CTV 2 Atlantic

CTV 2 Atlantic is a Canadian cable television channel serving Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador through cable and satellite distribution. The service is based in Halifax and is operated by Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. It functions as the Atlantic Canadian outlet of the secondary CTV 2 television system and is closely associated with CTV Atlantic, Bell Media’s primary CTV network service in the region. The channel began broadcasting on May 29, 1983, as the Atlantic Satellite Network, commonly known as ASN. It was created by CHUM Limited as a supplementary service to CHUM’s Atlantic Television network, whose stations later became CTV Atlantic. ASN combined local and regional programming with entertainment and educational material. Its early schedule included a local news service called Atlantic Pulse, alternative programming supplied by CHUM’s Toronto station CITY-TV, feature films, syndicated series and educational programs from provincial departments and Atlantic universities. Through the Distance University Education via Television initiative, the channel carried university-level courses, including subjects such as business administration and gerontology. ASN’s programming identity changed as the Canadian television ownership landscape evolved. In 1997, a station transaction between CHUM and Baton Broadcasting placed ASN and the Atlantic Television stations under Baton ownership. The Atlantic Television stations were integrated into the expanded CTV network, while ASN retained a distinct schedule and continued to resemble a regional Citytv affiliate. Its local programming was subsequently reduced, and its schedule increasingly relied on CTV library programs, syndicated series, repeats, selected MTV Canada content and time-shifted CTV programming. A proposed CHUM–CTVglobemedia transaction initially created the possibility that ASN might become a Citytv station. Because regulatory approval required Citytv to be sold to another party, Rogers Communications ultimately acquired the Citytv stations, while ASN was instead incorporated into CTVglobemedia’s A system. On August 11, 2008, it was relaunched as A Atlantic. Bell Media later announced a system-wide rebranding, and the channel became CTV Two Atlantic on August 29, 2011. A high-definition feed followed on September 12, 2011; the HD service later replaced the standard-definition feed on Shaw Direct in 2019. CTV 2 Atlantic is designated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission as a satellite-to-cable television programming undertaking. It has no terrestrial transmitters, but is widely carried by cable and satellite providers in Atlantic Canada and is also available on selected digital systems elsewhere in Canada. The service has simultaneous-substitution rights in the Atlantic provinces, an important distribution characteristic for a cable-originated channel. It generally carries local and regional advertising, although regulatory conditions have restricted the solicitation of local advertising in Halifax and, for a period, the St. John’s area. The channel’s current identity is centered on local news and morning programming rather than the broad entertainment mix associated with its early years. It carries CTV News programming, including CTV News at Noon, a late local-news rebroadcast and weekday morning programming under the CTV Morning Live name. The channel continues to operate as a distinct but closely coordinated component of Bell Media’s Atlantic television operations, with its schedule and news output shaped by CTV 2’s secondary-network role and by the distribution needs of the region.

CTV 2 Atlantic was established on May 29, 1983, when CHUM Limited launched the Atlantic Satellite Network in the Atlantic provinces. The service was designed as a supplementary channel to CHUM’s Atlantic Television stations, later known as CTV Atlantic. Unlike a conventional terrestrial station, ASN was distributed through cable and did not operate over-the-air transmitters. The original service combined regional news, entertainment and education. Its Atlantic Pulse newscasts used reporters from the related ATV operation but had separate anchors, graphics and a modest studio arrangement. Entertainment included films and programming sourced from CITY-TV in Toronto, while educational material came from provincial education departments and Atlantic universities. ASN’s Distance University Education via Television partnership provided televised university courses. In 1992, the channel introduced a regional version of Breakfast Television, moving much of its educational schedule to weekends and overnight periods. A 1997 ownership transaction between CHUM and Baton Broadcasting altered ASN’s corporate setting. Baton integrated the Atlantic Television stations into the CTV network, while ASN maintained an independent schedule that broadly resembled a Citytv affiliate. Over time, however, the service carried less CHUM material. Its schedule increasingly consisted of CTV programs, repeats, syndicated entertainment, selected specialty-channel content and programming used to extend or time-shift CTV network coverage. The 2007 acquisition of CHUM by CTVglobemedia led to uncertainty about ASN’s future. It might have become the Citytv outlet for Atlantic Canada, but regulatory conditions required Citytv to be divested. Rogers Communications acquired Citytv, and ASN instead joined the A system controlled by CTVglobemedia. The channel was relaunched as A Atlantic on August 11, 2008. Bell Media announced in 2011 that the A system would be renamed CTV Two. The Atlantic service adopted the CTV Two Atlantic name in an official relaunch on August 29, 2011, followed by a high-definition feed on September 12. The HD service later replaced the standard-definition feed on Shaw Direct in June 2019. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission classifies the service as a satellite-to-cable television programming undertaking. This status reflects its cable-based distribution and lack of terrestrial transmitters. It is widely carried in Atlantic Canada and has simultaneous-substitution rights in the region, although it does not appear to have the mandatory carriage rights normally associated with many conventional local broadcast stations. The service’s contemporary schedule emphasizes local news and morning programming. It broadcasts approximately 15 hours of locally produced news each week, including weekday morning programming, CTV News at Noon and a late-news rebroadcast. Its early local-news brands, including Atlantic Pulse and ATV Headline News, were eventually folded into or replaced by the broader CTV Atlantic news operation. The channel remains a Bell Media regional service whose principal value is the delivery of Atlantic Canadian programming through the CTV 2 platform.

• 2019

  HD replaces SD on Shaw Direct

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  The high-definition service replaced the standard-definition feed on Shaw Direct.

• 2011

  CTV Two Atlantic branding introduced

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  The A system was rebranded as CTV Two, with the Atlantic channel adopting its current name on August 29.

• 2011

  HD feed launches

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  CTV Two Atlantic HD began broadcasting on September 12.

• 2008

  ASN becomes A Atlantic

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  The channel joined CTVglobemedia’s A system after Citytv was sold to Rogers Communications.

• 1998

  ASN news programming is integrated with ATV

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  The short-lived ATV Headline News service ended, and ASN’s news operation was fully integrated into the ATV news structure.

• 1997

  ASN transfers to Baton ownership

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  A CHUM–Baton transaction made ASN a Baton property while the related Atlantic Television stations joined the expanded CTV network.

• 1992

  Regional Breakfast Television begins

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  ASN introduced a local version of Breakfast Television and shifted much of its educational programming to other periods.

• 1983

  Atlantic Satellite Network launches

  [1]CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org

  CHUM Limited launched ASN on May 29 as a supplementary cable service for Atlantic Television viewers.

A regional, cable-distributed secondary television service combining Atlantic Canadian news and morning programming with selected network, syndicated and entertainment content.

• Morning news and information

  CTV Morning Live Atlantic

  The channel’s principal local morning program, providing Atlantic Canadian news, weather, traffic, interviews and community features. It evolved from the earlier ASN Breakfast Television format and is produced within Bell Media’s Atlantic news operation.

• Local television news · 1983

  CTV News programming

  CTV 2 Atlantic carries locally relevant CTV News output, including CTV News at Noon and a late-news rebroadcast. The service’s earlier Atlantic Pulse and ATV Headline News brands were eventually integrated into the broader CTV Atlantic news operation.

• Educational broadcasting · 1983

  Educational television programming

  During its earlier ASN years, the channel devoted substantial periods to educational programming from provincial departments and Atlantic universities, including televised courses offered through the Distance University Education via Television partnership.

• 2011

  Rebrand the A system as CTV TwoStrategy

  Background

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

  Action taken

  A Atlantic was renamed CTV Two Atlantic in the system-wide relaunch on August 29.

  Aftermath

  The service gained a clearer secondary-network relationship with the CTV brand and introduced an HD feed shortly afterward.

  Source

• 2008

  Move ASN into the A systemStrategy

  Background

  The proposed CHUM–CTVglobemedia transaction could not leave Citytv within the combined group because approval required Citytv to be sold.

  Action taken

  ASN was relaunched as A Atlantic rather than becoming a Citytv owned-and-operated outlet.

  Aftermath

  The service became part of the A system and was later rebranded as CTV Two Atlantic.

  Source

1. 1CTV2 Atlanticen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CTV Morning Live Atlanticatlantic.ctvnews.ca