Prior to September 2, 2008, the station was known as Télévision de Radio-Canada Atlantique. It was rebranded to Télévision de Radio-Canada Acadie and later ICI Acadie as part of the public broadcaster's efforts to better reflect the region it serves.[1]
Overview
The station was launched at 6:25 p.m. on December 21, 1959, from Moncton on channel 11. The station slowly added rebroadcasters, such as one serving Fredericton and Saint John in 1973 on channel 5.[2] Radio-Canada later converted CJBR-TV-1Edmundston, a retransmitter of a former affiliate in Rimouski, Quebec on channel 13, to a rebroadcaster of CBAFT.
Unlike all other Radio-Canada stations, programming in the Atlantic region airs one hour later than its scheduled time in the rest of Canada; this noted by the phrase "Une heure plus tard dans les Maritimes", present on nearly all Radio-Canada network promos. (Due to Newfoundland's small Francophone population, the correct time for programs there is only noted on local promos.)
Local programming
Le Téléjournal/Acadie, formerly Le Téléjournal/Atlantique, daily newscast airing every day at 6:00 p.m. AT. Janique LeBlanc anchors the program from Monday to Thursday. Karine Godin anchors from Friday to Sunday.
Luc et Luc (December 2007–), a talk show hosted by comedian Luc LeBlanc. The program is recorded from the Théâtre l'Escaouette in Moncton.[7]
Exchange agreement with RFO
In May 2010, it was announced that CBAFT will be exchanging news stories and reporters with Télé Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (call sign: FQN), the RFO outlet for the Frenchoverseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, in an agreement made with France Télévisions, the public broadcaster that oversees RFO (since renamed Outre-Mer 1ère, with the local affiliate called Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon 1ère). In addition, Télé Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon will also broadcast Le Téléjournal/Acadie to local viewers there, as well as on France Ô, which showcases RFO programming for viewers in Metropolitan France. In consequence, due to Télé Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon's availability on Canadian cable and satellite, the program will be available to viewers across Canada as well. This exchange was following the arrival of the aerial TNT digital television service to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which offers only RFO and Metropolitan France channels, unlike the local cable system, which offers Canadian and American channels, including CBAFT.[8][9]
Transmitters
CBAFT had 21 analog television rebroadcasters throughout the Maritimes.
Due to federal funding reductions to the CBC, in April 2012, the CBC responded with substantial budget cuts, which included shutting down CBC's and Radio-Canada's remaining analog transmitters on July 31, 2012.[10] None of CBC or Radio-Canada's rebroadcasters were converted to digital.
Transmitters in mandatory markets were required to go digital or be taken off the air by the transition deadline of August 31, 2011. The CBC decided that none of its rebroadcasters would switch to digital. The following CBAFT rebroadcasters were in mandatory markets:
CBAFT-1 and CBAFT-10 Fredericton, NB (CBAFT-1 served Kings County and Saint John, while CBAFT-10 offered city-grade coverage to Fredericton)
CBFJ-TV St John's, NL
CBHFT Halifax, NS
CBAFT-5 Charlottetown, PE
On August 16, 2011, the CRTC granted the CBC permission to continue operating 22 repeaters in mandatory markets, including the above, in analogue until August 31, 2012, by which time they must either convert to digital or shut down.
