CHCA-TV

[1][2] The station began broadcasting on December 11, 1957 as CHCA-TV, the "CA" standing for Central Alberta.

Past employees of that era included Danny Teed, Ron MacLean, Martin Smith and Al Coates.

Plans to build rebroadcasters in Edmonton and Calgary were initially denied in 2005 by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Rogers initially received approval in principle for the Calgary transmitter, but was required to submit a new application for an alternate channel number because of a conflict with Rogers Communications' contemporaneous application for new Omni Television outlets in both cities.

[3] On July 22, 2009, Canwest announced it would be closing CHCA as of August 31, 2009 at 5:00am MT, issuing layoff notices to staff.

at 12:30 a.m., followed by a four-hour block of informercials until 5:00 a.m., and then a "goodbye" slide that ran before a black screen that aired all day long until the transmitters were finally shut off.

Sportscaster Ron MacLean commented that the station's closure was "a sign of the times," but "it wouldn't surprise me somewhere down the road if it starts up again.

"[5] CKX-TV, a CBC affiliate in Brandon, Manitoba would follow, closing approximately one month later on October 2, 2009.

The neighbouring CTV Two Alberta stations CIAN-TV 13 Calgary and CJAL-TV 9 Edmonton were closed down on August 31, 2011 (going to cable-only status), followed two months later by CKXT-DT Toronto.

CHCA-DT was allocated channel 28 for Red Deer, while its Edmonton and Calgary repeaters converted to digital as a flash-cut.

RDTV's first logo. The second logo, used in the late 90s through 2005, was similar to this logo, but was tilted and was in 3D. This 2D version was used in the 1990s. For the logo used as CH see the CH article.
CHCA ceased to air regular programming in the early morning of August 31, 2009. This slide was the last image to be carried over CHCA. A black screen aired until the transmitters were shut off on September 1, 2009. [ 4 ]