View source for Citytv

{{short description|Canadian television network owned by Rogers Communications}}
{{about|the Canadian television network. Individual stations (such as Toronto's [[CITY-DT]]) are listed according to their [[Call signs in North America|call signs]]|other uses|City TV (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Citytv
| logo = Citytv logo.svg
| type = [[Terrestrial television|Broadcast]] [[television network]]
| country = Canada
| area = Canada<br>Colombia
| affiliates = See {{section link||Citytv stations}}
| headquarters = [[33 Dundas Street East]], [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| language = English
| sister_channels = [[Omni Television]]<br>[[Sportsnet]]<br>[[Bravo (Canadian TV network)|Bravo]]<br>[[FX (Canadian TV channel)|FX]]<br>[[FXX (Canadian TV channel)|FXX]]<br>[[TSC (TV channel)|TSC]]<br>[[WWE Network (Canada)|WWE Network]]<br>[[Citytv Bogotá|Citytv (Bogotá)]]<hr>'''Former:'''<br>[[CP24]] (1998–2007)<br>[[CTV 2|NewNet/A-Channel]] (1995–2007)<br>[[CTV 2 Atlantic|ASN]] (1983–2008)<br>[[Much (TV channel)|MuchMusic]] (1984–2007)<br>[[M3 (Canadian TV channel)|MuchMoreMusic]] (1998–2007)<br>[[CTV Drama Channel|Bravo!]] (1995–2007)<br>[[E! (Canadian TV channel)|Star!]] (1999–2007)<br>[[Fashion Television (TV channel)|FashionTelevision]] (2001–2007)<br>[[CTV 2 Alberta|Access]] (1995–2007)<br>[[CTV Sci-Fi Channel|Space]] (1997–2007)<br>[[Cooking Channel (Canadian TV channel)|SexTV: The Channel]] (2001–2007)<br>[[BookTelevision]] (2001–2007)<br>[[Sundance Channel (Canadian TV channel)|Drive-In Classics]] (2001–2007)
| former_names = City (December 2012–September 2018)
| owner = [[Rogers Communications]]
| parent = [[Rogers Sports & Media]]
| key_people = Tony Staffieri - Rogers Communications Interim President & CEO<br>Jordan Banks - President of Rogers Sports & Media<br>Bart Yabsley - President, Sportsnet and NHL Network, Rogers Sports & Media
| founder = Phyllis Switzer, [[Moses Znaimer]], [[Jerry Grafstein]] and Edgar Cowan, among others
| launch_date = September 28, 1972, 51 years ago<br>{{small|(First aired in [[Toronto]])}}<br>July 22, 2002, 22 years ago<br>{{small|(first national expansion)}}<br>February 4, 2013, 11 years ago<br>{{small|(current national footprint)}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.citytv.com}}
| online_serv_1  = [[Amazon Prime]]
| online_chan_1  = [[Over-the-top media services|Over-the-top TV]]
}}
'''Citytv''' (sometimes shortened to '''City''', which was the network's official branding from 2012 to 2018) is a [[Television in Canada|Canadian]] [[television network]] owned by the [[Rogers Sports & Media]] subsidiary of [[Rogers Communications]]. The network consists of six [[owned-and-operated station|owned-and-operated]] (O&O) television stations located in the metropolitan areas of [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], [[Winnipeg]], [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]], and [[Vancouver]], a cable-only service that serves the province of [[Saskatchewan]], and three independently owned affiliates serving smaller cities in [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]]. There is also one station using the brand name serving [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]].
The Citytv brand name originates from its flagship station, [[CITY-DT|CITY-TV]] in Toronto, a station that went on the air in September 28, 1972, in the former Electric Circus nightclub in which became known for an intensely local format based on newscasts aimed at younger viewers, nightly movies, and music and cultural programming. The Citytv brand first expanded with then-parent company [[CHUM Limited]]'s acquisition of former [[Global Television Network|Global]] owned-and-operated station [[CKVU-DT|CKVU-TV]] in Vancouver, followed by its purchase of [[Craig Media]]'s stations and the re-branding of its [[A-Channel (Craig Media)|A-Channel]] [[television system|system]] in [[Central Canada]] as Citytv in August 2005. CHUM Limited was acquired by CTVglobemedia (now [[Bell Media]]) in 2007; to comply with [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) ownership limits, the Citytv stations were sold to Rogers. The network grew through further affiliations with three [[Jim Pattison Group]]-owned stations, along with Rogers' acquisition of the cable-only [[Citytv Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan Communications Network]] and Montreal's [[CJNT-DT]]. At one point, Citytv also existed in [[8TV (Catalonia)|Barcelona]] and [[WRUA|San Juan, Puerto Rico]].
While patterned after the original station in Toronto, since the 2000s, and particularly since its acquisition by Rogers, Citytv has moved towards a series-based prime time schedule much like its competitors, albeit one still focused on younger demographics.
==Early beginnings==
{{stack|[[File:Wesley_Building,_299_Queen_Street_West,_Toronto,_ON,_Exterior,_Sept_2013.jpg|thumb|left|[[299 Queen Street West]], the previous home of Citytv Toronto from 1987 to 2009]]}}
The licence of the original Citytv station, granted the [[callsign]] of [[CITY-DT|CITY-TV]] by the CRTC, was awarded in Toronto on November 25, 1971 by Channel Seventy-Nine Ltd., which consisted of – among others – Phyllis Switzer, [[Moses Znaimer]], [[Jerry Grafstein]] and Edgar Cowan. The four principal owners raised over $2 million to help start up the station, with Grafstein raising about 50% of the required funds, Znaimer raising around 25%, and the remainder being accrued by Switzer and Cowan.<ref>[http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/genesis-genius-and-tumult-at-citytv-recalled-40-years-on/1001733013/ Genesis, Genius and Tumult at Citytv Recalled 40 Years On] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208225116/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/genesis-genius-and-tumult-at-citytv-recalled-40-years-on/1001733013/|date=February 8, 2013}}, ''Broadcaster Magazine'', October 1, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=CITY-DT |url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/listing_and_histories/television/city-dt |website=Canadian Broadcasting Foundation |access-date=September 28, 2018}}</ref> CITY-TV began broadcasting on September 28, 1972 for the first time using the "Citytv" brand and initially operated as an [[independent station]], and its transmitter operated at an [[effective radiated power]] of 31{{nbsp}}[[kW]]. The station operated from studio facilities located at 99 Queen Street East, near Church Street, at the former Electric Circus nightclub.
The station lost money early on, and was in debt by 1975. Multiple Access Ltd. (the owners of [[CFCF-DT|CFCF-TV]] in [[Montreal]]) purchased a 45% interest in the station, and sold its stake to [[CHUM Limited]], the parent company of [[CKVR-DT|CKVR-TV]] in [[Barrie]], [[Ontario]] in 1978.
On May 1, 1976, the station's main transmitter began broadcasting at 208&nbsp;kW from the [[CN Tower]]. The station switched channel allocations on July 1, 1983, moving to UHF channel 57, the result of [[Industry Canada]]'s decision to reassign frequencies corresponding to high-band UHF channels 70 to 83 to the new [[Advanced Mobile Phone System|AMPS]] [[mobile phone]] systems as a result of a CCIR international convention in 1982.
In 1981, CITY was purchased outright by CHUM with the sale of Moses Znaimer's interest in the station. Znaimer remained with the station as an executive until 2003, when he retired from his management role but continued to work with the station on some production projects.<ref>[http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/znaimer-steps-down-as-president-of-chum-tv/1000028107/ Znaimer steps down as president of CHUM TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927082707/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/znaimer-steps-down-as-president-of-chum-tv/1000028107/ |date=September 27, 2013 }}, ''Broadcaster Magazine'', April 27, 2003.</ref> CITY and the other CHUM-owned television properties moved their operations to the company's headquarters at [[299 Queen Street West]] in May 1987, which became one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. On March 30, 1998, CHUM launched CablePulse 24 ([[CP24]]), a local cable news channel whose programming used anchors from and featured reports filed by CITY-TV's news staff, rebroadcasts of the station's ''CityPulse'' newscasts and select programming from CITY and other CHUM stations.
==Expansion beyond Toronto==
CHUM added CITY-TV's three rebroadcast transmitters in [[Woodstock, Ontario|Woodstock]] (CITY-TV-2 on channel 31, which also served nearby [[London, Ontario|London]]) on September 1, 1986, while another transmitter was set up in [[Ottawa]] in 1996 (CITY-TV-3 on channel 65).
CITY-TV's groundbreaking format became successful when CHUM dropped CKVR's longtime affiliation with [[CBC Television]] on September 1, 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbackonline.ca/1995/08/28/4635-19950828/ |title=News Briefs: Rogers deal goes to CRTC |date=August 28, 1995 |work=Playback Magazine |access-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref> and relaunched it as an [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1994%5CDB94-745.htm |title=Decision CRTC 94-745 |date=September 14, 1994 |work=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission |access-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbackonline.ca/1995/12/04/4902-19951204/ |title=Network: A honey of a Raptor |date=December 4, 1995 |work=Playback Magazine |access-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref> Eventually, CHUM began to replicate the format when it acquired four Ontario stations from Baton Broadcasting in 1997, namely [[CHRO-TV|CHRO]] in [[Pembroke, Ontario|Pembroke]], [[CFPL-DT|CFPL-TV]] in [[London, Ontario|London]], [[CKNX-TV]] in [[Wingham, Ontario|Wingham]], and [[CHWI-DT|CHWI-TV]] in [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]]. Most of these stations were also former CBC affiliates, and in markets where CKVR's sister station, CITY-TV, was already or subsequently became available on basic cable.
Until 1997, CHUM owned two television outlets in [[Atlantic Canada]]: the [[CTV Atlantic|ATV]] system of CTV affiliates, and cable-only channel [[CTV 2 Atlantic|ASN]]. Many Citytv programs were aired on ASN during this period, effectively making ASN an unbranded Citytv O&O. Both ATV and ASN were acquired by Baton Broadcasting (now Bell Media) in 1997; ASN continued to air much of the Citytv schedule until it became part of the A (now [[CTV 2]]) television system in 2008. This means that Atlantic Canada is now the largest gap in City's local coverage area, and there are few remaining realistic options for Rogers to purchase or affiliate with existing stations in the region. This had led Rogers to attempt, unsuccessfully, to request [[simultaneous substitution]] privileges for Citytv Toronto on its cable systems in [[New Brunswick]] and [[Newfoundland and Labrador]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-551.htm|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-551|author=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|date=October 10, 2012|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> Prior to the CRTC's decision to refuse the request, Rogers had hinted that a similar agreement had been tentatively reached with [[EastLink (company)|EastLink]], the main cable provider in [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Prince Edward Island]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/05/29/in-bid-to-attract-canadas-big-advertisers-rogers-focuses-on-expanding-tv-distribution/|title=In bid to attract Canada's big advertisers, Rogers focuses on expanding TV distribution|first=Jamie|last=Sturgeon|work=[[National Post]]|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref>
In 2000, after [[Canwest|Canwest Global Communications]] acquired the assets of [[Western International Communications]] which led to a [[2001 Vancouver TV realignment|network shuffle in Vancouver]], CHUM applied to the CRTC to acquire [[CKVU-DT|CKVU-TV]] (Global Vancouver) on July 26, 2001<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2001/PB2001-86.htm Public Notice CRTC 2001–86]</ref> for $175 million, with the intention of making it a newest Citytv station. CHUM planned on spending $8.03 million on British Columbia-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. A similar application was filed in 1996 by the CRTC but was dropped in favor of Baton launching [[CIVT-DT|CIVT-TV]] in 1997.<ref name="Vanc960926">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112497046/bc-premier-breaks-tradition-to/|date=September 26, 1996|first=William|last=Boei|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112497100/clark-supports-vtv-application/ A7]|title=B.C. premier breaks tradition to endorse TV applicant|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 4, 2022|archive-date=November 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104051011/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112497046/bc-premier-breaks-tradition-to/|url-status=live}}</ref> CHUM gained CRTC approval for its acquisition of CKVU on October 15, 2001.<ref name="CKVUSaleApproved">[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2001/db2001-647.htm Decision CRTC 2001-647], October 15, 2001. Accessed online September 1, 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110608055813/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2001/db2001-647.htm Archived] September 4, 2009.</ref> Meanwhile, [[CIVI-DT|CIVI-TV]] in [[Victoria, British Columbia]] went on the air in October 2001 using the same format as CITY-TV. CKVU became known as "Citytv Vancouver" on July 22, 2002. Prior to CHUM's acquisition of CKVU, some Citytv programming were split between [[KVOS-TV]] in [[Bellingham, Washington]], which is close to Vancouver, and CTV-owned [[CIVT-DT|CIVT-TV]], during the 1990s and early 2000s when Citytv did not have a station in Vancouver; [[CHAN-DT|CHAN-TV]], then a CTV affiliate, also aired some Citytv programs, such as ''CityLine''. The [[Western International Communications|WIC]] stations in Alberta (including CITV-TV and [[CICT-DT|CICT-TV]]) bought provincial rights to some Citytv programs prior to the launch of CKAL and CKEM in 1997.
[[File:City TV Building at The Forks, in Winnipeg Manitoba.JPG|thumb|upright|Citytv Building at [[The Forks, Winnipeg|The Forks]], in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]]]
On April 12, 2004, [[CHUM Limited]] announced a deal to purchase Craig Media for $265 million.<ref name="Toro040413">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-chum-buys-prairie-empir/135618639/|date=April 13, 2004|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-flagging-tv-ad-sales-hu/135618672/ D7]|first=Rick|last=Westhead|title=CHUM buys Prairie empire: $265 million deal for Craig Media includes Toronto1|newspaper=The Toronto Star|location=Toronto, Ontario|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123020915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-chum-buys-prairie-empir/135618639/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The move came more than a month after the CRTC denied CHUM's applications for new Calgary and Edmonton stations, which they applied back in 2003, because the market did not have sufficient advertising revenue to support a new entrant.<ref name="Edmo040227">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-crtc-denies-broadcaster/135611733/|date=February 27, 2004|page=B3|first=Larry|last=Johnsrude|title=CRTC denies broadcaster's bid for new Alberta TV stations|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|location=Edmonton, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123020914/https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-crtc-denies-broadcaster/135611733/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="MktM030421">{{Cite news| date=April 21, 2003|first=Chris|last=Powell|title=Chum seeks Western TV stations|page=4|id={{ProQuest|227181484}} }}</ref> The sale was approved by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] on November 19, 2004. CHUM had to sell off Toronto 1 because it already owned stations in Toronto and nearby [[Barrie]];{{r|Toro040413}} Toronto 1 was sold to [[Quebecor Media]], owners of the media units [[TVA (Canadian TV network)|TVA]] and [[Sun Media]].<ref name="Vanc041120">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-crtc-allows-quebecor-t/135618744/|date=November 20, 2004|page=G11|first=Nicolas|last=van Praet|title=CRTC allows Quebecor to buy Toronto 1 TV|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123020915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-crtc-allows-quebecor-t/135618744/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->
In February 2005, CHUM announced it would align Craig's A-Channel stations with its existing major-market stations under the Citytv brand. No other significant changes were made, since the A-Channel stations's on-air look had always been very similar to that of Citytv; they initially retained their local programs, relaunched under Citytv's ''[[Breakfast Television]]'' morning brand and ''[[CityNews]]'' news brand.<ref name="Calg050204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-a-channel-fitted-for-fall/135619958/|date=February 4, 2005|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-a-channel-open-concept/135619945/ D6]|title=A-Channel fitted for fall makeover|newspaper=Calgary Herald|location=Calgary, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123021416/https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-a-channel-fitted-for-fall/135619958/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Edmo050204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-a-channel-will-be-rebra/135619970/|date=February 4, 2005|page=E6|first=Archie|last=McLean|title=A-Channel will be rebranded as Citytv|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|location=Edmonton, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123021441/https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-a-channel-will-be-rebra/135619970/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> CHUM hoped to lift the ratings of the stations with the new moniker.<ref name="Calg050728">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-big-a-falls-to-new-city/135585332/|date=July 28, 2005|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-city/135585327/ C2]|first=Alexandra|last=Burroughs|title=Big A falls to new City|newspaper=Calgary Herald|location=Calgary, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123021525/https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-big-a-falls-to-new-city/135585332/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The change took effect on August 2 of the same year, when the A-Channel name was transferred to CHUM's [[NewNet]] stations.<ref name="Edmo050803">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-citytv-rebrands-in-bid/135612884/|date=August 3, 2005|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-plan-aimed-at-attractin/135612952/ C2]|first=Rick|last=McConnell|title=Citytv rebrands in bid to boost audience|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|location=Edmonton, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123021417/https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-citytv-rebrands-in-bid/135612884/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Otta050316">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-chum-to-rebrand-new-r/135620182/|date=March 16, 2005|page=D7|agency=Canadian Press|title=CHUM to rebrand New RO, five other TV channels|newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen|location=Ottawa, Ontario|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123021418/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen-chum-to-rebrand-new-r/135620182/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
[[Image:citytv-nissan6839.JPG|thumb|Citytv news vehicle in Edmonton]]
On July 12, 2006, CHUM announced that it would dramatically reduce its newsgathering operations in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg, as well as in several other cities. It laid off 281 part- and full-time employees, effectively cancelleing its supper-hour, late-night and weekend newscasts, laying off hundreds of news department staff among 281 job cuts. In a coincidental development, that same day, [[BCE Inc.]], owner of Bell Globemedia and the parent company of [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], announced it would buy CHUM Limited.<ref name="Edmo060713">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-dozens-of-workers-fired/135585370/|date=July 13, 2006|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-timing-of-sale-announce/135585384/ A14]|first=Jim|last=Farrell|title=Dozens of workers fired as Citytv pulls newscasts|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|location=Edmonton, Alberta|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=November 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123042017/https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal-dozens-of-workers-fired/135585370/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{Cite press release |title=CHUM Television announces new approach to local information programming |publisher = CHUM Television |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2006/12/c9578.html |via = CNW Group |access-date=July 13, 2006 |date=July 12, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820053636/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2006/12/c9578.html |archive-date=August 20, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Ownership changes==
{{See also|2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment}}
Bell Globemedia had intended to retain CHUM's Citytv system while divesting CHUM's [[CTV 2|A-Channel]] stations and Alberta cable channel [[CTV 2 Alberta|Access]] to get the CRTC to approve the acquisition.<ref name=takeover>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bell-globemedia-makes-1-7b-bid-for-chum-1.583543|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908083837/http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/07/12/chum-bell.html|url-status=live|archive-date=September 8, 2011|title=Bell Globemedia makes $1.7B bid for CHUM|work=[[CBC News]]|date=July 12, 2006|access-date=July 12, 2006}}</ref>
In October 2006, Citytv launched a daily national newscast, ''[[CityNews International]]'', which was produced in Toronto for broadcast on the western Canadian stations and on CHUM's Toronto news channel [[CP24]]. The Edmonton and Calgary stations also began broadcasting a daily 30-minute magazine show, ''Your City'', instead of a full-fledged newscast. The Vancouver news operation, which had operated for 30 years under various owners and station identities, was not maintained aside from ''[[Breakfast Television]]''. In the same month, Citytv Toronto became the first television station in Canada to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in [[High-definition video|high definition]].
The following year on June 8, the CRTC approved the CTV takeover of CHUM. However, the CRTC made the deal conditional on CTV divesting itself of Citytv, because there were already CTV [[owned-and-operated station]]s serving the same cities ([[CFTO-DT|CFTO-TV]] Toronto, [[CIVT-DT|CIVT-TV]] Vancouver, [[CFCN-DT|CFCN-TV]] Calgary, [[CFRN-DT|CFRN-TV]] Edmonton, and [[CKY-DT|CKY-TV]] Winnipeg). Without the divestment, CTV would have exceeded the CRTC's [[concentration of media ownership]] limits. CTV announced on June 11, 2007, that it would retain the A-Channel stations, and sell the Citytv stations to [[Rogers Communications]] for $375 million.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/224297 | title = Rogers buys Citytv stations | access-date = June 12, 2007 |work=The Star|location=Toronto| first=Jim | last=Byers | date=June 12, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1506113399&view=16336-0&Start=0 | title = Rogers Communications Inc, Official News Release: Rogers buys Citytv Stations | access-date = August 18, 2007 | year = 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115104758/http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1506113399&view=16336-0&Start=0 | archive-date = January 15, 2013}}</ref> The transaction was approved by the CRTC on September 28 and was completed on October 31, 2007. On September 8, 2009, CITY Toronto moved to its current location at [[Yonge-Dundas Square]] at [[33 Dundas Street East]].<ref name=dundas>{{cite web|url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/56287--citytv-on-the-move-pt-1|title=Citytv On The Move Pt. 1|publisher=Citytv|date=August 31, 2009|access-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904120910/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/56287--citytv-on-the-move-pt-1|archive-date=September 4, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:City logo 2012.svg|right|upright=0.7|thumb|Logo used from 2012–2018 when branded as "City"]]
On December 6, 2010, ''CityNews Tonight'' Toronto anchor and continuity announcer [[Mark Dailey]] died after a long battle with cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/102653--a-legend-lost-toronto-mourns-the-death-of-mark-dailey |title=A Legend Lost: Toronto Mourns The Death Of Mark Dailey |access-date=December 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209111314/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/102653--a-legend-lost-toronto-mourns-the-death-of-mark-dailey |archive-date=December 9, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Citytv system began to phase in a modified branding in October 2012, with a new logo consisting only of the name "City", and some promotions using the verbal branding "City Television" (later also switched to simply "City") instead of "Citytv". The change marked the first major alteration to the "Citytv" brand since its introduction in 1972. The network adopted the name "City" on December 31, 2012, during its New Year's Eve special.<ref name=canadadotcom-city>{{cite web|title=Citytv drops two letters from its station identification after 40 years|url=http://o.canada.com/2012/12/26/citytv-drops-two-letters-from-its-station-identification-after-40-years/|publisher=Canada.com|access-date=December 28, 2012|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927195607/http://o.canada.com/2012/12/26/citytv-drops-two-letters-from-its-station-identification-after-40-years/|url-status=dead}}</ref> For the [[2018-19 Canadian network television schedule|2018–19 television season]], the network reintroduced its original "Citytv" branding,<ref>{{cite web |title=Citytv Announces 2018 Fall Premiere Dates |url=http://www.rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=1476 |website=Rogers Media TV Access |publisher=Rogers Media |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-date=August 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811101845/http://www.rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=1476 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and its social media accounts.<ref>{{cite web |title=@City_tv |url=https://twitter.com/City_tv?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor |website=Twitter |access-date=September 10, 2018}}</ref>
==Transformation into a television network==
The [[Jim Pattison Group]] announced in July 2009 that its three television stations in western Canada ([[CKPG-TV]], [[CFJC-TV]], and [[CHAT-TV]]), formerly affiliated with [[E! (Canadian TV system)|E!]], would join Citytv starting on September 1, 2009.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Jim Pattison Broadcast Group solidifies Program Supply agreement for three independent stations serving BC and Alberta |publisher=Jim Pattison Broadcast Group |date=July 14, 2009 |url=http://www.jimpattison.com/corporate/news/2009/071409.htm |access-date=July 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831104852/http://www.jimpattison.com/corporate/news/2009/071409.htm |archive-date=August 31, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These stations do not carry the Citytv branding; instead, the stations continue to use the same branding and logos they used as affiliates of the E! system. The Pattison-owned Citytv affiliates produce local newscasts, but do not produce their own versions of ''[[Breakfast Television]]'' nor title their midday and evening newscasts under the ''CityNews'' brand like the Citytv owned-and-operated stations do. Through a long-term affiliation renewal agreement on May 3, 2012, the Pattison stations began to carry 90% of Citytv's primetime programming and the majority of its morning and daytime programming from the programming grid of CKVU-DT, including simulcasts of the Vancouver edition of ''Breakfast Television''. Unlike CKVU, the Pattison stations continue to produce midday and evening local newscasts.<ref>[http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/citytv-and-pattison-group-sign-affiliate-agreement/1001126576/ Citytv and Pattison Group Sign Affiliate Agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514201143/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/citytv-and-pattison-group-sign-affiliate-agreement/1001126576/ |date=May 14, 2012 }}, ''Broadcaster Magazine'', May 3, 2012.</ref>
Meanwhile, on December 20, 2011, Bluepoint Investment Corporation announced an affiliation agreement with Rogers Communications to air Citytv programming on the [[Citytv Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan Communications Network]] (SCN) from 3 p.m.-6 a.m. [[Central Time Zone|CT]] daily, beginning on January 2, 2012. This program block followed the national program grid of Citytv and was known on-air as "Citytv on SCN". Shortly after, on January 17, 2012, Rogers announced its intent to acquire SCN from Bluepoint. The deal gave the Citytv system stations in all provinces west of Quebec and south of the [[Northern Canada|federal territories of Northern Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.channelcanada.com/Article6180.html |title=Citytv and SCN Sign Affiliate Agreement |access-date=December 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122051439/http://www.channelcanada.com/Article6180.html |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The sale was approved in late June 2012 by the CRTC and Rogers relaunched SCN as Citytv Saskatchewan on July 1. Rogers plans to invest in the station's infrastructure, and also launch a high definition feed.<ref name="Rogers-SCN">[http://business.financialpost.com/2012/01/17/rogers-to-buy-scn-launch-citytv-saskatchewan/ Rogers to buy SCN, launch Citytv Saskatchewan]</ref>
In Montreal, Rogers announced its intent to acquire multicultural station [[CJNT-DT]] from Toronto-based [[Channel Zero (company)|Channel Zero]] on May 3, 2012, and announced an affiliation agreement with the station, effective June 4, 2012. This gave Citytv stations in all provinces west of [[Atlantic Canada]] as well as the system's first television station located east of the [[Greater Toronto Area]].<ref>[http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/203765--citytv-expanding-into-quebec-western-canada Citytv expanding into Quebec & Western Canada] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509185944/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/national/article/203765--citytv-expanding-into-quebec-western-canada |date=May 9, 2012 }}, ''[[CityNews]]'', May 3, 2012.</ref> On December 20, 2012, the CRTC approved the acquisition of CJNT and Rogers' request to convert the station from multicultural to a conventional English-language station. The station began carrying the full Citytv schedule on February 4, 2013, turning Citytv from a [[television system]] into a full-fledged network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=809|title=City Release: City Montreal Debuts Feb. 4 with Full City Schedule|author=Rogers Media TV Access|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=January 11, 2013|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812083124/http://www.rogersmediatv.ca/pr_detail.php?id=809|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rogers will produce 15.5 hours of local programming a week for CJNT (including a local edition of ''Breakfast Television''), and agreed to contribute funding and programming to a new [[CFHD-DT|independent multicultural station]] in Montreal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2012/2012-475.htm|title=Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-475|author=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2012/r121220.htm CRTC increases the diversity of voices in the Montreal market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109100649/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2012/r121220.htm |date=January 9, 2013}} CRTC December 20, 2012</ref>
==Programming==
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by Citytv}}
[[File:Citytv old logo.svg|right|150px|thumb|Old version of the Citytv logo. It was exclusively used in Toronto from 1982 to 2001.]]
Citytv is well known for its unconventional approach to news and local programming. There is no news desk (anchors read the news standing up, or on stools), and cameras are sometimes hand-held. Citytv also pioneered the concept of videojournalism, where reporters often carry their own camera report and videotape their own stories. Citytv calls its videojournalists "videographers", but unlike many stations in American television markets that try to conceal the fact that reporters are so-called "one-man bands", Citytv embraced the use of video journalism by highlighting the use of technology; Citytv videographers often carry a second home video camera to record images of them videotaping on the scene. The low-grade video is then incorporated into the story to show viewers how the story was recorded.
At one time, Citytv's Toronto [[Flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] CITY-TV produced more local programs than any other television station in Canada, and more local programming than any other station in North America other than [[Boston]]'s [[WCVB-TV]]. Citytv produced shows such as ''[[Speakers' Corner (television series)|Speakers' Corner]]'', ''[[CityLine]]'' and was the original home of ''[[FashionTelevision]]'', ''[[SexTV]]'' and ''[[MediaTelevision]]''. Many of these series were not exclusively focused on Toronto – ''FT'', for instance, consisted largely of foreign [[Runway (fashion)|runway]] footage – and are easily syndicated to other outlets. The latter three shows are now owned by [[CTVglobemedia]] as a result of its takeover of CHUM and subsequent divestiture of the Citytv stations.
[[Image:Jill Belland 2a.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jill Belland]] covering the 2007 [[Calgary International Film Festival]] for Citytv.]]
CITY prominently broadcast feature films during primetime, in late night and on weekends as part of the ''Great Movies'' block; as Citytv transitioned to a primetime lineup consisting of mainly domestic and American series during the 2000s, ''Great Movies'' was scaled back, then replaced in 2008 by reruns, reality shows and infomercials.
Citytv was one of the first television stations in Canada to implement a diversity policy in hiring its on-air staff, actively seeking out [[people of colour]], people with disabilities, and other minority groups to work as on-air journalists. Znaimer described the policy as wanting the station to "look like Toronto".
Beginning in 1983, Citytv began to produce a [[New Year's Eve]] special live from [[Nathan Phillips Square]] in [[Downtown Toronto]]. Most recently known as the ''City New Year's Eve Bash'', the yearly concert special expanded to include a second event in Calgary, Alberta for its 2012–13 edition. In 2013–14, Citytv began simulcasting ABC's ''[[Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve]]'' instead of airing its own full special, though it continued to sponsor (and air some coverage of) the New Year's event in Toronto.<ref name=city-nyrecanada>{{cite web|title=Skating & food trucks on offer at City's New Year's Eve party|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2013/12/12/skating-food-trucks-on-offer-at-citys-new-years-eve-party/|work=CityNews Toronto|publisher=[[Rogers Media]]|access-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref><ref name=torsun-torontonye>{{cite news|title=No politicians on stage for Nathan Phillips Square NYE bash|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/12/no-politicians-on-stage-for-nathan-phillips-square-nye-bash|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref>
===News===
{{Main|CityNews}}
[[File:CITY-TV OMNI building.JPG|thumb|upright|The CITY/[[Omni Television|OMNI]] building<br>[[33 Dundas Street East]], Toronto]]
Citytv Toronto's ''[[CityNews]]'', which used to be known as ''CityPulse'', had developed a large following since its debut in 1977. Other stations around the world have imitated its format to varying degrees of success. However, Citytv itself was unsuccessful in expanding its audience to other Canadian markets, as evidenced by the eventual cancellation of the other stations' traditional newscasts. Flagship station CITY-DT, along with Jim Pattison Group-owned affiliates [[CFJC-TV]], [[CKPG-TV]] and [[CHAT-TV]] are the only Citytv stations producing midday or evening newscasts. The Pattison stations use their individual callsigns, instead of branding under the Citytv name and do not use the ''CityNews'' title for their weekday newscasts. Four of City's five other owned-and-operated broadcast stations (CKVU-DT, [[CKAL-DT]], [[CKEM-DT]] and [[CHMI-DT]]) only produce localized versions of the morning program franchise ''[[Breakfast Television]]''. Citytv Saskatchewan, meanwhile, does not carry any local programming, and would be unable to broadcast ''Breakfast Television'' due to its mandate of airing educational programming in the morning and daytime hours.
Due to the structural problems facing the conventional television industry in Canada and the [[Great Recession]], [[Rogers Media]] announced cost-cutting measures at the Citytv stations on January 19, 2010, which included massive layoffs and the cancellation of the following newscasts:
* ''CityNews at Noon'' in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto
* ''Lunch Television'' in Vancouver
* ''Your City'' in Calgary and Edmonton, which was an evening replacement for previous CityNews programming that was cancelled in 2006.
* The satirical news program ''The CityNews List'' in Vancouver
* ''CityOnline'', ''CityNews at Five'' and all weekend news programming in Toronto (the latter two were restored in 2011)
* City's national and international newscast, ''CityNews International''
CITY-DT used to operate [[CP24]], a cable [[news channel]] covering the [[Greater Toronto Area]]. During CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited, the company chose to retain CP24, and the channel was re-aligned with [[CFTO]] (CTV). As a replacement, Rogers received approval for, and launched, [[CityNews Channel]] in October 2011. The network was modelled on Rogers-owned radio station [[CFTR (AM)|CFTR 680]], and featured news, weather, traffic reports, and other content drawing from the resources of Rogers properties such as ''[[Maclean's]]'' and [[Sportsnet]]. On May 30, 2013, as part of budget cuts, Rogers announced that the network would be shut down.<ref name=torstar-citynewschannelgone>{{cite web|title=CityNews channel shut down by Rogers|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2013/05/30/citynews_channel_shut_down_by_rogers.html|website=Toronto Star|date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=July 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name=gandm-citynewschannel>{{cite news|title=Rogers dumps CityNews channel after 20 months|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-dumps-citynews-channel-after-20-months/article12259496/|access-date=July 11, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>
Citytv continued to produce ''Breakfast Television'' for all markets, and 6:00&nbsp;p.m. and late-night ''CityNews Tonight'' in Toronto only (the evening newscasts in Toronto excluded weekend broadcasts until March 2011; the 5 p.m. newscast, meanwhile, would return in September 2011). 60 employees (including long-time Toronto news anchor [[Anne Mroczkowski]]) were laid off across Canada.<ref>[http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/68327--layoffs-cancelled-shows-at-citytv Layoffs, Cancelled Shows At Citytv] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122082059/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/68327--layoffs-cancelled-shows-at-citytv |date=January 22, 2010 }} citynews.ca, published January 19, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2010/19/c2082.html Citytv Restructures Television Operations To Improve Business and Better Serve Audiences] Rogers Media press release via CNW Group, published January 19, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://video.citytv.com/video/62452513001/In-Response-to-Citytv-Layoffs/ Citytv In Response to Citytv layoffs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123200435/http://video.citytv.com/video/62452513001/In-Response-to-Citytv-Layoffs/ |date=January 23, 2010 }} Citytv.com</ref>
In 2015, Rogers cancelled the Winnipeg and Edmonton editions of ''Breakfast Television''; in Winnipeg, it was replaced by a simulcast of the morning show from co-owned radio station [[CITI-FM]], and the Edmonton edition was replaced by the spin-off ''Dinner Television'', an evening newsmagazine and discussion program which did not feature original news reporting.<ref name=gandm-rogerscuts15>{{cite news|title=Rogers cuts 110 jobs, ends all OMNI newscasts|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-to-cut-jobs-kill-all-omni-newscasts/article24306838/|access-date=May 8, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref name=cbcnews-rogerscuts>{{cite web|title=Rogers axes OMNI news programs, cancels Breakfast Television in Edmonton|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-axes-omni-news-programs-cancels-breakfast-television-in-edmonton-1.3065351|website=CBC News|access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=wfp-wheelercity>{{cite news|title=Citytv axes Breakfast Television, lays off 14 people|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/TV/Citytv-axes-Breakfast-Television-287670341.html|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=Winnipeg Free Press|date=January 6, 2015}}</ref>
On June 5, 2017, Rogers announced that it would relaunch local ''CityNews'' evening newscasts across its stations, which would air at 6:00 and 11:00&nbsp;p.m. nightly. The Edmonton and Winnipeg newscasts premiered on September 4, 2017,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 2018 |title=New English-language TV newscast to launch in Montreal this fall |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/new-english-language-tv-newscast-to-launch-in-montreal-this-fall |access-date=September 8, 2018 |work=Montreal Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="gazette-citynewsexpand">{{cite web|title=CityNews expanding to provide local news across Canada, including Montreal|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/citynews-expanding-to-provide-local-news-across-canada-including-montreal|website=Montreal Gazette|access-date=June 5, 2017}}</ref>  followed by Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver on September 3, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 2018 |title=New English-language TV newscast to launch in Montreal this fall |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/new-english-language-tv-newscast-to-launch-in-montreal-this-fall |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908092911/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/new-english-language-tv-newscast-to-launch-in-montreal-this-fall |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |access-date=September 8, 2018 |work=Montreal Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Local news gets a facelift: developments at City, CTV, other stations |url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/television/local-news-gets-a-facelift-developments-at-city-ctv-other-stations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906020429/http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/television/local-news-gets-a-facelift-developments-at-city-ctv-other-stations |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |access-date=September 6, 2017 |work=Montreal Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Sports===
====National broadcasts====
Sports broadcasts on the Citytv stations have been sparse over the years. Between 2005 and 2014, the predominant sports property on Citytv was coverage of the [[National Football League]].
[[Craig Media]] (then-owners of the current Citytv stations in Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary) owned the rights to ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' in the early 2000s, and these rights moved to Citytv for ''MNF''{{'}}s final season on ABC in 2005, before being moved again to [[The Sports Network|TSN]] in 2006. Following the sale to Rogers, [[CKVU-TV|CKVU]] carried Sunday afternoon "late window" (4:00/4:15 p.m. ET, 1:00/1:15 p.m. PT) games during the [[2007 NFL season|2007 season]] (as did [[Omni Television]] station [[CJMT-DT|CJMT]] in Toronto). From the [[2008 NFL season|2008 season]] through [[2013 NFL season|2013]], all Citytv stations carried Sunday late-window games. After rights to late games were acquired by [[CTV Television|CTV]] (who also airs early games), Sportsnet and Citytv maintained rights to ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' and the afternoon [[NFL on Thanksgiving|American Thanksgiving games]] until the [[2017 NFL season|2017 season]], when these rights were acquired by TSN.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/nfl/bell-media-thursday-night-football-1.4149389|title=Bell Media becomes exclusive NFL rights-holder in Canada|work=CBC Sports|agency=Canadian Press|access-date=August 28, 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/thursday-night-football-comes-to-tsn-1.772413|title=Thursday Night Football comes to TSN|date=June 7, 2017|work=TSN|access-date=August 28, 2017}}</ref>
Under Rogers ownership, Citytv has aired occasional sports broadcasts as an overflow channel for co-owned Sportsnet, such as a [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] group-stage [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF third round#Group C|match]] between [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] and [[Panama national football team|Panama]] on September 11, 2012, in simulcast with [[Sportsnet One]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canadasoccer.com/canada-set-for-hostile-qualifier-in-panama-p151858|title=Canada set for hostile Qualifier in Panama|author=[[Canadian Soccer Association]]|date=September 10, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref> It has also broadcast supplementary coverage of two [[tennis]] events that were primarily broadcast by the Sportsnet channels: the [[2012 Rogers Cup]], and the [[2012 Davis Cup World Group play-offs#Canada vs South Africa|2012 Davis Cup World Group Play-off between Canada and South Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/pressroom/2012/07/19/multiplatform_coverage_2012_rogers_cup/|title=Rogers Media Hits the Court for Multiplatform Coverage of the 2012 Rogers Cup|work=[[Sportsnet]].ca|date=July 19, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725202604/http://www.sportsnet.ca/pressroom/2012/07/19/multiplatform_coverage_2012_rogers_cup/|archive-date=July 25, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/pressroom/2012/09/13/sportsnet_citytv_multiplatform_coverage_davis_cup/|title=Sportsnet & Citytv Present Multiplatform Coverage of Davis Cup Featuring Canada vs. South Africa, Sept. 14 to 16|work=[[Sportsnet]].ca|date=September 13, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916093527/http://www.sportsnet.ca/pressroom/2012/09/13/sportsnet_citytv_multiplatform_coverage_davis_cup/|archive-date=September 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On November 26, 2013, Rogers announced a 12-year, $5.2 billion deal to become the exclusive national rightsholder to the [[National Hockey League]] in the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]]. Beginning in October 2014, Citytv began to broadcast NHL games produced by [[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet]] as part of ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'', and ''Rogers Hometown Hockey'', a Sunday night game of the week hosted by [[Ron MacLean]].<ref name=sn-hometownhockeytour>{{cite news|title=Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour hits 25 communities|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rogers-hometown-hockey-to-tour-25-communities/|access-date=September 9, 2014|work=Sportsnet.ca|date=September 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name=torstar-rogersnhl14>{{cite news|title=NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_signs_12year_broadcast_deal_with_rogers_cbc_keeps_hockey_night_in_canada.html|work=Toronto Star|access-date=November 26, 2013}}</ref> ''Hometown Hockey'' moved from Citytv to Sportsnet for the 2015-16 season.<ref name=gandm-pucksandprofit>{{cite news|title=Pucks and profit: CEO opens up about Rogers' rookie NHL season|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-hockey-guy-laurence/article24702297/|access-date=May 31, 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref name=torsun-rhhmove>{{cite news|title=Rogers moving 'Hometown Hockey' from City to Sportsnet this fall|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/02/rogers-moving-hometown-hockey-from-city-to-sportsnet-this-fall|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=June 3, 2015}}</ref>
====Local/regional broadcasts====
*In addition to NFL regular-season games, CITY also aired some [[Buffalo Bills]] preseason games (including those held at the Rogers Centre).
*The Citytv stations in Alberta (while still branded "A-Channel") carried some regional NHL games during their first few years of operation. They occasionally carried regional broadcasts in the event of conflicts with other Sportsnet programming (Sportsnet West being the regional rightsholder to both the [[Edmonton Oilers]] and [[Calgary Flames]]) until December 2009. Similarly, CKVU Vancouver carried two regional [[Vancouver Canucks]] broadcasts during the 2009-10 season, again due to programming conflicts on Sportsnet Pacific. Sportsnet has since preferred the use of regional overflow feeds tied to the license of [[Sportsnet One]] for these purposes.
*CITY-TV Toronto broadcast some regular-season [[basketball]] games during the inaugural season of the [[Toronto Raptors]].
*On March 2, 2008, CITY-TV aired its first baseball game, a [[Toronto Blue Jays]] spring training game, against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. The Blue Jays, like City, are owned by Rogers.
*CKVU occasionally carried broadcasts of [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]] as part of Sportsnet's regional broadcast deal with the team from 2010 to 2013.
*CJNT occasionally carried overflow broadcasts of the [[Montreal Canadiens]] as part of Sportsnet's regional broadcast deal with the team from 2014 through 2017.
*CKEM carried [[FC Edmonton]] games for a period.
==Citytv stations==
[[Image:CityTV Building.jpg|right|thumb|[[299 Queen Street West]], the headquarters for [[Bell Media]], formerly the home of Citytv Toronto. The CHUM and Citytv signs were removed after CTVglobemedia acquired control of CHUM Limited.]]
Individual stations are normally branded on-air as simply "Citytv" (from 2012 to 2018, the stations were referred to as "City"); the location may be added, for example "Citytv Toronto", if disambiguation is necessary. The list also mentions which stations had been owned by either CHUM Ltd. or Rogers, depending on affiliation.
Like most Canadian networks, Citytv stations are generally available as distant signals on most cable and satellite providers nationwide.
===Owned-and-operated stations===
{| class="wikitable"
!City of license/market
!Station
!Channel <br>''[[Virtual channel|TV]] ([[Digital terrestrial television|RF]])''
!Year of<br>affiliation
!Owned since
!Notes
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
|-
| [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] || '''[[CITY-DT]]''' || 57.1 (18) || 1972 || 1981 || Original Citytv station, flagship
|-
| [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]] || '''[[CKAL-DT]]''' || 5.1 (20) || 2005 || 2004 || Former A-Channel station
|-
| [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] || '''[[CKEM-DT]]''' || 51.1 (17) || 2005 || 2004 || Former A-Channel flagship station
|-
| [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]] || '''[[CJNT-DT]]''' || 62.1 (17) || 2012 || 2013 || Former multicultural station as well as former CH/E! station
|-
| [[Portage la Prairie]]/[[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] || '''[[CHMI-DT]]''' || 13.1 (13) || 2005 || 2004 || Former A-Channel station
|-
| [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]]/[[Saskatoon]], [[Saskatchewan]] ||{{nowrap| '''[[Citytv Saskatchewan]]'''}} || ''Cable-only'' || 2012 || 2012 || Licensed as an educational television service for the province of Saskatchewan, educational programming airs daily from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. CT.<ref name="Rogers-SCN"/>
|-
| [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] || '''[[CKVU-DT]]''' || 10.1 (33) || 2002 || 2001 || Former Global station
|}
===Affiliates and international franchises===
The Citytv brand has been licensed to local television stations in [[Bogotá]], Colombia and formerly in [[Barcelona]], Spain. Toronto's CITY-DT is broadcast on a number of cable television providers in the Caribbean. In Barbados, Citytv is carried on channel 507 of the terrestrial subscription service known as [[Multi-Choice TV (Barbados)|Multi-Choice TV]].
{| class="wikitable"
!City of license/market
!Station
!Analog<br>channel
![[Digital terrestrial television|Digital<br>RF channel]]<sup>1</sup>
!Year of<br>affiliation
!Owner
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
|-
| [[Kamloops]], [[British Columbia]] || '''[[CFJC-TV]]''' || 4 || ''43'' || 2009 || rowspan="3"|[[Jim Pattison Group]]
|-
| [[Medicine Hat]], [[Alberta]] || '''[[CHAT-TV]]''' || 6 || ''40'' || 2009
|-
| [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]], [[British Columbia]] || '''[[CKPG-TV]]''' || 2 || ''34'' || 2009
|-
| [[Lloydminster]], [[Alberta]]/[[Saskatchewan]] || '''[[CKSA-DT]]''' || - || 2 || 2021 || [[Stingray Radio]]
|-
| [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] || '''[[Citytv Bogotá]]''' || 21 || 27 DVBT2 || 1999 || El Tiempo Casa Editorial
|}
<sup>1</sup> Italicized channel numbers indicate a digital channel allocated for future use by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]].
===Former franchises===
{| class="wikitable"
!City of license
!Station
!Year of affiliation
!Year of disaffiliation
!Notes
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
|-
| [[Barcelona]], [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]] || '''[[8TV (Catalonia)|Citytv Barcelona]]''' || 2001 || 2006 || Licence agreement expired in 2006, station was renamed TD8 and later 8TV. Ceased operations in October 2023.
|-
| [[Fajardo, Puerto Rico]] || '''[[WRUA|WRUA-TV]]''' || 2006 || 2007 || [[Rogers Media]] discontinued the licensing for WRUA after it took over Citytv, and the station now serves as a translator for [[WECN]] in [[Naranjito, Puerto Rico|Naranjito]]. Was the first Citytv franchise in a United States territory.
|-
||[[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]]/[[Atlantic Canada]] || '''[[CTV 2 Atlantic|ASN]]''' || 1983 || 2008 || Carried Citytv programming. Now known as CTV 2 Atlantic and owned by [[Bell Media]].
|}
==Citytv HD==
[[File:City HD logo.svg|right|thumb|upright=0.7]]
In 2003, CHUM Limited launched a [[high-definition television|high definition]] simulcast of its Toronto station [[CITY-DT|CITY-TV]]. In October 2006, Citytv installed a new control room, becoming one of the first fully HD broadcasters in Canada. On March 2, 2010, [[CKVU-DT|CKVU-TV]] in Vancouver launched its HD simulcast. [[CKEM-DT|CKEM-TV]] in Edmonton began testing its digital signal on May 26, 2010, and began regular HD broadcasts on June 29, 2010. CITY-DT-3 in Ottawa began testing its digital feed on June 12, 2010, and regular digital broadcasts on June 18, 2010. [[CKAL-DT|CKAL-TV]] began testing its high definition signal on August 31, 2010. By [[Digital television in Canada|August 31, 2011]], all Citytv owned-and-operated stations had their primary transmitters and most retransmitters broadcasting exclusively in digital.
Citytv HD is available nationally via satellite and on digital cable. It is also available for free [[Digital terrestrial television|over-the-air]] using a regular TV antenna and a digital tuner (included in most new television sets) via the following stations and retransmitters:
{| class="wikitable"
! City !! Station !! OTA digital channel<br>([[virtual channel]])
|-
|| [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]] || CKAL-DT || 20 (5.1)
|-
|| [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] || CKEM-DT || 17 (17.1)
|-
|| [[Lethbridge]], [[Alberta]] || CKAL-DT-1 || 29 (2.1)
|-
|| [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]] || CJNT-DT || 17 (62.1)
|-
|| [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]] || CITY-DT-3 || 17 (65.1)
|-
|| [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] || CITY-DT || 18 (57.1)
|-
|| [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] || CKVU-DT || 33 (10.1)
|-
|| [[Victoria, British Columbia]] || CKVU-DT-2 || 27 (27.1)
|-
|| [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]] || CHMI-DT || 13 (13.1)
|-
|| [[Woodstock, Ontario]] || CITY-DT-2 || 31 (31.1)
|}
== Video on demand and streaming ==
[[Video on demand]] access to Citytv programming has been available in various forms, such as through TV provider's set-top boxes, or [[streaming media]] through the network's website and mobile apps.
=== CitytvNow ===
In June 2018, Rogers announced it would launch an expanded service called '''Citytv Now''' (stylized '''Citytv NOW''') for [[TV Everywhere|authenticated customers]] of partnered TV service providers, such as corporate sibling Rogers Cable. Citytv Now features fulls-season (and several past season) availability of shows airing on Citytv. For a time, the service also featured exclusive programs not airing on the broadcast network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2018/06/04/citytv-now-and-fx-now-streaming-services-to-launch-in-canada-this-fall/|title=Citytv NOW and FX NOW streaming services to launch in Canada this fall|first=Rose|last=Behar|work=MobileSyrup|publisher=[[Blue Ant Media]]|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref>
=== Citytv+ ===
On April 12, 2022, Rogers announced the launch of '''Citytv+''' (pronounced '''Citytv Plus'''), an add-on channel for Amazon's [[Prime Video]]. The service includes most of the programming available on Citytv and its siblings, including [[Omni Television]], as well as recent and selected past programming aired by the Canadian [[FX (Canada)|FX]] and [[FXX (Canada)|FXX]] networks.<ref name="cp-pv-launch">{{cite web|url=https://www.mymcmurray.com/2022/04/12/citytv-launches-new-streaming-options-on-amazons-prime-video/|title=Citytv launches new streaming options on Amazon's Prime Video|first=David|last=Friend|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|date=April 12, 2022|access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> The service succeeds [[Shomi]], a joint venture between Rogers Communications and the now-defunct [[Shaw Media]] prior to the latter's merger with [[Corus Entertainment]]; and has been compared to the latter company's [[StackTV]] service.
Live linear feeds of most Citytv stations, as well as '''CityNews 24/7''', also became available to Amazon Prime subscribers at no additional cost through Prime Video. CityNews 24/7 is a headline news channel, similar to those offered online by [[Global News]], and an indirect successor to the [[CityNews Channel]] (which operated from 2011 to 2013, following the separation of Citytv and [[CP24]] in 2009).<ref name="cp-pv-launch" />
== In popular culture ==
* In the 1983 film ''[[Videodrome]]'', a television station in Toronto which broadcasts sensationalistic programming is named CIVIC-TV; the name is in reference to flagship station CITY-TV. Additionally, a business partner of the station president in the film is named Moses, a possible reference to Citytv cofounder [[Moses Znaimer]].
==See also==
* [[2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment]]
*[[USA Broadcasting]] (which attempted a Citytv-inspired format dubbed "CityVision" on four of its owned stations from 1998 to 2001)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|City TV}}
*{{official website|https://www.citytv.com}}
*[https://citytvplus.ca Citytv+ official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170105091850/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.broadcasting-history.ca%2Fstation_groups%2FTelevision_Station_Groups-CITY-TV.html History of CITY-TV] - [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
{{Citytv Stations}}
{{Rogers Communications}}
{{Canadian television networks}}
{{Sports television in Canada}}
[[Category:Citytv| ]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1972]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Canada]]