CBC Television
Toronto - CBLT-TV
- Digital
channel: 20
(available since March 5, 2005) - Analogue
channel: 5
(to be discontinued on August 31, 2011) - Transmission site:
CN Tower
At a glance
I live in Toronto. Do I receive a digital signal over the air?
Yes. In fact, you already do. CBC Television in Toronto (CBLT-TV) has been broadcasting a digital signal over-the-air since March 5, 2005.
- Visit the Canadian Heritage website to determine what to do to prepare your television set for the change.
I watch CBC Toronto (CBLT-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 Toronto, but rather from a CBLT-TV re-transmitter located closer to you. If this is the case, you will continue to receive the same analogue signal you get today for the foreseeable future. There is no need for you to get a converter box in order to continue receiving CBC Television.
- You live close enough to the city to be served today by our CBLT-TV analogue transmitter located on CN Tower. 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?
Toronto 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 CBLT-TV analogue signal currently available on channel 5 will no longer broadcast after that date.
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 for the change.
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.
