CBFT

CBFT is a television station in Montreal, Quebec, owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It was the first television station in Canada to begin regular broadcasting, launching in 1952 as the flagship of the CBC's French-language television service, now known as Ici Radio-Canada Télé. The station's establishment was a landmark event in Canadian broadcasting, marking the beginning of a national public broadcasting television network and playing a crucial role in the development of French-language media in North America.

History

The station's launch on September 6, 1952, followed extensive planning by the CBC and the Government of Canada, which had established a royal commission on broadcasting, the Massey Commission. Its first broadcast originated from the Mount Royal transmitter site and included a speech by Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent. This development occurred amidst the early Cold War era and paralleled the expansion of television networks in the United States, such as NBC and CBS. For decades, CBFT operated as a key production centre for Quebec television, producing iconic programs from its studios on Dorchester Boulevard (now René Lévesque Boulevard). The station's history is intertwined with major events in Quebec, including the Quiet Revolution and the October Crisis, during which it served as a primary source of information for the public.

Technical specifications

CBFT broadcasts from a transmitter located on Mount Royal, utilizing the VHF channel 2 for its initial analog service. The station transitioned to digital television broadcasting in 2011 following the CRTC's mandate, and now transmits on UHF channel 33 from the same site. Its signal is also distributed nationwide via satellite and cable providers as part of the Ici Radio-Canada Télé network. The station's technical operations have involved collaborations with entities like Bell Canada and have been subject to regulations set by the Department of Communications and its successor, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Programming

As the originating station for the French-language television network, CBFT has been the source of a vast array of programming, including news, drama, and variety shows. It launched the influential nightly newscast Le Téléjournal, anchored for many years by figures like Pierre Nadeau. The station's studios produced celebrated series such as La Famille Plouffe, Les Belles Histoires des pays d'en haut, and more recently, Unité 9. It has also broadcast major sporting events like Olympic Games coverage and Montreal Canadiens hockey games, alongside political debates during federal elections and events like the 1980 Quebec referendum. Programming has historically balanced Canadian content requirements with acquired series from Europe and the United States.

Cultural impact

CBFT's role as the first French-language television broadcaster in Canada has had a profound cultural impact, shaping Quebec identity and the broader Francophone cultural landscape. It provided a platform for Quebec artists, writers, and performers, including Gilles Vigneault, Claude Léveillée, and Dominique Michel, helping to foster the chansonniers movement. The station's coverage of historic events, from the funeral of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to the Montreal Olympics, has cemented its place in the national consciousness. Its existence has also been central to debates on biculturalism, language politics, and the CRTC's broadcasting policies regarding linguistic communities.

See also

* CBMT-DT * CBLT-DT * CFTM-TV * Télé-Québec * History of television in Canada

Category:Television stations in Montreal Category:CBC television stations Category:1952 establishments in Quebec