A-Channel's Slogans & Taglines

A-Channel (sometimes referred to as The Alberta Channel) was a Canadian television system launched on September 18, 1997, by Craig Media Inc. with the debut of CKEM-TV Edmonton, followed by CKAL-TV Calgary the next day. Positioned as a vibrant, locally oriented alternative to the national networks, the system was designed to be energetic, fresh, and hip, with programming not drawn up in Toronto. In 1999, Craig rebranded its Manitoba station MTN as A-Channel Manitoba, expanding the system into a three-station network. Brand messaging was anchored by the positioning statement Very Independent, highlighting Craig Broadcasting's uniqueness in the market and its commitment to providing an alternative voice. Core offerings centred on local news, independent productions, and youth-oriented programming, including the A-Channel Production Fund established in 1997 to encourage independent Canadian productions. In 2004, Craig Media sold the A-Channel stations to CHUM Limited, which relaunched them under the Citytv brand in August 2005. Today, the A-Channel name survives only as a historical footnote in Canadian broadcasting, with its legacy continued through the Citytv stations now owned by Rogers Communications.