Media in Winnipeg - Television Stations

Television Stations

There are five English-language stations and one French-language station based in Winnipeg that supply free programming to the city. Most homes subscribe to cable through Shaw Communications, or digital television through MTS digital. There are also two satellite services available through Shaw Direct and Bell TV. Some homes use grey market satellite dishes to bring in signals from American satellite services.

Additionally, American network affiliates broadcasting from North Dakota are available over-the-air in many parts of Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba. Until the mid-1980s, KXJB and KVLY-TV (then known as KTHI) from Fargo, North Dakota were available on Winnipeg's cable service. These channels were replaced by WDIV-TV and WJBK from Detroit, later WTOL from Toledo. Currently, WCCO-TV and KARE from Minneapolis, Minnesota are available to Winnipeg via cable. WDAZ-TV and KGFE, both from Grand Forks, North Dakota are still available on Winnipeg cable TV systems. WUHF, the Fox-affiliate from Rochester, New York, has been available on cable since December 1994. KNRR, a Fox affiliate in border town Pembina, North Dakota, is available over-the-air, but its weak signal requires either a rooftop VHF antenna aimed south or being located on a high floor of a tall building.

KNRR was intended to target Winnipeg, but is not carried on any Canadian cable TV systems due to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission concerns that Winnipeg business will advertise on KNRR rather than Winnipeg stations. Ironically, some Winnipeg businesses advertise on WDAZ, which is carried on cable TV in Winnipeg, as many Winnipeg residents shop in Grand Forks (and Fargo) to take advantage of lower taxes. However this is sometimes ineffective due to simultaneous substitution. This practice requires cable TV systems to replace WDAZ's signal with that of a Winnipeg station (usually either CKY or CKND) whenever the same program and episode airs at the same time.