CIVT-DT

CIVT-DT
Channels
Branding
Programming
Affiliations32.1: CTV
Ownership
OwnerBell Media Inc.
CIVI-DT, CFBT-FM, CHQM-FM
History
First air date
September 22, 1997 (1997-09-22)
Former call signs
CIVT-TV (1997–2011)
Former channel numbers
  • Analog: 32 (UHF, 1997–2011)
  • Digital: 33 (UHF, 2006–2011)
Independent (1997–2001)
Call sign meaning
Vancouver Television
Technical information
Licensing authority
CRTC
ERP33 kW
HAAT740.3 m (2,429 ft)
Transmitter coordinates49°21′26″N 122°57′13″W / 49.35722°N 122.95361°W / 49.35722; -122.95361
Links
Websitewww.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/

CIVT-DT (channel 32, cable channel 9) is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of the CTV Television Network, a division of Bell Media. It is sister to Victoria-based CTV2 outlet CIVI-DT, channel 53 (although the two stations nominally maintain separate operations). CIVT-DT's studios are located at 969 Robson Street (alternatively known as 750 Burrard Street) in downtown Vancouver, and its transmitter is atop Mount Seymour in the district municipality of North Vancouver.

CIVT went on the air in 1997 as the first new Vancouver TV station in 21 years after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission selected the application of Baton Broadcasting from among five bids. Originally known as Vancouver Television (VTV), the station was a young-skewing outlet intended to reflect an increasingly multicultural Vancouver and stimulate television production in British Columbia. In addition to local news and arts programming, CIVT produced programs seen nationally, including a talk show hosted by Vicki Gabereau and the police procedural drama Cold Squad.

Concurrently with the launch of CIVT, Baton Broadcasting acquired the CTV network. This purchase, plus an ownership change at longtime CTV affiliate CHAN-TV that saw it become owned by the Global Television Network, led to a major television realignment in 2001 under which CIVT became the new CTV station for the province and the only CTV station on Canada's west coast. In switching to CTV, the station moved toward attracting an older audience. It also improved its news ratings, generally becoming the second-rated station for local news after CHAN.