CFRA-DT (PatrZDZ's vision)

**CFRA-DT** (channel 43), is a television station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, serving the National Capital Region as part of the Citytv network. Owned by CHUM Limited, CFRA-DT's studios—alongside CHUM's Ottawa radio properties—are located at the Market Media Mall building on George Street in downtown Ottawa's ByWard Market; and its transmitter is located in the city's Herbert Corners section.

The station operates a digital-only rebroadcaster in Pembroke, CFRA-DT-47 (channel 47).

## History

In 1987, CRTC authorized Baton Broadcasting to launch a new independent station in Ottawa. Standard Broadcasting, the owners of existing Ottawa television station CJOH-TV, responded to the potential new competition by selling CJOH to Baton, who then surrendered the new independent license to CHUM Limited. (Ironically, CHUM had been one of the applicants for the independent license that eventually went to Baton).

The station signed on the air on September 4, 1989 at 6:00 p.m., becoming the second television station in Canada to use the Citytv brand (as "CapitalCitytv"), effectively turning Citytv into a television system. CHUM planned on spending $8.03 million on Ottawa-based independent productions, $5.95 million on local news and information programming, and $1.37 million on local culture, social policy, and talent development over a period of seven years. On that day, the station's 5:00, 7:00 (moved to 6:00 p.m. in 1990) and 10:00 p.m. newscasts were launched as CityPulse.

On August 28, 1996, CHUM Limited received CRTC approval to add a new analog transmitter on UHF channel 47 at Pembroke, Ontario, to rebroadcast programming of CFRA-TV across the Renfrew County.

In October 2000, the station moved to a brand-new media complex, dubbed the CHUM MarketMediaMall, in Ottawa's historic ByWard Market neighborhood at 87 George Street. In addition to a Speaker's Corner video booth, the facility also houses CHUM's Ottawa-area radio stations (CKKL-FM, CJMJ-FM, CFRA and CFGO).

## News operation

CFRA-DT presently broadcasts 42½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 7½ hours each weekday, 3½ hours on Saturdays and 1½ hours on Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to news programming, it is the largest local newscast output among the television stations in Ottawa.

In January 2007, CFRA-DT began producing its newscasts with a new system called "Ross Overdrive" – an automated production system that replaced the need for a switcher, VTR operator, graphics operator and many other staffers. Some 25 staffers were affected by the change, which had been announced some six months earlier.

On March 3, 2009, CHUM Limited announced that it will expand Breakfast Television to four hours a day on weekdays, with a two-hour Saturday edition added as well (CFRA-DT also continues to show two one-hour weekend music video programs co-branded with local CHUM Limited stations).

### Newscast schedule

Weekdays

* 6am - 10am: Breakfast Television with Sarah Freemark and Stefan Keyes
* 12pm - 1pm: CityPulse at Noon with Sandra Blaikie
* 5pm - 6pm: CityPulse Live at 5 with Tony Grace
* 6pm - 7pm: CityPulse at 6 with Sandra Blaikie
* 10pm - 10:35pm: CityPulse Tonight with Tony Grace

Saturdays:

* 7am - 9am: Breakfast Television with Sarah Freemark and Stefan Keyes
* 6pm - 7pm: CityPulse at 6 with Cory Atkins
* 10pm - 10:35pm: CityPulse Tonight with Cory Atkins

Sundays:

* 6pm - 7pm: CityPulse at 6 with Cory Atkins
* 10pm - 10:35pm: CityPulse Tonight with Cory Atkins