Ottawa Television Guide

All these tv channels... and nothing on? Ottawa has access to hundreds of television channels, ranging from local services to U.S. networks, to specialty channels, and everything you can think of in between. We've included links to cable tv, hd signals over-the-air, digital tv and satellite tv stations as well.

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Over-the-air HD channels

You can get HD for free -- all you need is an HD tv and an antenna. Here's a list of free over-the-air hd channels available in the Ottawa area - some come in better than others!
17: City TV
20: Sun TV
22: CBC (French)
23: PBS (Norwood, NY)
25: CBC (English)
27: OMNI 1
38: PBS (Plattsburgh, NY)
66: OMNI 2
Source: RemoteCentral.com
Read more about free HD TV in Ottawa from OpenFile Ottawa...
(You can find info about UHF and VHF channels near the bottom of this page.)

Cable TV Stations

(basic cable listings for Rogers customers)

2: TV Ontario (CICO)
3: Global (CIII)
4: Tv Guide Channel
5: SRC Ottawa (CBOFT)
6: CTV Two Ottawa (formerly A-Channel, The New RO, and CHRO)
7: CTV Ottawa (CJOH) / CTV
8: CBC Ottawa (CBOT)
9: NBC (WDIV Detroit)
10: CHOT (TVA)
11: CFGS (TQS)
12: TFO
13: CBS (WWJ Detroit )
14: OMNI.2
15: CityTVY (Toronto)
16: OMNI.1
17: CTV News Channel
18: CHCH (Hamilton)
19: tsc - The Shopping Channel
20: ABC (WXYZ-TV Detroit)
21: Weather Network
22: Rogers Television
23: Rogers Télé-communautaire
24: CPAC EnglishC
25: Crossroads Television (CTS)
26: CBC News Network
27: Sportsnet Ontario
28: Réseau de l'information (RDI)
29: MuchMusic
30: TSN - The Sports Network
31: A&E - Arts & Entertainment
32: Spike TV
33: CNN (Cable News Network)
34: TLC - The Learning Channel
35: TV5
36: FOX (WJBK Detroit)
37: MusiquePlus
38: MétéoMédia
39: Showcase
40: Bravo
41: RDS - Réseau des Sports
42: The Discovery Channel
43: CMT - Country Music Television
44: BBC World News
45: Slice
46: Comedy Network
47: Peachtree TV (WPCH)
48: Teletoon
49: HGTV - Home and Garden TV
50: Space
51: Family Channel
52: The Score
53: MTV Canada
54: TVTropolis
55: History Television
56: OLN - Outdoor Life Network
57: Turner Classic Movies
58: Business News Network (BNN)
59: American Movie Classics
60: Canal D
62: W Network
63: VRAK.TV
65: YTV
68: Ontario Legislature
69: CIVO Télé Quebec
70: APTN - Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
95: Vision TV
96: Tele-Quebec Hull (CIVO)
97: WPBS Watertown, NY
129: Ontario Legislature
Please let us know about any errors/omissions on this list...

TV Schedules

Satellite Services / Digital Cable

UHF & VHF

Depending on where you live, and how well your antenna is placed, you may be able to receive these channels over the air in Ottawa

CBC Ottawa (4), CJOH (13), CH (11), CITY (65), NEW RO (43), CFMT (60), GLOBAL (6), TVO (24), PBS (57).
Ferenc sends us this list of UHF/VHF French stations available: Radio-Canada (9), Télé Québec (30), TQS (34) and TVA (40).
Denny writes: "The best antenna for UHF reception is a log periodic antenna (parallel polarized), essentially as the frequency increases the smaller elements act as a the radiator, the ones in back as reflectors and the ones in front as directors. This antenna has a high Q and very good gain on all UHF freqencies, it may designed as a 300 ohm impedance, fitted with a balun to convert it to 75 ohms or designed to 75 ohms from the start. This antenna is very directional and requires a a rotor.
The best VHF antenna would be the same log periodic antenna, however this might be out of the realm of the amateur antenna maker. The dipole utilizing a section of 300 ohm twinlead works quite well with for both VHF and FM radio.

Aluminum foil can be used also, if put on a wall at ceiling level and covered with wall paper or paper it makes an excellent antenna, this may also be used for low power transmitters with an impedance matcher (combination of variable inductance and capacitance)to arrive at a low standing wave ratio.

An excellent reference is The Amateur Radio Antenna Manual, this is in most libraries."
Paul writes: "I have modified a 300 ohm cable to receive TV stations in Ottawa. The 300 ohm cable was cut down the middle and used as a large dipole antenna. It receives VHF channels very well without any ghosting. Unfortunaltey, it can only pick up VHF channels (CBC 4 to CTV 13). Using an antenna, do you know if anyone in Ottawa has been able to receive TVO (UHF channel 24) or PBS (UHF channel 57)? If so, do you know the antenna set up that was used?"
Guy writes: "UHF stations can be recieved with a cheap little UHF antenna. It's just a wire loop about 8" in diameter. TVO and others come in perfectly."
Martin writes: "Global has a tower in Bancroft (ch. 2). WCFE 57 (PBS) Plattsburgh can be easily received with any yagi antenna (very strong signal). Global on Channel 27 is in Peterborough (1,130 KW). Channel 7 is CBS - Watertown. WNPI/WNPE (ch. 18/16), Watertown, Norwood. PBS (channel 18 is usually stronger). CKWS (CBC Kingston) has two low powered transmitter (very weak signal): ch.26 (Brockville), ch. 36 (Smiths Falls).
David Liebold writes:

Regarding section on off-air television alternatives, here is a list of off-air channels in Ottawa/Outaouais:
4 CBOT (CBC)
6 Global
9 CBOFT (Radio-Canada)
11 CH
13 CJOH (CTV)
14 (Omni 2 expected to go on air soon)
24 TVOntario
30 Tele-Quebec
32 CTS
34 CFGS (TQS)
40 CHOT (TVA)
43 New RO (CHRO)
60 Omni 1
65 City TV

This list does not include out-of-town signals such as Watertown NY (PBS, etc).

There's also supposed to be a retransmitter of CKWS Kingston in Smiths Falls, although I have not been able to pick that up (may be too weak to see in the Ottawa market).

For some strange reason, I'm seeing Global on channel 27. Not sure if this is the result of a hardware glitch or if Global runs a strong channel 27 transmitter elsewhere in eastern Ontario.

As far as the one comment about using 300-ohm "twin-lead" cable for an antenna, this can work well on many channels but one has to consider "wavelengths" of TV frequencies. Wavelengths get smaller as the TV channels get higher.

It may be better to purchase an amplified "rabbit ear" and loop type
antenna for local reception. A Jensen amplified indoor antenna pulls in the UHF channels better than unamplified rabbit ears or loops. Haven't tried the bigger antennae such as the "giant smoke detector" units that retail at Radio Shack and elsewhere, but have heard these can work well. However, I have not yet been able to pick up signals outside the Ottawa region such as Watertown.
Outdoor antennas will generally be better than indoors. Also, the higher the antenna off the ground, the better.

WTFDA is an international club of TV-FM "DX" enthusiasts who try to
receive distant off-air signals. They have additional technical resources for TV and FM reception: http://www.anarc.org/wtfda
Any other comments on UHF/VHF reception? Please contact us.

Miscellaneous

Bill Dulmage Radio and Television Archive
This site chronicles past anchors on Ontario radio and tv stations. Included are hosts and anchors from CJOH, CFGO, CIWW, CKQB,and CFRA. (Currently offline.)
Tuned In TV (Canadian television industry news from Milkman Unlimited)
OttawaStart Blog: Television
Aboriginal CKCU
RadioWall.com Bonus code listings for local radio stations