Prior to the launch of CFWH-TV and for several years thereafter, Whitehorse's WHTV cable TV system (now part of Northwestel Cable) carried a mix of prerecorded CBC, CTV and syndicated programs on Channel 4 on its system,[1] offered up to two weeks after their initial broadcasts on stations in southern Canada.[2]
Building in Whitehorse
History
During its life, CFWH-TV was always licensed as a repeater. For most of its existence, this station was part of a "radiocommunication distribution undertaking" that included CFYK-TV in Yellowknife and CFFB-TV in Iqaluit. The CRTC did not license it as a television station, but merely as a transmitter to redistribute CBC North. In 2011, CFYK-TV was licensed as a full television station, with CFWH and CFFB as repeaters.[3]
CFWH-TV was licensed as a rebroadcaster of CFYK-TV, even though it operated as a semi-satellite with its own network of rebroadcasters. As a result, CFWH-TV and its network of rebroadcasters was one of many CBC and Radio-Canada's remaining analogue transmitters closed on July 31, 2012, as part of several austerity measures announced in April 2012 to keep the corporation solvent and in operation.[4] As a result, this leaves almost the entirety of the Yukon without any aerial CBC television service, the only exception being a community owned broadcaster in Upper Liard, CH2986 channel 9.[5] However, few viewers in the Yukon actually lost access to CBC programming due to the extremely high penetration of cable and satellite.
CFYK still operates a Yukon bureau at the CBC's studio in Whitehorse.
Transmitters
CFWH-TV had five over the air VHF analog rebroadcasters throughout the territory of Yukon before they were decommissioned on July 31, 2012.
Stations are grouped by the affiliation it had at its closure. Bold denotes stations that did not become a rebroadcaster of another station when it closed.
