- This article is about the educational television channel in Alberta. For the American infomercial channel, please see Access Television Network.
| CJAL-TV / CIAN-TV | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Edmonton / Calgary, Alberta | |
| Branding | ACCESS |
| Slogan | "The Education Station" / "Combining education with great entertainment." |
| Channels | Analog: 9 (VHF) (Edmonton) and 13 (VHF & cable) (Calgary) |
| Affiliations | None (educational) |
| Owner | access media group (CTVglobemedia) |
| Founded | June 30, 1973 |
| Call letters meaning | CJ ALberta |
| Website | www.accesstv.ca |
ACCESS is a Canadian English language privately owned educational television channel in the province of Alberta. It is currently owned by access media group, a division of CTVglobemedia.
The channel is a "satellite-to-cable undertaking" [1] with two terrestrial transmitters, CJAL-TV (channel 9) in Edmonton, where the channel's main studios are located, and CIAN-TV (channel 13) in Calgary. ACCESS is also available throughout Alberta on cable, on the Bell ExpressVu satellite service on Channel 267, and on Star Choice Channel 351.
Programming
ACCESS airs a variety of educational and informative programs along with entertainment programs all of which include children's programs, documentaries, feature films, talk shows, dramas, comedies and more. Much of ACCESS' entertainment programs follow in line with the A-Channel system in prime time.
ACCESS produces, promotes and delivers television-based multimedia learning opportunities to learners of all ages, in partnership with Alberta Learning, educational institutions and educators. Many of the programs, including all of the dramas, are connected to and promote formal courses of study offered by the province's universities and colleges or the formal learning objectives of Alberta Learning.
History
ACCESS launched on June 30, 1973 by the Alberta government through the Alberta Educational Communications Corporation (AECC). At this time ACCESS was only available through cable and not over-the-air.
On January 9, 1984, AECC was granted a license from the CRTC for a television station in Calgary (CIAN) and on December 1, 1986, AECC was granted another license for a television station in Edmonton (CJAL) to rebroadcast the programs from CIAN.
In 1993, the Government of Alberta undertook a re-evaluation of all provincially-funded activities, and announced that it would not provide direct funding for ACCESS beyond 1994.
In 1995, ACCESS was privatized and sold to Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Limited (60% owned by CHUM Limited) and in February 2005, CHUM Limited acquired the remaining 40% interest in Learning & Skills Television of Alberta Ltd. (and renaming it access media group), giving the company 100% of its shares including ACCESS.
On July 12 2006, CTVglobemedia announced they would make a friendly takeover bid to buy CHUM Limited.[2] Due to CTVgm's plans to keep CTV and Citytv, Rogers Communications was expected to purchase ACCESS (as well as CHUM's A-Channel stations) as announced on April 9, 2007, pending Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approval (and approval of CTV's purchase). With the CRTC electing to force CTV to sell the Citytv stations instead, the Rogers deal was rendered void.
On June 22 2007, CTVglobemedia gained control of ACCESS as a result of a buyout from CHUM Limited.
References
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-175, June 6, 2003
- ^ Bell Globemedia makes $1.7B bid for CHUM. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2006-07-12). Retrieved on 2006-07-12.
See also
External links
| Educational television channels in Canada |
|---|
|
Provincial broadcasters: Télé-Québec - TVOntario - TFO (Ontario) - Saskatchewan Communications Network - Access (Alberta) - Knowledge Network (B.C.) |
| Broadcast television in Alberta | |
|---|---|
| Calgary | |
| Edmonton | |
| Other areas |
CKSA 2 (CBC, Lloydminster) • CITL 4 (CTV, Lloydminster) • CHAT
6 (CBC, Medicine Hat) •
CHCA 6 (E!, Red
Deer) • CISA 7 (Global,
Lethbridge) • CJIL 17 (Religious ind., Lethbridge) |
| Cable-only | |
| 1 New stations licensed in 2007, not yet on air. | |
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