from its pre-transition UHF channel 24 to post-transition (and former analogue) channel 25. Transmitters in mandatory markets were required to switch to digital or shut down by the transition deadline of August 31, 2011. Radio-Canada requested to temporarily broadcast in analogue in these markets beyond 2011, as programming for Radio-Canada is not produced in these markets. The following CBLFT rebroadcasters are in mandatory markets: CBLFT-8 Kitchener CBLFT-9 London CBLFT-18 Thunder Bay CBEFT Windsor However, on August 16, 2011, the CRTC granted the CBC permission to continue operating 22 repeaters in mandatory markets, including the above, in analogue until August 31, 2012, in which by then they must either convert to digital or close down. This was pending the corporation's licence renewal process, which will include an evaluation of its transition plans. At some point before June 20, 2012, CBLFT had begun airing a Mobile DTV simulcast of CBLT-DT on PSIP channel 5-2, encoded in the H.264 and HE-AAC formats. Transmitters CBLFT operated almost 30 analog television rebroadcasters throughout the province of Ontario and included communities such as London, Kitchener and Sudbury. Additionally, several Radio-Canada transmitters in eastern Ontario, such as Kingston and Belleville, were part of the CBLFT license even though they served cities that were closer to Ottawa than Toronto. Due to federal funding reductions to the CBC, in April 2012, the CBC responded with substantial budget cuts, which included shutting down CBC's and Radio-Canada's remaining analog transmitters on July 31, 2012. (A transmitter serving Barrie, CBLFT-11, closed down the previous year, in August 2011.) None of CBC or Radio-Canada's television rebroadcasters were converted to digital, leaving rural Canadians and U.S. border regions with no free over-the-air CBC/Radio-Canada coverage. Some affected viewers could get the signal back for a price by subscribing to cable or satellite. CBLFT is not carried on cable or satellite in the United States. In many communities, TVOntario transmitted from Radio-Canada sites and therefore permanently left the air the same day. Former rebroadcast transmitters, all now defunct, included: References External links CBLFT-DT ("ICI Ontario") official website BLFT-DT BLFT-DT Television channels and stations established in 1973 BLFT-DT 1973 establishments in Ontario