Bell Media is seeking permission to permanently silence a western Manitoba transmitter relaying CTV affiliate CKY-DT/7 (Winnipeg).
The filing states CKYB-TV/4 (Brandon) is already off the air due to a transmitter problem and that that parts for the transmitter are no longer made. Its 100kW analog signal had covered the southwestern corner of Manitoba.
“In order to operate this transmitter again, we would have to replace it with a digital transmitter, which would represent significant costs for the station. Absorbing these costs is unbearable for a local news station given the current crisis in news,” Bell’s filing states.
The filing explains that CKYB had no revenue and no programming of its own. CKY-DT’s programming continues to be available via cable and satellite providers, as well as a free online stream of its newscasts.
It appears CKYB is the last of what had once been a network of transmitters relaying CKY-DT’s signal provincewide. The move is the latest in a series of shutdowns by multiple broadcasters that have ended or severely limited broadcast TV service outside of Canada’s major population centers.
The only other broadcast TV signal serving western Manitoba is Global’s CKND-DT-2 (Minnedosa), which transmits on channel 9.