U.S. Affiliates seen in Canada

[searadiofreak]

This may be more appropriate for the Canadian TV board, but not many seem to visit.

What U.S. affiliates are seen in Canada?

I know in Vancouver most cable systems carry KOMO (ABC-Seattle), KING (NBC-Seattle), KIRO (CBS Seattle), and KCPQ (Fox Seattle), and KSTW (CW Seattle).

I also remember driving to Alaska in the late 90's and watching most of the Detroit affiliates in far northern British Columbia. Never understood why Detroit so far west. Perhaps because it is so close to Canada (Windsor), but it seemed odd.

 

[fybush]

From west to east, the US markets that feed "4+1" (CBS/NBC/ABC/Fox + PBS) signals to Canadian systems these days are:

Seattle -> western BC
Spokane -> eastern BC, parts of AB
Detroit -> AB, SK, MB, western ON, Ottawa area
Erie PA -> London ON
Buffalo -> southern/central ON
Watertown NY -> Kingston ON
Burlington/Plattsburgh -> QC
Boston -> Maritimes provinces

Because of the wide satellite footprint they enjoy, the Seattle and Detroit stations serve as "default" US choices for Canadian cable in areas where there's no OTA reception of US signals. For reasons I'm not entirely clear on, WUHF (Fox) here in Rochester is another "default" nationwide choice, with coverage all the way from Newfoundland to the Yukon.

There are a handful of other legacy US services seen in Canada - the Rochester stations, once seen via microwave relay in Ottawa and much of eastern Ontario, are still seen on a few systems directly across the lake from Rochester, and I think there's still some limited coverage from Traverse City MI into Sudbury ON, from Bangor into New Brunswick and from Fargo/Grand Forks into southern Manitoba.

On the DBS satellites, if I remember right, the choices are Boston and Seattle on ExpressVu, Detroit/Buffalo and Spokane/Seattle on Star Choice.

 

[fortmill]

Aren't the the big three Toledo stations also available via satelite to cable systems in both Canada and the US? Also, I know that WNBC/4, WKRN/2 (ABC) and WSEE/35 (CBS) are available to cable systems in the US which can't recieve those networks over the air. I also found a cable system in WV which claims to carry WTAT/24 of Charleston SC as it's FOX affiliate. Is WTAT also carried on satelite? Or is there another US FOX station (WUHF?) available to cable systems via satelite?

 

[Poledo]

According to Wikipedia, WPCH-TV Atlanta is widely available on cable in Canada.

 

[mbatchelor]

According to Wikipedia, WPCH-TV Atlanta is widely available on cable in Canada.

Since WPCH is the former OTA signal of WTBS in Atlanta, did they formerly get the Atlanta OTA signal in Canada, instead of the nationwide TBS Feed?

 

[fybush]

Aren't the the big three Toledo stations also available via satelite to cable systems in both Canada and the US? Also, I know that WNBC/4, WKRN/2 (ABC) and WSEE/35 (CBS) are available to cable systems in the US which can't recieve those networks over the air. I also found a cable system in WV which claims to carry WTAT/24 of Charleston SC as it's FOX affiliate. Is WTAT also carried on satelite? Or is there another US FOX station (WUHF?) available to cable systems via satelite?

WTOL has been carried at times in place of/in addition to WWJ-TV as part of the "Detroit" offerings. I don't know of any Canadian systems that have WTVG or WNWO.

I don't know about WTAT being on satellite, either (could there be a gaffe in one of the on-line listing services that's mistaking a Charleston SC system for a Charleston WV system?), but I'm quite certain WUHF isn't available via satellite in the US, except local-into-local within the Rochester market.

And I forgot to mention that Canada also recognizes a small number of US "superstations" that are available nationwide as an extra-cost tier on cable and satellite: WPCH (a remnant of the old WTBS days), WSBK, WPIX, WGN and KTLA. That takes care of making CW programming available in Canada.

Additionally, a handful of Seattle and Buffalo stations are available on upper cable tiers in southern BC and southern Ontario: KSTW (CW - Tacoma) in BC, WNLO (CW - Buffalo) and WNYO (My - Buffalo) in Toronto and vicinity.

 

[mleach]

Aren't there a few places in Canada that gets Denver TV? If not that really is a surprise since it seems there are a lot of places WAY outside of Colorado who do get something out of Denver. Even cruise ships I have heard. If that is the case I would imagine it has to do with both Dish Network and Direct TV being based in Denver and being two of that city's top employers.

 

[azumanga]

Spokane -> eastern BC, parts of AB
Detroit -> AB, SK, MB, western ON, Ottawa area

In the case of Alberta, I would think the Spokane channels are more widely seen these days -- Shaw systems in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge have Spokanes on their systems.

Because of the wide satellite footprint they enjoy, the Seattle and Detroit stations serve as "default" US choices for Canadian cable in areas where there's no OTA reception of US signals.

Though most digital cable viewers in Canada now get the opposite coast's affiliates. Rogers / Cogeco systems in Ontario offer Seattle channels, while Shaw offers Detroits and Rochester to its western Canada subscribers.

For reasons I'm not entirely clear on, WUHF (Fox) here in Rochester is another "default" nationwide choice, with coverage all the way from Newfoundland to the Yukon.

I read somewhere that WUHF was chosen over WJBK, after CANCOM started offering Fox, as that channel was in no position to offer ad time to Canadian businesses, nor did they offer news (at the time).

I also found a cable system in WV which claims to carry WTAT/24 of Charleston SC as it's FOX affiliate. Is WTAT also carried on satelite?

I don't know about WTAT being on satellite, either (could there be a gaffe in one of the on-line listing services that's mistaking a Charleston SC system for a Charleston WV system?),

Must be an error from whoever that company gets its listings -- that WV system's Fox affiliate should be WVAH from Charleston WV.

...but I'm quite certain WUHF isn't available via satellite in the US, except local-into-local within the Rochester market.

I read somewhere that at least one cable system in New York State's North Country offers WUHF from the bird -- in an area where neither WNYF (an LPTV Fox affiliate in Watertown) nor WFFF (Fox in Burlington VT) are easily available.

 

[KTN Corp]

The Canadian cable operators ought to put the top U.S. markets/closest major markets on their systems. I should watch the NYC O&Os in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City; Boston and NYC stations in Halifax; Chicago O&Os in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan; Chicago and L.A. O&Os in Alberta (since there's no suitable market in the Mountain West); and the addition of L.A. O&Os in Vancouver.

 

[fortmill]

To what extent, if any, are the Dish Network and Directv local channel feeds used by cable systems in the US which cannot recieve clear OTA signals from the various networks? The WV cable system I mentioned earlier which supposedly carries Fox affiliate WTAT from Charleston SC would not be to recieve WVAH OTA, but they might be able to pick it up via Dish or Direct. I doubt it would be able to pick up WTAT via DBS spotbeam. In that same area of WV, I've noticed that several cable systems carry Fox WFXR/27, Roanoke VA. I'm pretty certain they would not be able to pick up WFXR OTA, and they wouldn't have a fiber or microwave feed so there must be some explanation. Here in SC, I know of a cable system in the Charlotte market that always had terrible reception of WBTV/3, then suddenly presented a clear picture, other than the usual DBS pixilation--I think they now use DBS for WBTV only.

 

[BRNout]

The Canadian cable operators ought to put the top U.S. markets/closest major markets on their systems. I should watch the NYC O&Os in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City; Boston and NYC stations in Halifax; Chicago O&Os in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan; Chicago and L.A. O&Os in Alberta (since there's no suitable market in the Mountain West); and the addition of L.A. O&Os in Vancouver.

By that line of reasoning, you would have Detroit market networks in Toronto and not NYC. Detroit is actually closer. And Buffalo is MUCH closer. The fact is, it doesn't matter that much in most cases.

And, where the Canadian market is relatively close to a border city (such as Toronto is to Buffalo), there is some value in offering that market's signals to cable subs. As for Montreal, the Burlington market stations actually promote their coverage into Quebec as English language OTA signals are harder to come by there. And, from the tx locations on Mt. Mansfield, they get into much of southern Quebec quite well. That advantage is probably gone as of February 20, however.

WMTW used to do that, but they have been pulled from most Quebec cable systems and (with their new tower location in ME) don't send a decent OTA signal into Quebec anymore. By the way, offering Boston signals throughout the Maritimes is very appropriate. For one thing, the weathercasts are more germane to those viewers and, for another, Boston is a primary gateway into the U.S. from Halifax and St. John's. Geographically, it works.

At least Canadians have the option to get U.S. network programming. With the exception of border areas, we have no option to get any Canadian broadcasts. Not even CBC or CBC Newsworld. Sadly, the culture in this country is very myopic and focuses inward. But that's a topic for a different thread!

 

[searadiofreak]

The Canadian cable operators ought to put the top U.S. markets/closest major markets on their systems. I should watch the NYC O&Os in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City; Boston and NYC stations in Halifax; Chicago O&Os in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan; Chicago and L.A. O&Os in Alberta (since there's no suitable market in the Mountain West); and the addition of L.A. O&Os in Vancouver.

By that line of reasoning, you would have Detroit market networks in Toronto and not NYC. Detroit is actually closer. And Buffalo is MUCH closer. The fact is, it doesn't matter that much in most cases.

And, where the Canadian market is relatively close to a border city (such as Toronto is to Buffalo), there is some value in offering that market's signals to cable subs. As for Montreal, the Burlington market stations actually promote their coverage into Quebec as English language OTA signals are harder to come by there. And, from the tx locations on Mt. Mansfield, they get into much of southern Quebec quite well. That advantage is probably gone as of February 20, however.

WMTW used to do that, but they have been pulled from most Quebec cable systems and (with their new tower location in ME) don't send a decent OTA signal into Quebec anymore. By the way, offering Boston signals throughout the Maritimes is very appropriate. For one thing, the weathercasts are more germane to those viewers and, for another, Boston is a primary gateway into the U.S. from Halifax and St. John's. Geographically, it works.

At least Canadians have the option to get U.S. network programming. With the exception of border areas, we have no option to get any Canadian broadcasts. Not even CBC or CBC Newsworld. Sadly, the culture in this country is very myopic and focuses inward. But that's a topic for a different thread!

Yes, CBUT (CBC) out of Vancouver is on Comcast in the Seattle area.

As for Canadian stations not being carried in general in the U.S., I guess one could argue that Canadian culture is not as influential as is the case with the U.S. Plus, CBC being government controlled may play a part.

 

[mleach]

The Canadian cable operators ought to put the top U.S. markets/closest major markets on their systems. I should watch the NYC O&Os in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City; Boston and NYC stations in Halifax; Chicago O&Os in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan; Chicago and L.A. O&Os in Alberta (since there's no suitable market in the Mountain West); and the addition of L.A. O&Os in Vancouver.

By that line of reasoning, you would have Detroit market networks in Toronto and not NYC. Detroit is actually closer. And Buffalo is MUCH closer. The fact is, it doesn't matter that much in most cases.

And, where the Canadian market is relatively close to a border city (such as Toronto is to Buffalo), there is some value in offering that market's signals to cable subs. As for Montreal, the Burlington market stations actually promote their coverage into Quebec as English language OTA signals are harder to come by there. And, from the tx locations on Mt. Mansfield, they get into much of southern Quebec quite well. That advantage is probably gone as of February 20, however.

WMTW used to do that, but they have been pulled from most Quebec cable systems and (with their new tower location in ME) don't send a decent OTA signal into Quebec anymore. By the way, offering Boston signals throughout the Maritimes is very appropriate. For one thing, the weathercasts are more germane to those viewers and, for another, Boston is a primary gateway into the U.S. from Halifax and St. John's. Geographically, it works.

At least Canadians have the option to get U.S. network programming. With the exception of border areas, we have no option to get any Canadian broadcasts. Not even CBC or CBC Newsworld. Sadly, the culture in this country is very myopic and focuses inward. But that's a topic for a different thread!

Yes, CBUT (CBC) out of Vancouver is on Comcast in the Seattle area.

As for Canadian stations not being carried in general in the U.S., I guess one could argue that Canadian culture is not as influential as is the case with the U.S. Plus, CBC being government controlled may play a part.

Then again isn't Canada considered by many as "America-North"? In other words other than politics is there really much of difference between Canada and the US? Heck aren't many of Canada's retail chains controlled by the US like Zellers for example..are they controlled by TARGET an American chain?

Canada TV..for YEARS I have been told that American TV does far better there than the home grown programs. I guess the reason why TV from Canada is rare in the US..its more like "..they are almost like us".

 

[notalkallstatic]

According to Wikipedia, WPCH-TV Atlanta is widely available on cable in Canada.

Since WPCH is the former OTA signal of WTBS in Atlanta, did they formerly get the Atlanta OTA signal in Canada, instead of the nationwide TBS Feed?

Yes...

Back when WPCH was WTBS, they got the WTBS feeds of TBS. Now since WTBS is now WPCH, they get the WPCH feed. I do not believe they actually get the TBS feed, because when WPCH would run promos for TBS, they would block them on the WPCH feed for Canada.

 

[BRNout]

Then again isn't Canada considered by many as "America-North"? In other words other than politics is there really much of difference between Canada and the US? Heck aren't many of Canada's retail chains controlled by the US like Zellers for example..are they controlled by TARGET an American chain?

Canada TV..for YEARS I have been told that American TV does far better there than the home grown programs. I guess the reason why TV from Canada is rare in the US..its more like "..they are almost like us".

True about the US influence being huge; however, in a world with hundreds of cable channels wouldn't it be nice to have the opportunity to see some different programming, such as that offered by the CBC? Yet even the BBC has had trouble getting carriage for BBC America and this is one of the only countries on Earth where BBC World is almost non-existent. If not CBC, then how about one of the Canadian news networks?

With dozens and dozens of throwaway channels offering infomercials and shopping; plus all of the specialty channels on digital, why nothing from Canada? After all, we're all treated to LOTS of programs from Mexico. Some comes directly from there (Galavision, TV Azteca). while some comes via la Republica de Miami (UNI, TEL, TFT). But that's about as international as it gets for most of us.

Go elsewhere in the continent and you'll see the likes of RAI (Italy), TV5 (France), TVE (Spain), BBC World, and CCTV (China) offered on cable alongside many of our channels.

 

[mjlarochelle]

WTOL has been carried at times in place of/in addition to WWJ-TV as part of the "Detroit" offerings. I don't know of any Canadian systems that have WTVG or WNWO.

WNWO is carried on cable in Wallaceburg, Ontario, in addition to WDIV. Wallaceburg is the only cable system I know of in Canada that carries WNWO, and as such its listings are carried in the London Free Press. WTVG and WTOL are both carried on upper channels in Windsor. There are a couple places along Lake Huron that carry WWOR.

WOIO (CBS) Cleveland is carried in St. Thomas and a few other places near Lake Erie. Some areas also receive WKYC, WEWS, and WJW from Cleveland, and a number of areas including London have gotten WUAB for decades. This has meant London is one of the few areas to get a MyNet affiliate on analog basic.

A few cable systems in Northern Ontario continue to carry WTOM, WWUP, and WGTQ, particularly along the Thessalon-Echo Bay stretch of Highway 17. WWUP is the most common, and I believe it is still available in Sudbury. Sault Ste. Marie does not receive any of the stations directly across the border on cable though. Even 30 years ago they received WNEM for NBC instead of WTOM. Some of the smaller places in that part of Ontario, oddly enough, receive CITV from Edmonton for their Global station, and do not receive Global Ontario. One system north of Sudbury I know of doesn't even carry a CTV signal!

Out west, WDAZ and Prairie Public Television are widely available in Manitoba. In Alberta and Saskatchewan a few systems close to the U.S. border carry Montana stations.

Rogers Digital here carries XEW and XHGC from Mexico City as extras in the third-language package.

 

[azumanga]

Rogers Digital here carries XEW and XHGC from Mexico City as extras in the third-language package.

According to tvguide.ca, I see XEW (under "Estrella", as in "Canal de las Estrellas"), but I don't see any listings for XHGC. They do offer "Azteca", but I don't know if that's XHDF or Azteca America.

 

[mleach]

Then again isn't Canada considered by many as "America-North"? In other words other than politics is there really much of difference between Canada and the US? Heck aren't many of Canada's retail chains controlled by the US like Zellers for example..are they controlled by TARGET an American chain?

Canada TV..for YEARS I have been told that American TV does far better there than the home grown programs. I guess the reason why TV from Canada is rare in the US..its more like "..they are almost like us".

True about the US influence being huge; however, in a world with hundreds of cable channels wouldn't it be nice to have the opportunity to see some different programming, such as that offered by the CBC? Yet even the BBC has had trouble getting carriage for BBC America and this is one of the only countries on Earth where BBC World is almost non-existent. If not CBC, then how about one of the Canadian news networks?

With dozens and dozens of throwaway channels offering infomercials and shopping; plus all of the specialty channels on digital, why nothing from Canada? After all, we're all treated to LOTS of programs from Mexico. Some comes directly from there (Galavision, TV Azteca). while some comes via la Republica de Miami (UNI, TEL, TFT). But that's about as international as it gets for most of us.

Go elsewhere in the continent and you'll see the likes of RAI (Italy), TV5 (France), TVE (Spain), BBC World, and CCTV (China) offered on cable alongside many of our channels.

I agree with you.

I often wondered myself why the lack of Canadian TV in the states. Could it be due to Canada's politics? Or perhaps those in charge believe there would not be any interest in the United States to see programming from Canada? Like who in Texas would want to see Canadian Idol when we already have American Idol? Canadian stereotypes? People who assume that the only thing people watch on TV in Canada is hockey, hockey and more hockey? Or even that so called bad rap that Canadian TV often gets? This topic has been discussed on other sites and often (even those who live in Canada ) often bring up the poor quality in their opinions of Canada TV such as "The Trouble With Tracy" for example.

Considering the quailty of so much of what is on TV here in America, I doubt Canada would be that much worse.

 

[Markxxx]

I recall reading something online about how the people in Winnepeg were getting tired of Detroit affiliates 'cause the stations reported on too much crime.

Anyone know of any stations like in Montana or North Dakota (etc) that can be recieved over the air? I know Channel 8 in Presque Isle, Maine reaches into New Brunswick.

 

[tripinva]

KNRR is the only one that comes to mind.

- Trip