CFLA-TV

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CFLA-TV (satellite of CBNT, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Branding	CBC
Slogan	"Canada's Own"
Channels	8 (VHF) analog
Affiliations	CBC
Owner	CBC
Founded	1957
Call letters meaning	CF LAbrador
Former affiliations	None
Website	http://www.cbc.ca/nl/

CFLA-TV is the name of the local CBC rebroadcast transmitter in Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The station was founded by the US Air Force in 1957 via a Canada-United States agreement. The station's licence was held by the CBC (making it a CBC owned and operated television station), but it was maintained and operated by the USAF. The station was broadcast on VHF Channel 8 with an ERP of 348 watts (video) and 174 watts (audio). During the USAF's operation under CBC licensing, the programming became more varied. At that point in time, material was shipped to CFLA studios from both the CBC and AFRTS suppliers. Content was aired 50/50. In order to provide more American content, CFLA created a one hour teen dance show, similar to American Bandstand. The "Jeffrey Wayne Show" was broadcast three times a week with both American and Canadian teenagers participating from Happy Valley and Northwest River. Under the CBC rules, this locally produced show counted as Canadian Content, allowing the addition of three hours of American Content. The Management in 1969 was Mr. M.A. "Tony" Grace as the CBC Management Representative, SSgt. Tom Stevenson as USAF NCOIC (General Manager), and Sgt. Jon "Dunbar" Wakayama as Program Director. During their tenure, CFLA TV created four different block programming formats, recorded local talent to sing jingles for the station, integrated the "CBC is for Lovers" TV Campaign, and even had a parade rerouted to a road near the Studio in order to broadcast the event. The CFLA-TV crew also produced a weekly news radio feature called "Pulsebeat" for CFGB-AM in Happy Valley. Since in 1969, there was no network feed or videotape to show Neil Armstrong's stepping onto the moon, the CFLA-TV crew rebroadcast the live CBC radio feed over an artistically selected series of slides to capture the feeling of that historical moment. The CBC also helped by sending cyclorama backdrops, set dressing, props and slides for the regularly scheduled news and entertainment programs such as "Panorama" and "Speaking of Sports with Gordie Rendell". They also provided an environmentally conscious news teletype, allowing us to follow the events of mercury poisoning of the fish in Placentia Bay.

In 1973, the USAF formally transferred operations to the CBC.

On March 1, 1988, the station's licence was renewed. The CRTC also noted that CFLA was basically a rebroadcast transmitter of CBNT-TV St. John's, aside from 3 hours and 20 minutes of locally-produced programming each week. Most of this programming was a ten-minute insert of the daily news and public affairs program "Here and Now" (from CBNT-TV), and a 30-minute news and general interest program "Coffee Break", which aired on weekday mornings.

Starting October 8, 1991, CFLA-TV was given approval to decrease its ERP from 6800 to 1930 watts. With this change, a new antenna system was installed, and the station became a full-time rebroadcaster of CBNT.

During the early 1960's CFLA's programming day usually ran frm 2:30pm to 12:30am. Two local newscasts were presented Monday - Saturday and one on Sunday. The news copy was rip and read off the wire and visuals consisted of still pictures. The weatherman stood behind a large transparent glass map. By reversing the camera scanning it appeared that he had the special talent of writing and drawing the symbols backwards. It created much viewer interest. So much so that it was a top priority of many visitors to the station to see how it was done.

Not having a direct link to CBC, a similar situation as covering the moon walk occurred 7 years earlier in 1962 during J.F.K.'s historic Bay Of Pigs speech. The audio portion was picked up from CFGB radio while various file pictures of the president aired. Because CBC time sensitive programs had to be delayed by several weeks viewers were treated to situations such as the Perry Como Thanksgiving Special airing close to Christmas. Since the majority of Christmas specials were pre-produced they aired on time.

To keep the Canadian content balance, 55-45 at that time, CFLA produced a live show Monday - Saturday at 11:40pm called "Midnight." Hosted by Marty Culpepper, it basically was a radio show on TV. Consisted of music recordings over still pictures, a filmed short subject, cartoon, news headlines and tidbits off the wire. Saturday afternoons, during the winter months, a one hour teen dance show hosted by Mike Keene was produced locally. Occasionally, courtesy of the NCO Club, their entertainment provided several half-hour shows. It was a challenge to produce a show with a live band and singers in such a small studio with limited equipment.

The studio was located in the basement of building S565. The tansmitter, 2 studio cameras and switcher were Dage products. Telecine consisted of 2 - 16mm RCA projectors and a 35mm slide projector. No videotape.

Leo Harvey was the CBC Mgt. Rep. and Capt. William James, base information officer, was the military supervisor.

The equipment for CFLA-TV originally was located at Loring AFB, Maine during 1954-56 due to no commercial service in that area. The station was relocated to Goose Air Base once WAGM-TV began broadcasting on Ch.8.