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CHAN-DT (channel 8), branded Global British Columbia or Global BC (formerly British Columbia Television or BCTV),[2] is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Global Television Network. Owned and operated by network parent Corus Entertainment, the station has studios on Enterprise Street (across from the Lake City Way SkyTrain station) in the suburban city of Burnaby, which also houses Global's national news headquarters. Its transmitter is located atop Mount Seymour in the district municipality of North Vancouver.

Key Information

History

[edit]
CHAN's original logo, used until 1963.
CHAN-TV and CHEK-TV shared this logo in the 1960s; it was often used when the stations simulcast programming.

The station first signed on the air at 4:45 p.m. on October 31, 1960. Founded by Art Jones' Vantel Broadcasting, it originally operated as an independent station.[3] It acquired several programs from CTV upon that network's launch on October 1, 1961; it would eventually join the network formally in 1965.[4]

The station operated from a temporary studio housed at 1219 Richards Street in Downtown Vancouver, until its full-time studio facility at 7850 Enterprise Street in Burnaby was opened in 1962.[5] Soon after the station's launch, CHAN began installing relay transmitters across the province, and now reaches 96% of British Columbia. Through its over-the-air signal, CHAN also reaches an American audience in neighbouring Whatcom County, Washington.

BCTV's original logo, used for more than 20 years from 1973 to 1994. The logo featured the pacific dogwood flower, the provincial flower of British Columbia.[6]

In 1963, local entrepreneur Frank Griffiths, owner of radio station CKNW (980 AM), purchased CHAN-TV from Vantel, along with nearby CBC affiliate CHEK-TV (channel 6) in the Vancouver Island city of Victoria, from its original owner, David Armstrong. At that point, CHEK began airing a few CTV programs, usually scheduled at different times than when CHAN aired them. It would become a full-time CTV affiliate in January 1981, but maintained a shuffled schedule. Griffiths' Western Broadcasting Communications later sold a minority share of the station to Selkirk Communications, before buying back full control in 1989.

In 1986, BCTV set up a fully functional broadcast studio pavilion at the Vancouver Expo 86, whose theme was transportation and communication. The BCTV pavilion allowed visitors to see, and participate, in every step of how a television station operates, as well as how newscasts and television shows were produced. The pavilion was also used by the station for coverage of the Expo, and by visiting journalists.[7][8][9][2]

As early as 1971, CHAN unofficially began using the brand "BCTV".[10][11] In 1973, BCTV became CHAN's official on-air branding, which remained in use until 2001, when it adopted the "Global BC" brand. The "BCTV" brand was retained for its local newscasts until February 2006. However, the "BCTV" brand became so firmly established in the province that many people still call the station by that name today.[citation needed]

Hostility to CTV

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CHAN was CTV's third-largest affiliate, and by far the largest in Western Canada. As such, it was one of the backbones of the CTV network for many years and one of the network's most successful affiliates. However, it was always somewhat hostile toward CTV. Management believed that the network's flagship station, CFTO-TV in Toronto, had too much influence over the network. In particular, CHAN felt CFTO received favouritism in the production of CTV's Canadian programming in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

CHAN's final "BCTV" logo. The stylized pacific dogwood was modernized in autumn 1994 and was used until the affiliation switch on August 31, 2001.[12]

Nonetheless, until 1997, CHAN bought the provincial rights to several popular series from CFTO's parent company, Baton Broadcasting. However, tensions were exacerbated that year when Baton won a licence to operate a new television station in Vancouver, CIVT-TV (channel 32), and immediately moved much of CHAN's stronger programs there. Baton won controlling interest in CTV soon after channel 32's launch, and it became an open secret that CIVT would eventually replace CHAN as the CTV station for the Vancouver market.

CHAN had signed a long-term contract with CTV several years earlier that would not expire until 1999, but was extended to 2001. However, the sign-on of CIVT meant that CHAN could only air CTV's base schedule of 40 hours of programming per week. The station had to fill the schedule with its local newscasts and lower-profile programming supplied by parent company Western International Communications. A small amount of CHUM Limited-produced programs also aired on CHAN at times during the period from 1997 to 2001, including CityLine.

The affiliation shakeup of 2001

[edit]
Main article: 2001 Vancouver TV realignment

On June 6, 2000[13] WIC's stations were purchased by Canwest Global Communications, which owned the Global Television Network. As a result, CHAN was due to become the Global outlet for all of British Columbia. Although Global already owned a station in Vancouver, CKVU-TV (channel 10), it opted to sell CKVU to CHUM Limited and move its affiliation to CHAN. By this time, CHAN operated a network of over 100 transmitters covering almost all of the province, and had been the province's dominant news station for three decades. In contrast, CKVU operated only three transmitters covering the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

CHAN-TV's affiliation agreement with CTV expired on September 1, 2001, sparking a major shakeup in British Columbia television:

  • The CTV affiliation, jointly held by CHAN and sister station CHEK, moved to CIVT, which became a CTV O&O station that branded for a short time as "BC CTV" (later revised to "CTV British Columbia"). Both switches left CTV dependent on cable and satellite coverage to reach the rest of the province, as CTV has refused to set up rebroadcasters in the rest of the province. CHAN retained the rights to The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was carried by CTV in all of its other O&O markets, until the talk show ended its run in 2011.
  • The Global affiliation, held by CKVU, moved to CHAN, which became the network's new O&O under the "Global BC" brand. CKVU meanwhile adopted the "ckvu13" brand and briefly became an independent station carrying CHUM-supplied programming, some of which had aired the previous season on KVOS-TV (channel 12) in Bellingham, Washington. The station became a Citytv owned-and-operated station (the eventual television system-turned-network's first expansion outside of Toronto) several months later, after the sale to CHUM was approved.
  • Most of CHAN's former WIC-supplied programming, which migrated to Canwest's newly launched CH system, moved to CHEK (where other WIC programs already aired). The station was rebranded "CH Vancouver Island"; it was later renamed CHEK News in 2007 as part of CH's rebranding to E! and to simply "CHEK" in 2009 following the demise of the E! system.
  • Religious station CHNU (channel 10; later a Joytv station, now an independent station), launched two weeks later, and a CHUM-owned NewNet station in Victoria, CIVI-TV (channel 53), launched just over two weeks after that.

Programming

[edit]

For the most part, CHAN does not deviate much from the Global schedule. Some programs carried on Global's daytime schedule in other markets – primarily library programs from Corus Entertainment's specialty channels – are not cleared on CHAN in order to make room for the station's various local news programs.

In February, the station broadcasts the annual Variety Show of Hearts telethon.[14]

Selected former non-network programs

[edit]
  • Vancouver based NWA All Star Wrestling (1962–1989)
  • Late Show with David Letterman, aired weeknights at 12:37 a.m. from February 1994 to August 1995
  • 280-JOCK followed News Hour Final at 12:05 a.m. until it was cancelled in late 1994, which pushed back Late Show to 12:37 a.m. for several months.
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, aired weeknights at 12:07 a.m. from August 1995 to August 2001
  • As CHUM Limited held the rights to this program throughout the rest of the country, when CIVI-TV launched in nearby Victoria, British Columbia, the broadcast rights transferred over to that station.
  • The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–2011) aired at 4 p.m. on CHAN because the station owned the provincial television rights to this show, dating back to its days as a CTV affiliate. In every other market in which CTV owned a station, that network owned the local rights to Oprah.

News operation

[edit]
Global BC News Hour during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Global BC's microwave ENG vans.

CHAN-DT presently broadcasts 47+1⁄2 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 7+1⁄2 hours each weekday and five hours on Saturdays and Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to news programming, it is the highest local newscast output among Global's television stations (either owned-and-operated or affiliated), as well as among all Canadian television stations (after the drastic reduction of Hamilton, Ontario's CHCH-DT total weekly news programming due to budget cuts in December 2015).

The station's Burnaby studios also serve as the production facilities for Global's Vancouver-based English national evening newscast Global National and the Shaw Multicultural Channel Mandarin national evening newscast Global National Mandarin (2012–2016). Unlike most Global stations that carry midday newscasts, CHAN airs its noon newscast seven days a week.

The station's newscast schedule is very similar to that of an affiliate of the Big Three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) in the United States, although as Global lacks a national morning news program, CHAN's weekday morning newscast runs a length similar to that of many Fox and other news-producing non-Big Three U.S. stations.

CHAN's news operation is well respected in the industry. Ever since the station first aired an hour-long newscast in the 1960s, a major part of the station's cash flow has gone into its news department, and it has garnered high ratings and major awards since then. The station's 6 p.m. News Hour broadcast has been the highest-rated local newscast in the province for many years, as well as the most-watched in all of Canada.[15]

The station's on-air news style was even used as an inspiration for Ted Turner's CNN, as both use the newsroom as a backdrop during the broadcast. The current newsroom was constructed in 1975; it was rebuilt in the early 1990s, moving the studio out of the newsroom, but keeping it as a backdrop, and was later remodeled in 2001 and 2006.

Starting in the early 1990s, CHAN harboured ambitions of producing an early evening national newscast from its studios. In fact, several newscast pilots were produced at CHAN, suggesting the network was seriously considering such a move. However, that newscast never materialized; instead, CHAN began producing Canada Tonight, which aired on most WIC-owned stations beginning in 1993.

Two versions were produced: one for British Columbia itself, hosted by CKNW radio commentator Bill Good (who later went to CTV's current Vancouver O&O station, CIVT-TV, and retired in December 2010) and a national version, hosted by Tony Parsons, who also anchored CHAN's nightly news program, the News Hour. When Canwest purchased CHAN, the stories that were once sourced from CTV's other affiliates throughout the country were replaced by stories sourced from Global's affiliates.

From 2001, when the station became "Global BC", the news department underwent a minor retitling as BCTV News on Global. CHAN opted to keep the "BCTV" name for its newscasts, since that brand was still very well respected in the province; it also wanted to keep CIVT from using the name itself, as it contained the letters "CTV". In addition, CHAN became the headquarters for Global's national news centre and the production facility for a new national newscast, Global National (which is currently anchored by former CTV and NBC correspondent Dawna Friesen on weeknights and on weekends by Robin Gill;[16] originally anchored beforehand by Kevin Newman), thus fulfilling its longstanding dream of producing a national newscast. The program is broadcast live-to-tape from Vancouver at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific Time Zone), airing locally prior to the 6 p.m. News Hour broadcast.

The "BCTV" brand was finally discontinued when Global introduced its new logo and on-air identity on February 6, 2006; CHAN's newscasts were rebranded as Global News (with its overall branding changing to "Global BC") at this point. In 2006, Global struck an agreement with the Canadian Traffic Network to supply the station with a Robinson R44 news helicopter with gyroscopic camera mounts. The helicopter is branded as "Global 1" – the same designation used for the news helicopters used by other Global stations – which is shared with CKNW, and is the second news helicopter in Vancouver (after that used by CIVT).[citation needed]

On December 16, 2009, Tony Parsons anchored his final newscast at CHAN after 34 years as anchor of the News Hour.[17] It was expected that he would remain until after the 2010 Winter Olympics, but left much earlier than expected for unknown reasons. Parsons joined CHEK as anchor of its 10 p.m. newscast on March 15, 2010, and also began anchoring the evening newscasts at CBC Television O&O CBUT (channel 2) on April 12, 2010, remaining at both stations until his retirement in 2013.[18][19]

CHAN began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition on September 20, 2010 (Dawna Friesen was named anchor of Global National on that same date); the station debuted a new graphics package as well as an HD-ready virtual set two weeks later on October 4, which utilized the same set with minor changes to the desk. CHAN-DT uses Betacam SP analogue videotape for all of its local advertisements and for pre-recorded segments within its newscasts; however, the station is slowly moving to a digital format for video production. MPEG-2 transmission is used on nearly all non-local broadcasts.

On January 11, 2012, Shaw Media filed a license application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) – which was approved on July 20, 2012 – to launch a Category B digital-only specialty service that would serve as a British Columbia-focused news channel operated by CHAN-DT and utilizing its news staff.[20] The channel, which was given the name Global News: BC 1, launched on March 14, 2013. It became the fourth regional news channel in Canada and the first outside of Ontario (joining Toronto-based 24-hour services CP24 and the now-defunct CityNews Channel, and Hamilton-based independent station – and former CHAN sister station under their prior Canwest ownership – CHCH-DT, which carries a heavy local newscast schedule along with some entertainment programming).[21]

On August 27, 2012, CHAN-DT expanded its weekday morning newscast to four hours, with the addition of a half-hour at 5 a.m. (making it only the second Canadian station with a pre-5:30 a.m. morning newscast, after CHCH-DT), the 5 to 6 a.m. hour of the newscast was re-titled as the Early Morning News; in addition on September 2, 2012, the station also expanded its Sunday morning newscast to three hours with the addition of an hour at 7 a.m. The expansions of CHAN's morning newscasts were part of a benefits package that was included as a condition of the sale of the Global Television Network to Shaw Communications.[22]

Since August 19, 2024, due to cutbacks by Corus, the newscasts of Kelowna sister station CHBC-DT have been hubbed from CHAN-DT. The newscasts feature contributions from local reporters.[23][24]

Notable current on-air staff

[edit]

Notable former on-air staff

[edit]

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]
Subchannels of CHAN-DT[25]
Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming
8.1 1080i 16:9 CHAN-HD Global BC
22.2 480i 4:3 CHAN-SD

Analogue-to-digital conversion

[edit]

CHAN has been broadcasting in digital since April 11, 2008, on UHF channel 22.[26] On June 29, 2011, CHAN-DT increased its effective radiated power (ERP) from 8.3 kW to its post-transitional allotment of 40 kW. CHAN's primary Vancouver transmitter was the station's only one required to go digital by the transition deadline.

CHAN shut down its analogue signal, over VHF channel 8, on August 31, 2011, the official date on which Canadian television stations in CRTC-designated mandatory markets transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasts. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 22, using virtual channel 8.[27][28] The station's electronic program guide began functioning properly on January 28, 2012.

On October 15, 2012, CHAN-DT's transmitters in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon were converted to digital signals.[29] These were the station's first rebroadcast transmitters to be converted to digital as part of Shaw's efforts to convert all of its television transmitters to digital by 2016.

Transmitters

[edit]

Note that the transmitters in Kelowna and the surrounding area (CHKL-TV) are in addition to CHBC-DT, a co-owned separate Global station in Kelowna that originates its own local evening newscasts, but which carries Global BC's programming at virtually all other times. CHAN is the last owned-and-operated station of the three major Canadian broadcast networks (CBC, CTV and Global) in the Vancouver market to still operate rebroadcasters throughout most of the province.

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML

Semi-satellites are displayed in bold italics.

Station City of license Channel ERP HAAT Transmitter coordinates
CHKL-DT Kelowna 24 (UHF) 31.2 kW 509.6 m 49°58′2″N 119°31′50″W / 49.96722°N 119.53056°W / 49.96722; -119.53056 (CHKL-DT)
CHKL-DT-1 Penticton 30 (UHF) 3 kW 365.3 m 49°39′34″N 119°34′22″W / 49.65944°N 119.57278°W / 49.65944; -119.57278 (CHKL-DT-1)
CHKL-DT-2 Vernon 22 (UHF) 3 kW 184.6 m 50°16′58″N 119°19′13″W / 50.28278°N 119.32028°W / 50.28278; -119.32028 (CHKL-DT-2)
CHKM-DT Kamloops 22 (UHF) 30 kW 152.7 m 50°40′9″N 120°23′52″W / 50.66917°N 120.39778°W / 50.66917; -120.39778 (CHKM-TV)
CIFG-DT Prince George 29 (UHF) 30 kW 482 m 53°54′48″N 122°27′15″W / 53.91333°N 122.45417°W / 53.91333; -122.45417 (CIFG-DT)
CHAN-DT-1 Chilliwack 31 (UHF) 0.428 kW 285.6 m 49°4′9″N 122°1′41″W / 49.06917°N 122.02806°W / 49.06917; -122.02806 (CHAN-DT-1)
CHAN-DT-4 Courtenay 25 (UHF) 4.45 kW 380.5 m 49°44′54″N 125°14′58″W / 49.74833°N 125.24944°W / 49.74833; -125.24944 (CHAN-DT-4)
CKTN-DT Trail 8 (VHF) 0.6 kW 519.8 m 49°5′30″N 117°49′14″W / 49.09167°N 117.82056°W / 49.09167; -117.82056 (CKTN-TV)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

CHAN-DT

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
CHAN-DT, branded as or Global BC, is a licensed to , , , serving as the West Coast flagship of the . It operates on virtual channel 8 (UHF digital channel 22) from studios in , with a transmitter on , and ownership of which was transferred to its debtholders in a November 2025 recapitalization transaction. Launched on October 31, 1960, as CHAN-TV by Vantel Broadcasting Co., it was Vancouver's first independent commercial television station, initially branding itself as "Greater Vancouver’s Own Television Station." The station joined the CTV Television Network on October 1, 1961, and expanded with a new studio complex in Burnaby in 1962, while adopting the "BCTV" brand in 1975 to reflect its growing regional focus. Ownership evolved significantly over the decades: in 1963, Frank Griffiths acquired an interest in Vantel; by 1989, WIC Television took full control; the Griffiths family sold to Shaw Communications and CanWest Global in 1998; Shaw acquired CanWest's assets in 2010; and Corus Entertainment purchased Shaw Media in 2016. In 2001, CHAN-DT switched affiliations from CTV to Global, aligning with its current role as a key broadcaster for . It officially signed on its on April 18, 2008, following testing earlier that month. As of 2025, Global BC delivers , weather, traffic, and sports from 21 newsrooms across the province, producing the top-rated Global BC News Hour and emphasizing community-focused journalism. The station also operates rebroadcasters like CHAN-1 in Chilliwack and CHAN-4 in Courtenay to extend coverage throughout .

Station overview

Branding and identity

CHAN-DT is the call sign for the based in , , which first signed on the air on October 31, 1960, as Vancouver's inaugural commercial television station. The station operates on 8 (UHF digital channel 22) and primarily serves the Metro Vancouver region, with its signal extended across much of the province through a network of rebroadcasters and transmitters (approximately 7 active as of 2023). Following CRTC approval in 2019, many low-power rebroadcasters were deleted, with remaining transmitters ensuring coverage to key areas. This coverage allows CHAN-DT to reach much of 's population, focusing on , , and community events tailored to the province's diverse regions. The station's over-the-air signal also extends southward into the , providing reception in northern Washington state's Whatcom County, including areas around Bellingham, where it competes with local American broadcasters. This cross-border reach has historically made CHAN-DT a notable option for viewers in the , particularly for . In terms of branding evolution, CHAN-DT launched as an simply identified by its call letters and channel number. It began using the on-air name BCTV ( Television) unofficially in 1971 and officially adopted it as its primary brand in 1973, reflecting its growing provincial footprint with logos featuring elements like the Pacific dogwood flower to symbolize local identity. Following an affiliation change to the in 2001, the station retained hybrid BCTV/Global branding for its news programming until a full rebrand on February 6, 2006, when it became Global BC, aligning with the network's national visual identity while incorporating -specific motifs in graphics and promotions. Today, Global BC serves as the station's core branding, with modern logos featuring a stylized globe integrated with provincial imagery and on-air graphics that highlight local landmarks, weather patterns, and community stories to underscore its role as British Columbia's dedicated news and entertainment source. The accompanying , "We are BC’s News," reinforces this regional emphasis in promos and station IDs.

Ownership and facilities

CHAN-DT is owned by Inc. through its wholly owned subsidiary 591987 B.C. Ltd., as part of the Corus Television Limited Partnership. Corus acquired the station in 2016 as part of its purchase of Shaw Media Inc. from Shaw Communications Inc. for approximately $2.65 billion, which included the and its owned-and-operated stations. Prior to Shaw's ownership from 2010 to 2016, CHAN-DT was controlled by Canwest Global Communications Corp. following its 2000 acquisition of Western International Communications Ltd. (WIC), which had acquired the station in 1989 from previous owners including Vantel Broadcasting Co. Ltd. (initial licensee in 1960). As the West Coast flagship of the —a division of —CHAN-DT serves as a key O&O (owned-and-operated) outlet for the network, delivering national programming alongside local content to audiences in and beyond. The station's integration into the Global network underscores Corus's focus on conventional television alongside its radio and digital assets, with CHAN-DT contributing to the company's portfolio of 15 local stations across . The station's primary studios are located at 7850 Enterprise Street in , , a facility that includes dedicated newsrooms, rooms, and editing suites to support both local and network-level operations. Originally established in 1962 after temporary studios, this site has been expanded over decades to accommodate modern needs, including multi-camera setups and capabilities. CHAN-DT's main transmitter is situated atop in the District of North , with an effective (HAAT) of 656 m (2,152 ft), providing broad coverage across Metro and surrounding areas. The operates on UHF channel 22 ( 8.1) with an effective radiated power () of 40 kW using a , ensuring reliable over-the-air reception since the 2011 digital transition. The station has broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since its inception in 1960, and introduced high-definition production capabilities in 2010 to enhance visual quality for viewers.

History

Establishment and early operations

CHAN-DT, originally broadcasting as CHAN-TV, was established by Vantel Broadcasting Co. Ltd., a Vancouver-based company with Arthur Jones serving as president and key investors including Col. and Mrs. Edward J. Eakins and W.J. Ferguson Sr. from Imperial Investments Ltd. The station signed on the air at 4:45 p.m. on October 31, 1960, marking it as the first private television station in . Operating initially as an without a network affiliation, CHAN-TV launched amid the dominance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) CBUT-DT, which had been broadcasting since 1953. The station received its license from the Board of Broadcast Governors (BBG) in a regulatory environment that encouraged private broadcasting to complement , despite the competitive landscape posed by the established CBC outlet. The inaugural broadcasts originated from temporary studios at 1219 Richards Street in , with the station transmitting on VHF channel 8 at 180,000 watts of video power from a transmitter on Mountain. Early programming featured a mix of local live productions (accounting for 47% of content), movies, and syndicated shows such as Dan Raven, Route 66, and Play of the Week, emphasizing Canadian and material at 47.8% and 7.8% respectively; daily schedules ran from noon to 2:08 a.m. on weekdays. Among the early operational challenges were limited geographic coverage and dependence on microwave relay links for remote event feeds, resulting in signal quality initially deemed inferior to that of CBC's CBUT-DT and the U.S. border station . To build viewership, CHAN-TV focused on community-oriented local programming and coverage of regional events, including aspects of British Columbia's 1963 provincial election. This independent phase lasted less than a year, setting the stage for its affiliation with the beginning October 1, 1961.

CTV affiliation and expansion

CHAN-TV joined the on October 1, 1961, serving as a key affiliate in alongside CHEK-TV in Victoria. This affiliation enhanced CHAN's reach, allowing it to broadcast CTV's lineup of prime-time shows, news, and specials to a growing audience across the and beyond. By the late , the station had introduced innovative local content, including a pioneering one-hour program that boosted its provincial profile. In 1963, Western Broadcasting Company acquired an interest in Vantel Broadcasting, the original licensee of CHAN-TV, with full control gained in 1982, marking the beginning of Frank Griffiths' expanded influence in British Columbia media. Under this structure, the station rebranded as BCTV in 1973, adopting an iconic dogwood flower logo that symbolized its provincial identity and became a staple of broadcasting for over two decades. The rebrand coincided with programming growth, where BCTV aired CTV national hits alongside local staples like the News Hour, which by 1982 had become Canada's most-watched local newscast, drawing 640,000 viewers nightly. Expansion efforts in the significantly broadened BCTV's footprint, with new transmitters added in 1972 to serve northern communities such as Prince George, , Williams Lake, and Quesnel, followed by extensions to the in 1976. Rebroadcasters were constructed from 1969 to 1975 in the , Valley, Cariboo Region, and Northwest Coast, enabling full coverage to remote areas via the by 1979, which also reached parts of the and . These developments, however, were punctuated by operational challenges, including labor tensions; while no major strikes occurred in the 1970s, the 1990s saw significant disruptions, such as 1997 job cuts affecting 51 positions at BCTV amid rising competition. A highlight of BCTV's era was its involvement in Expo 86, where the station created and operated a dedicated pavilion featuring a fully functional broadcast studio, allowing live , lottery draws, and celebrity interviews from the site. This initiative underscored BCTV's commitment to , blending CTV network content with homegrown productions like national newscasts such as Canada Tonight in 1982. By the late , strains emerged from CTV's increasing centralization in , which clashed with BCTV's emphasis on regional autonomy and independent production efforts, including pushes for more localized content amid ownership changes. The 1999 acquisition of Western International Communications by CanWest Global heightened these issues, as the new owners prioritized integration with their , setting the stage for the affiliation shift in 2001.

Switch to Global and modern developments

In 2001, following Global Communications' acquisition of Western International Communications (WIC) in 2000, CHAN-TV underwent a significant affiliation shakeup. The station switched from the to the on September 1, 2001, as integrated its assets and prioritized Global programming on its owned-and-operated stations. This move was part of a broader realignment in the Vancouver market, where CTV shifted its affiliation to CIVT-DT, which became the network's owned-and-operated outlet for the region. The change allowed to consolidate Global's presence in , leveraging CHAN's extensive transmitter network to cover 97% of the province. The station retained elements of its legacy branding initially but fully rebranded from BCTV to Global BC on , 2006, adopting the network's unified on-air look while emphasizing local identity. News programming transitioned to "Global BC News," phasing out the BCTV name entirely, though it continued to draw on the station's established regional reputation. Ownership evolved amid financial challenges: filed for creditor protection in 2009 due to $4 billion in debt, leading to the sale of its television assets to for $2 billion in October 2010, which rebranded the division as . In 2016, acquired for $2.65 billion, integrating Global BC into its portfolio and maintaining operational continuity under Corus ownership. Key modern milestones included the launch of high-definition broadcasting in 2010, coinciding with Shaw's acquisition and facility upgrades; local newscasts debuted in HD on October 4, 2010, using a new virtual set and graphics package. That year, Global BC provided extensive coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics, contributing to national broadcasts and highlighting events as the host region. In August 2024, Corus implemented layoffs and increased resource-sharing across operations, including in British Columbia, as part of cost-saving measures. In September 2025, Corus laid off 45 employees at in British Columbia and amid ongoing financial challenges. In November 2025, Corus announced a recapitalization transaction to address financial pressures. Recent developments have focused on digital expansion, with Global BC enhancing its online platform for streaming news and on-demand content, alongside compliance with CRTC mandates for local programming. In 2024, the CRTC introduced requirements for independent local news funds (ILNF) eligibility, prompting Corus to seek regulatory flexibility for Global stations, including spending on regionally reflective news while qualifying for additional funding to sustain operations. These shifts reflect broader industry pressures. Amid declining linear television viewership, Global BC has maintained a strong position in the British Columbia market through its emphasis on regional news, serving as the province's leading source for local coverage.

Programming

Network schedule and specials

CHAN-DT, as the flagship station of the in , adheres closely to the national programming schedule provided by , its parent company. The standard lineup features a mix of imported American primetime dramas and reality series, such as Survivor (Season 49, which premiered September 24, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. PT) and NCIS (Season 23, which returned October 14, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. PT), alongside Canadian-produced content to meet regulatory requirements. Late-night programming includes syndicated talk shows like The Late Show with , airing weeknights after 11:35 p.m. PT, while mornings are anchored by the Morning block from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. PT, blending national headlines with regional updates. Throughout the broadcast day, CHAN-DT incorporates local insertions into the national feed, particularly for British Columbia-specific weather forecasts, traffic reports, and advertisements during news and commercial breaks. These regional cut-ins occur multiple times daily, such as during the Global News Morning and evening newscasts, ensuring relevance to and surrounding areas without altering the core network content. The station airs several annual specials as part of the Global Network's event programming. The Variety Show of Hearts , broadcast live on CHAN-DT every February since 1967, supports of BC, which funds programs for children with disabilities and complex health needs, including initiatives tied to ; the 2025 edition aired on February 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT, featuring celebrity performances and donor appeals. Holiday programming in December includes seasonal specials and movies, such as Christmas-themed films like Fit for Christmas, integrated into the evening schedule to provide festive entertainment aligned with national feeds. Syndicated content on CHAN-DT is restricted to designated slots approved by , such as daytime talk shows or off-peak reruns, with a strong emphasis on fulfilling quotas mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Private conventional television stations like CHAN-DT must exhibit at least 50% Canadian programming overall and 60% during peak viewing hours (7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.), prioritizing certified Canadian productions to promote domestic cultural expression. As of November 2025, the CRTC updated its definition of to better support creators, excluding AI-generated elements from qualifying. CHAN-DT operates seven days a week, following the national with weekend repeats of popular primetime series to fill gaps, and maintains consistency with the Global feed except for occasional preemptions to accommodate extended coverage, such as during major events. This structure ensures broad accessibility while complying with broadcast regulations.

Local and former non-network content

During its tenure as BCTV, CHAN-DT produced and broadcast several original local programs that highlighted British Columbia's culture and entertainment scene. One of the most enduring was NWA All Star Wrestling, a series taped at the station's studios and aired weekly from 1962 to 1989, establishing it as the longest-running wrestling program in Canadian television history. The show featured regional talent and drew a dedicated audience with its live studio format, contributing to the station's reputation for homegrown content. The station also collaborated on dramatic series during the 1970s and 1990s that captured coastal life through stories of log salvagers and community dynamics, airing in various slots to complement network offerings. Complementing these were non-network originals such as children's programming under the BCTV Kids banner in the , which included educational segments, holiday specials like the 1997 Christmas party event, and family-oriented entertainment aimed at young viewers in the region. Lifestyle programming, exemplified by BC Scene in the 1990s, offered viewers insights into provincial arts, events, and community stories through interviews and features. Syndicated fare filled key daytime and access periods, including the popular talk show from 1986 to 2011, which aired at 4 p.m. and became a staple for afternoon audiences seeking celebrity interviews and social discussions. Game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! occupied evening access slots through the 2010s, providing light entertainment with puzzles and trivia that appealed to families before primetime network blocks. Unique to CHAN-DT's output were in-house documentaries exploring British Columbia's history and environment. Similar productions addressed indigenous issues and regional heritage until the 2010s, offering educational content on topics like traditional land stewardship and cultural narratives. Following the affiliation switch to the on September 1, 2001, CHAN-DT prioritized national programming, resulting in the phase-out of many local and syndicated non-network shows. Budget constraints and the rise of digital platforms led to cancellations or migrations, with remaining local efforts focusing more narrowly on and specials aligned with the network schedule.

News operations

News programming format

CHAN-DT produces 47.5 hours of local news programming each week, the highest volume among stations, covering morning, noon, evening, and late-night editions across . The flagship evening newscast, Global News Hour at 6 (also known as the News Hour), airs for 60 to 90 minutes on weekdays and focuses on in-depth reporting of provincial stories, weather, traffic, and community issues, making it 's most-watched nightly newscast. Complementing this is Global News Morning BC, a four-hour weekday program broadcast from 5 to 9 a.m., delivering live updates, interviews, and segments to start the day. In addition to local content, CHAN-DT serves as the production hub for the national newscast Global National, anchored from its studios and broadcast across at 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., providing comprehensive coverage of domestic and international headlines with a focus on Canadian perspectives. The station's news format transitioned to high definition on September 20, 2010, enhancing visual quality for viewers, and now emphasizes multi-platform delivery through the Global TV app, website, and for on-demand access and streaming. Live reporting from reporters stationed throughout remains a core element, ensuring timely updates on regional events. Special programming includes extended coverage of major events such as provincial and federal election nights, featuring real-time results, analysis, and voter insights, as well as weather emergencies like the devastating 2021 floods, which prompted round-the-clock reporting on evacuations, infrastructure damage, and recovery efforts. Since August 2024, CHAN-DT has hubbed newscasts for interior stations, including CHBC-DT in , producing content from studios to streamline operations while maintaining localized elements through regional inserts.

Current On-Air Personnel

Chris Gailus has served as co-anchor of the Global News Hour at 6 since joining Global BC in 2006, earning an Emmy Award for his journalism and a 2023 Canadian Screen Award for best local newscast. Sophie Lui co-anchors the Global News Hour at 6 alongside Gailus, delivering weekday evening news coverage for viewers. Mark Madryga has been Global BC's chief meteorologist since 1994, providing daily weather forecasts on Morning, Global News at Noon, and other programs. Other key roles include Keith Baldrey as legislature bureau chief, covering provincial , and Richard Zussman as a political reporter based at the BC . Sports coverage features Barry Deley as weekend sports anchor and reporter.

Former On-Air Personnel

Veteran broadcaster Bill Good anchored news for BCTV (predecessor to Global BC) from the 1970s through the 2000s, contributing to both television and radio before retiring in 2014 after over 50 years in the industry. The Global news team, which produced local newscasts until August 2024, included anchors and reporters who delivered region-specific coverage before operations shifted to a hub.

Staff Transitions and Diversity Efforts

Following Corus Entertainment's 2016 acquisition of , which included Global BC, the station underwent staff restructuring to streamline operations across its network. Corus has implemented initiatives, including support for the HireBIPOC program in 2020 to increase representation of visible minorities in roles.

Notable Achievements

Global BC's news team has received recognition for investigative reporting, including a 2010 Gemini Award for Best Local Newscast in a Large Market for the Hour. Individual contributors like Gailus have earned accolades for on-air performance in the 2000s and beyond. In 2025, Gailus and co-anchor Sophie Lui won the Canadian Screen Award for Best News Anchor, Local, for the Hour at 6.

Technical parameters

Digital signal and subchannels

CHAN-DT's digital signal is broadcast on UHF channel 22 (virtual channel 8.1), serving as the primary feed for Global British Columbia programming. The station officially signed on its digital signal on April 18, 2008, following testing earlier that month and CRTC approval for a transitional digital undertaking associated with its analog license. The signal transmits at a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 40 kW and an average ERP of 22 kW, utilizing a mounted on with an azimuth oriented toward the area to optimize coverage. This configuration provides coverage contours compliant with Canadian broadcasting standards, ensuring reliable reception across the and surrounding regions. The CRTC approved a relocation to a new site on and power increase to 125 kW maximum ERP (75 kW average) on July 23, 2025, with implementation required by July 23, 2027. The main subchannel on 8.1 delivers the full Global BC schedule in high-definition resolution, encoded using AVC (H.264) compression for efficient bandwidth use within the ATSC framework. No additional subchannels are currently active. Since 2010, the primary feed has supported full HD broadcast with audio, particularly for news programs and special events, enhancing viewer immersion through AC-3 encoding. CHAN-DT remains compatible with emerging mobile television standards and participates in the broader ATSC ecosystem. has conducted experimental ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) operations since 2022 on a no-protection basis, but no local implementation has occurred for CHAN-DT as of 2025.

Analog-to-digital conversion

The analog-to-digital conversion for CHAN-DT was part of the broader national transition mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to improve broadcasting efficiency and free up spectrum for other uses, such as wireless services. In Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-53, the CRTC established August 31, 2011, as the deadline for full-power over-the-air television stations in 28 mandatory markets, including , to cease analog transmissions and operate solely in digital format. This policy aligned with global trends in digital terrestrial broadcasting while prioritizing enhanced picture and sound quality for viewers. CHAN-DT, as the affiliate serving Metro , fell under these requirements as a major market station. Preparation for the transition began years earlier with the launch of CHAN-DT's transitional . In Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-173, the CRTC approved a temporary digital undertaking associated with CHAN-TV (the station's analog designation) to programming in both formats, allowing gradual adoption of digital technology. Operations commenced on April 18, 2008, following an extension granted in Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-60, with the broadcasting on UHF channel 22 while maintaining the on VHF channel 8. To support viewers, broadcasters including CHAN-DT aired public service announcements promoting the switch, and cable providers like —which acquired ownership of Global stations in 2010—collaborated on awareness efforts to inform over-the-air (OTA) households about the need for digital tuners or converter boxes. These campaigns emphasized that cable and subscribers would remain unaffected. The for CHAN-DT signed off on August 31, 2011, transitioning fully to digital operations thereafter, in line with the national deadline. Some of CHAN-DT's rural rebroadcaster transmitters, such as those in fringe areas, received temporary extensions for low-power analog operations to mitigate immediate service disruptions, with digital replacements approved in subsequent CRTC decisions like Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2012-412. Challenges during the process included signal loss for OTA viewers in remote or fringe reception zones who lacked digital equipment, potentially affecting up to 5% of Canadian households reliant on antennas; however, no federal subsidy program for converter boxes was implemented, unlike in the United States, as the CRTC deemed the OTA audience small enough to forgo such measures. Post-conversion, the shift enabled CHAN-DT to deliver high-definition (HD) programming consistently, improving overall signal reliability and efficiency without facing spectrum reallocation conflicts, as its digital channel 22 fell outside the repurposed 600 MHz band. This upgrade supported the station's role in providing local and network content to viewers, with full digital coverage achieved by late 2011.

Transmitters and coverage

CHAN-DT's primary transmitter is located on in , , operating on UHF channel 22 with a licensed of 40 kW, providing coverage to the Metro Vancouver area serving over 2.6 million people. This main signal is supplemented by a network of 17 low-power digital across the Lower Mainland and to fill in coverage gaps, including CHAN-DT-1 in Chilliwack on UHF channel 31 (0.428 kW) and CHAN-DT-4 in Courtenay on UHF channel 25. These use a mix of UHF and VHF frequencies to extend the station's reach into rural and coastal communities, with some analog phased out by 2019 as part of Corus Entertainment's transition to fully digital operations. In the , CHBC-DT serves as a semi-satellite from on UHF channel 24 (35 kW), covering the Valley and supported by additional low-power transmitters such as CHBC-DT-1 in (UHF channel 30), CHBC-DT-2 in Vernon (UHF channel 22), and CHBC-DT-3 in Revelstoke (VHF channel 7). Similarly, CHKM-DT operates as a semi-satellite in on UHF channel 22 (10.5 kW), with a network of repeaters including CHKM-DT-1 in and CHKM-DT-7 in Merritt to serve the Thompson-Nicola region. Since August 19, 2024, news operations for these Interior stations have been hubbed from studios at CHAN-DT due to Corus cutbacks, while maintaining some local elements. The overall broadcast network reaches approximately 96% of British Columbia households through over-the-air signals, cable, and satellite distribution, encompassing urban centers like Vancouver and extending to remote northern areas via additional relays such as CKTN-DT in Trail and CHSV-TV in Smithers. Border proximity allows the Vancouver signal to spill into northern Washington state, providing accessible reception in communities like Bellingham. Coverage expansions included the addition of digital fill-in transmitters in the Okanagan Valley in 2012 to replace analog signals during the national digital transition, and CRTC approvals for power increases on select repeaters in 2015 to improve signal reliability in mountainous terrain.
Key TransmitterLocationVirtual ChannelPhysical ChannelERP (kW)Notes
CHAN-DT (Main) (Mount Seymour)8.12240Primary signal for
CHAN-DT-1Chilliwack8.1310.428Low-power repeater
CHBC-DT8.12435Semi-satellite for
CHKM-DT8.12210.5Semi-satellite for Thompson-Nicola
CKTN-DT8.181.3Serves region

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