CBC Television
Montréal (CBMT-TV)
- Digital
channel: 20*
(since Feb. 21, 2005)
*Channel will be switching to 21 on September 1, 2011. - Analogue
channel: 6
(to be discontinued on August 31, 2011) - Transmission site:
Mount Royal
At a glance
I live in Montréal. Do I receive a digital signal over the air?
Yes. In fact, you already do. CBC Television in Montreal (CBMT-TV) has been broadcasting a digital signal over-the-air since February 21, 2005.
- Visit the Canadian Heritage website to determine what to do to prepare your television set to continue receiving an over-the-air signal.
I watch CBC Montreal (CBMT-TV), but I live outside the city. Do I receive a digital signal over the air?
There are two possibilities:
- You receive your analogue signal today not from our tower in Montreal, but rather from a CBMT-TV re-transmitter located closer to you. If this is the case, you will continue to receive the same analogue signal you get today beyond August 31, 2011. There is no need for you to do anything to prepare for the switch.
- You live close enough to the city to be served today by our CBMT-TV transmitter located on Mount Royal. If this is the case, there is a chance that you may no longer receive a signal. That’s because digital signals do not travel as far as analogue ones do. You may need to subscribe to a cable or satellite service in order to continue receiving a CBC television signal.
Find your location on our over-the-air coverage maps to determine out if you are covered, and by what transmitter.
What will happen to the analogue signal I’m currently receiving?
Montreal has been identified by the CRTC as a “mandatory market.” That means broadcasters must stop broadcasting in analogue on August 31st, 2011. In keeping with CRTC regulation, the CBMT-TV analogue signal formerly broadcast on channel 6 has been discontinued.
What do I need to do to prepare for the switch?
If you subscribe to cable or satellite to watch TV, you are not affected by this change.
If you use an antenna to watch TV (either with “rabbit ears” on top of your set or with an antenna outside) you may need to purchase and install a digital converter box to be able to receive our new digital signal. Alternatively, you may want to consider receiving your TV services from a cable, satellite or other service provider.
Visit the Canadian Heritage website to determine what to do to prepare your television set to continue receiving an over-the-air signal.
What should I know about digital over-the-air television?
Digital television is a new technology for the broadcasting of television signals. DTV signals are delivered to your television set in a stream of bits, whereas analog signals are transmitted by continuously varying radio waves. Compared to analog broadcasting, transmitting digital television signals is more effective and provides sharper picture, improved sound, and additional features to television viewers.
