Canada. Like other private Quebec stations of the period, it carried a mixture of English- and French-language programming, with French content predominating. CHAU joined Radio-Canada's microwave distribution network in March 1960. Its programming became entirely French-language in 1968, after the launch of a CBMT rebroadcaster in Carleton made the English-language CBC service available locally. CHAU remained a significant regional broadcaster during the transition from dual CBC/SRC affiliation to commercial French-language television. In 1979, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission assigned the station a role in extending TVA service to northern New Brunswick and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region. CHAU began carrying TVA programming during off-hours around 1980 and became an exclusive TVA affiliate on December 18, 1983, after Radio-Canada established a CBGAT rebroadcaster in the Carleton area. The station's technical and ownership history includes several important transitions. CHAU was among four television stations acquired from Power Corporation of Canada by Corus Entertainment in 2000; it was subsequently sold again. It is now operated by Télé Inter-Rives. CHAU's main signal and transmitters form one of the largest rebroadcaster networks operated by a privately owned Quebec station. The network covers much of the Gaspé Peninsula and includes three transmitters in New Brunswick. Its primary signal provides city-grade coverage in Campbellton and reaches Bathurst with a grade-B signal. CHAU also receives the TVA network feed from its sister station CIMT-DT, and the two stations use both brands in network promotions. The station completed the conversion of its transmitters to digital transmission in November 2011. In 2013, the CRTC approved a frequency change for CHAU-DT-5 from channel 13 to channel 11, with the operator citing interference from CBCT-DT in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In 2018, Télé Inter-Rives applied to add a transmitter in the Magdalen Islands. The proposed CHAU-DT-12 facility at Cap-aux-Meules was intended to restore over-the-air television availability in an area affected by the closure of CBC and Radio-Canada analog transmitters, while also supporting additional local news and programming partnerships. CHAU-DT's identity therefore combines regional news coverage, TVA network programming, and an unusually extensive terrestrial distribution footprint for eastern Quebec and adjacent New Brunswick communities.

CHAU-DT began broadcasting on October 17, 1959, in Carleton-sur-Mer under the ownership of Charles Houde's La Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs. The station initially operated within Quebec's private television system as a dual CBC/SRC affiliate. Its schedule contained both English- and French-language programs, although French programming formed the larger share. On March 24, 1960, CHAU joined Radio-Canada's microwave network, improving its access to network programming and distribution infrastructure. The station became fully French-language in 1968. This change followed the establishment of a CBMT rebroadcaster in Carleton, which provided local access to English-language CBC programming and allowed CHAU to concentrate on French-language service. CHAU was also among the last Canadian stations to maintain local black-and-white programming; it switched to colour in 1978. A major strategic change came in 1979, when the CRTC assigned CHAU a mandate to extend TVA service into northern New Brunswick and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region. Around 1980, the station began carrying TVA programs during periods outside its existing schedule. On December 18, 1983, it became an exclusive TVA affiliate after Radio-Canada opened a CBGAT rebroadcaster in the Carleton area. This ended CHAU's direct dual-network role and established its long-term position as a commercial French-language broadcaster. CHAU's ownership changed again in 2000. It was one of four television stations acquired from Power Corporation of Canada by Corus Entertainment and the only one in that transaction located outside Ontario. The station was later resold and is operated by Télé Inter-Rives. Its relationship with sister station CIMT-DT in Rivière-du-Loup remains important: CHAU receives the TVA signal from CIMT, and the two stations' identities appear together in some network promotions. The station expanded its regional role through a large network of rebroadcast transmitters. Its coverage reaches across the Gaspé Peninsula and includes three rebroadcasters in New Brunswick. CHAU's main signal covers most of northern New Brunswick, with city-grade service in Campbellton and grade-B coverage reaching Bathurst. The station also operates a Bathurst bureau. In combination with CIMT's transmitter in Edmundston, the two stations provide TVA service throughout New Brunswick. CHAU prepared for digital transmission even though the Gaspésie and Campbellton areas were not designated mandatory markets in Canada's digital transition. All of its transmitters were converted to digital in November 2011. The CRTC subsequently approved a request on April 8, 2013, to move CHAU-DT-5 from channel 13 to channel 11. The operator said the change would reduce interference from CBC Television's CBCT-DT in Charlottetown, which also used channel 13. On June 6, 2018, Télé Inter-Rives applied to add CHAU-DT-12, a low-power VHF transmitter planned for Cap-aux-Meules in the Magdalen Islands. The application proposed improved over-the-air television access in the islands, which had lost local CBC and Radio-Canada analog transmission after budget-related closures in 2012. The proposal also contemplated expanded news coverage and cooperation with independent media producers. CHAU-DT's development has consequently been shaped by regional service obligations, network affiliation, transmission technology, and the challenge of serving dispersed communities across eastern Quebec and northern New Brunswick.

• 2018

  Application for Magdalen Islands service

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Télé Inter-Rives applies for a new CHAU-DT-12 transmitter at Cap-aux-Meules.

• 2013

  Frequency change approved

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC approves moving CHAU-DT-5 from channel 13 to channel 11 to address interference concerns.

• 2011

  Digital transmitter conversion

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHAU converts all of its transmitters to digital transmission in November.

• 2000

  Acquired by Corus Entertainment

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHAU is one of four television stations purchased from Power Corporation of Canada by Corus Entertainment before being resold.

• 1983

  Becomes an exclusive TVA affiliate

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  On December 18, CHAU becomes an exclusive TVA affiliate after Radio-Canada launches a local CBGAT rebroadcaster.

• 1979

  CRTC assigns regional TVA extension mandate

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC assigns CHAU a role in extending TVA service to northern New Brunswick and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region.

• 1978

  Conversion to colour

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHAU ends its use of black-and-white local programming and moves to colour broadcasting.

• 1968

  Transition to all-French programming

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHAU becomes an exclusively French-language station after an English-language CBC rebroadcaster is established in Carleton.

• 1960

  Connection to Radio-Canada's microwave network

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station joins Radio-Canada's microwave distribution network on March 24, expanding its access to network programming.

• 1959

  CHAU begins broadcasting

  [1]CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org

  CHAU launches in Carleton-sur-Mer on October 17 under the ownership of Charles Houde's La Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs.

A regional French-language television service combining TVA network programming with local and regional coverage for eastern Quebec and northern New Brunswick.

• Broadcast television station · 1959

  CHAU-DT television service

  The station's primary French-language broadcast service originates in Carleton-sur-Mer on channel 5. It combines TVA network programming with regional service for communities in the Gaspésie area and northern New Brunswick.

• Television distribution network

  CHAU-DT rebroadcaster network

  CHAU operates an extensive network of transmitters across the Gaspé Peninsula and northern New Brunswick. The network is a central part of the station's regional identity, delivering TVA programming to dispersed communities beyond the primary Carleton-sur-Mer signal.

• Proposed rebroadcast transmitter · 2018

  CHAU-DT-12 proposal

  Télé Inter-Rives proposed a VHF transmitter at Cap-aux-Meules to extend CHAU service to the Magdalen Islands. The proposal also contemplated local news coverage and partnerships with independent producers.

• 2018

  Propose service expansion to the Magdalen IslandsStrategy

  Background

  The Magdalen Islands had lost over-the-air CBC and Radio-Canada service after the closure of remaining analog transmitters in 2012.

  Action taken

  Télé Inter-Rives filed a CRTC application for CHAU-DT-12, a 100-watt VHF transmitter at Cap-aux-Meules, and described plans for island news coverage and independent local production.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material records the application and proposed service but does not establish a subsequent launch.

  Source

• 2013

  Relocate CHAU-DT-5 to channel 11Other

  Background

  The station cited interference from CBCT-DT in Charlottetown, which also broadcast on channel 13.

  Action taken

  The CRTC approved the move of CHAU-DT-5 from channel 13 to channel 11 on April 8, 2013.

  Aftermath

  The approved frequency relocation was intended to improve the station's technical operating conditions.

  Source

• 2011

  Convert the transmitter network to digitalStrategy

  Background

  Canada's transition to digital television created a need to modernize broadcast transmission infrastructure, even though CHAU's markets were not mandatory conversion markets.

  Action taken

  CHAU converted all of its transmitters to digital transmission in November 2011.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating its broad regional distribution network using digital transmission.

  Source

• 1979

  Expand TVA service into eastern regional marketsStrategy

  Background

  The CRTC sought to improve French-language television availability in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and northern New Brunswick.

  Action taken

  CHAU was assigned a mandate to extend TVA programming into those markets and began carrying TVA content during off-hours around 1980.

  Aftermath

  The station became an exclusive TVA affiliate on December 18, 1983, after a Radio-Canada rebroadcaster opened in Carleton.

  Source

1. 1CHAU-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CHAU-DT official websitecimtchau.ca