CBST Radio-Canada launched CBST as a retransmitter of CBGAT on October 23, 1973, broadcasting on channel 13. CBST gained its own newscast on November 1, 1982. CBVT semi-satellites On December 5, 1990, the CBC enacted substantial budget cuts across the organization. As part of the cutbacks, the CBC ended the local operations of CJBR-TV, CBGAT, and CBST. All three stations became full-time satellites of CBVT in Quebec City. However, local news would return in a different form five years later. Starting in September 1995, a new regional newscast, entitled Québec Ce Soir Est, was launched, which is now entitled Le Téléjournal/Est du Québec. This newscast was, however, produced in Quebec City at the studios of CBVT. Return as separate stations In 2009, Radio-Canada applied to the CRTC for permission to convert CJBR back into a full-fledged station, with CBGAT and CBST as its satellites. CJBR would once again provide distinct local news programming from CBVT. The application was approved by the CRTC on March 19, 2010. On September 1, 2011, CJBR switched to digital broadcasting, broadcasting on digital channel 45 with a PSIP of 2.1. However, Radio-Canada was not obligated to convert or close down this station, as Rimouski was not a mandatory market for digital conversion. Transmitters In addition to CBST and CBGAT, CJBR had approximately 45 analogue television rebroadcasters in on the Gaspé Peninsula and the Côte-Nord regions of Quebec. 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 analogue transmitters—including CBST and CBGAT—on July 31, 2012. None of CBC or Radio-Canada's television rebroadcasters were converted to digital. Local programming Le Téléjournal/Est du Québec, a separate weeknight newscast at 6:00 p.m., focuses on news in Eastern Quebec. While anchored from Quebec City, it uses Radio-Canada's bureaus across Eastern Quebec, with journalists in Rimouski, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Matane and Carleton-sur-Mer. Until its closedown in August 2021, CKRT-DT in Rivière-du-Loup, which has long rebroadcast CJBR-TV's newscasts, also carried the program. References External links ICI Est du Québec JBR-DT JBR-DT Television channels and stations established in 1954 1954 establishments in Quebec