The following is a list of events affecting Canadian television in 2011. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings.
YTV and Family Channel both launch high-definition simulcasts of their east coast video feeds, effectively becoming the first children's networks in Canada to air in HD. These feeds are available through all major television providers in Canada. The latter also undergoes a major rebranding.
February
Date
Event
7
Niagara News TV, a Category B regional news channel serving the Niagara Region, begins broadcasting in Niagara Falls on Cogeco Cable digital channel 556. The channel would later indefinitely suspend operations on April 18, 2011, because of "technical difficulties" cited by owner Peninsula Broadcasting Corporation's president Frank Thibault, with plans to resume operations by fall 2011.[2]
A combined 3.2 million people watch the 2011 federal leaders debate on the three main networks.[3]
18
Category B channel Sun News Network debuts, with Toronto independent station CKXT-DT and its Hamilton, Ottawa and London translators being effectively turned into a full-power broadcast relay of the network in Southern Ontario.
May
Date
Event
2
Mlle, a French-language Category B service aimed at women owned by Groupe TVA, launches.
June
Date
Event
1
WildBrain TV debuts as Disney XD; the Astral Media-owned Category B channel (licensed separately from premium channel Family Channel, which carries programming from the U.S. Disney XD's sister network Disney Channel) is aimed at boys between 7 and 15 years old. Unlike Family and its multiplex channel Disney Junior and Astral's movie channels The Movie Network and MPix, and like their joint venture Teletoon (co-owned with Corus Entertainment at the time) and their BC CBC affiliates, the channel runs commercials during programs.
The state funeral for opposition leader Jack Layton airs live on all the main television networks.[5]
29
The A television system, as well as Alberta-based educational/entertainment service Access rebrand as CTV Two. At the same time, CJAL-TV (channel 9) in Edmonton and CIAN-TV (channel 13) in Calgary, which both relayed Access' programming over-the-air sign off the air as Access is licensed as a satellite-to-cable undertaking.
31
Analog television is switched off in all of Canada.
FX Canada launches across the country, the Rogers Communications-owned Category B channel primarily carries original programming from the U.S. cable network FX.
November
Date
Event
1
Toronto station CKXT-DT (channel 52) and its Hamilton and London, Ontario transmitters shut down. CKXT's Ottawa transmitter shut down more than two months earlier on August 31. The move by owner Quebecor Media was due to a CRTC inquiry in early July on the company's usage of the CKXT signal to simulcast Sun News.
Television programs
Programs debuting in 2011
Series currently listed here have been announced by their respective networks as scheduled to premiere in 2011. Note that shows may be delayed or cancelled by the network between now and their scheduled air dates.
British-born Canadian sketch comedian, best known for his years on radio and television program Royal Canadian Air Farce (1975–2010). Also co-executive produced XPM (2003).
Canadian television, film and stage actor best known for playing the part of Mike Hamar, an ex-con on The Red Green Show. He won Gemini Awards for And Then You Die (1987) and The Diviners (1993).
Canadian film, television, and theatre actor of Cree and Stoney descent, Order of Canada winner. In 2011, he co-starred in Blackstone, a series for APTN and Showcase. Television roles include Albert Golo on North of 60, for which he was twice nominated for a Gemini Award, and the voice of Mushom in Wapos Bay: The Series, for which he shared a Gemini Award. Guest spots include MacGyver, Northern Exposure, Lonesome Dove: The Series, and Smallville.
^"Heart-Breaking Gold Medal Game Delivers Record Audience of 6.9 Million Viewers on TSN and RDS". Canada Newswire. January 6, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Niagara News TV signs off after three months Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine The Standard 2011-02-19
^Bill Brioux (April 20, 2011). "Canucks and Canadiens skate past Idol and Dancing with the Stars to top Canadian ratings". Toronto.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Bill Brioux (June 21, 2011). "8.7 Mil see Bruins win while MuchMusic fans go Gaga for MMVAs". Toronto.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Doyle, John (August 27, 2011). "All three major networks to carry Layton funeral". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^"Peter Donaldson was 'finest actor's actor'". CBC News. January 10, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^"Air Farce actor Roger Abbott dies". CBC News. March 27, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Cudworth, Laura (April 6, 2011). "Actor Wayne Robson's death mirrors character". London Free Press. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Howell, Peter (April 18, 2011). "Michael Sarrazin, 70, was Canada's Hollywood rebel". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^"Quebec mourns singer-songwriter Claude Léveillée". CBC News. June 9, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^Chung, Amy (July 5, 2011). "Canadian actor Gordon Tootoosis dies at age 69". The StarPhoenix. Postmedia Network. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
^"Frances Bay dies: Remembering comedian, classic 'Seinfeld' scene" From Los Angeles Times (September 19, 2011)
^Seattle, WA - OTA - AVS Forum
^OTA Station Status: Seattle, Tacoma, Bellingham, WA - Digital Forum
