Yes TV
Yes TV (stylized as yes TV) is a Canadian English-language religious broadcast television system owned and operated by the not-for-profit Crossroads Television Systems Inc.[1] It transmits from three over-the-air stations—CITS-DT in Hamilton, Ontario (serving the Greater Toronto Area), CKCS-DT in Calgary, Alberta, and CKES-DT in Edmonton, Alberta—with rebroadcasters extending coverage to additional markets including London and Ottawa.[1] Licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as a religious channel, Yes TV delivers positive, family-friendly programming emphasizing faith, values, and uplifting content to 6.8 million households across Canada via cable, satellite, and streaming.[1][2] Originally launched as the Crossroads Television System (CTS) on September 30, 1998, with its flagship station CITS-TV, the network rebranded to Yes TV in 2014 to refresh its image and expand appeal by incorporating secular entertainment such as game shows and reality programs alongside traditional faith-based shows, while adhering to CRTC religious content requirements.[3][4] Under the leadership of Crossroads Christian Communications, founded by Rev. David Mainse, Yes TV positions itself as Canada's most watched faith and family values station, prioritizing messages of hope and community over partisan or sensationalist media narratives.[5][1]History
Founding and Initial Launch
The Crossroads Television System (CTS), the direct predecessor to Yes TV, was founded in 1998 by David Mainse, a Canadian televangelist and founder of Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. CTS operated as a nonprofit religious broadcaster aimed at providing 24-hour over-the-air Christian programming across Canada.[6][7] CTS's flagship station, CITS-TV in Hamilton, Ontario, launched on September 30, 1998, following approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) earlier that year for a new religious television undertaking. The debut broadcast originated from a live gala event at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall, marking the system's entry as Canada's second terrestrial religious TV station after CJIL-TV in Lethbridge, Alberta. CITS-TV initially broadcast on UHF channel 36, targeting the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas with a schedule dominated by faith-based content, including Mainse's long-running program 100 Huntley Street.[3][6][8] In its early years, CTS expanded modestly by adding rebroadcasters to extend CITS-TV's reach into southern Ontario, while adhering to CRTC conditions requiring at least 60% religious programming and limits on fundraising. The network's initial funding derived from donations and support from Crossroads Christian Communications, emphasizing evangelical outreach without commercial advertising in its formative phase.[9][5]Expansion and Rebranding
The Crossroads Television System (CTS) expanded its broadcast footprint beyond Ontario by establishing stations in Alberta, including CJIL-DT serving the Calgary area and CJIZ-DT in Edmonton, commencing operations in late 2007. This growth transformed CTS into a national religious broadcaster with over-the-air presence in key markets, enabling wider distribution of faith-based content across Canada.[5] In August 2014, CTS announced a rebranding to Yes TV, which took effect on September 1, 2014.[4] The initiative sought to modernize the network's image, distancing it from the misconception that "CTS" solely signified Christian programming—clarifying it stood for Crossroads Television System—and to emphasize a positive, family-oriented ethos while adhering to CRTC mandates for balanced religious broadcasting.[4][10] The rebrand coincided with an expansion of programming to include secular fare, such as U.S. imports like American Idol, The X Factor, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy!, alongside traditional inspirational shows, aiming to attract millennial viewers and boost overall audience engagement.[4] Post-rebranding, Yes TV reached approximately 11.78 million households through its three owned-and-operated stations and rebroadcasters in Kitchener, London, and Ottawa.[4] This strategic shift broadened the network's appeal without diluting its core mission of faith and values-driven content.[1]Recent Developments and Challenges
In October 2023, Yes TV launched a free streaming app available on platforms including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV, enabling live and on-demand access to its programming for cord-cutters and expanding digital reach amid declining linear TV viewership.[11] On February 20, 2024, the network acquired a facility at 1295 North Service Road in Burlington, Ontario, establishing its headquarters with three state-of-the-art production studios and expanded office space to support content creation and operations.[12] Leadership transitioned in February 2024 when long-time Chief Operating Officer Glenn Stewart retired after over 20 years; David Garby was promoted to General Manager, and Melissa McEachern advanced to COO, aiming to streamline management during digital growth.[13] In September 2024, Yes TV renewed its licensing agreement with CBS International Canada through the 2027-2028 season, securing continued access to Wheel of Fortune (with new host Ryan Seacrest) and Jeopardy!, while adding Flip Side and Judge Judy to bolster secular family programming.[14] The network's 2023-2024 CRTC compliance report highlighted ongoing collaborations with independent Canadian producers and distributors, fulfilling regulatory requirements for religious broadcasting while maintaining production of faith-based content.[15] Challenges include reliance on donor funding, exacerbated by the Canada Post strike disrupting year-end giving campaigns for owner Crossroads Christian Communications, which finances Yes TV through debenture holders and contributions supporting religious media preservation.[16][17] In November 2024, Yes TV aired a tribute episode of Legacy Makers following the death of co-host Darrel Janz, a broadcasting veteran inducted into the Western Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2013, underscoring personnel losses in an aging industry.[18]Ownership and Governance
Crossroads Christian Communications
Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. is a Canadian nonprofit charitable corporation headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, founded on June 2, 1962, by Rev. David Mainse, who launched its inaugural television program, Crossroads, as a 15-minute weekly broadcast on a local station in Pembroke, Ontario.[5] The organization expanded its media outreach over decades, establishing a prayer center that has handled over 14 million calls since inception and producing the flagship daily program 100 Huntley Street, which Mainse hosted and which remains Canada's longest-running daily Christian talk show.[5] As a faith-based entity, it focuses on conveying Christian messages through broadcasting, publishing, and outreach, operating under a not-for-profit structure that relies on donations and emphasizes evangelical programming.[19] In relation to Yes TV, Crossroads Christian Communications owns and governs the network via its subsidiary, Crossroads Television Systems Inc., which it established in 1998 to launch over-the-air Christian television stations, initially branded as CTS before rebranding to Yes TV in 2014.[20] This structure positions Crossroads as the ultimate controlling entity, with Yes TV operating as an independent Canadian not-for-profit brand under its umbrella, enabling coordinated content production, distribution, and funding aligned with the parent organization's mission.[12] Governance includes a leadership team led by CEO Kevin Shepherd, who assumed the role on September 8, 2020, overseeing both Crossroads initiatives and Yes TV operations, with long-serving directors like John Luscombe contributing since 1979.[21] The nonprofit model supports Yes TV's sustainability through charitable contributions rather than commercial advertising dominance, though it has pursued expansions like studio acquisitions in 2024 to enhance production capabilities.[12] This ownership framework has allowed Crossroads to maintain editorial control over faith-oriented content while adapting to regulatory and market shifts in Canadian broadcasting.[22]Nonprofit Structure and Funding
Crossroads Television Systems Inc., the corporation operating Yes TV, is structured as an independently owned, Canadian-incorporated not-for-profit entity licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for religious broadcasting.[1] Its affiliated organization, Crossroads Christian Communications Inc., functions as a registered Canadian charitable non-profit corporation headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, focused on faith-based media production and distribution.[23] This structure enables tax-deductible donations and aligns with regulatory requirements for non-commercial religious broadcasters in Canada, emphasizing donor-supported operations over advertising revenue.[24] Funding for Yes TV's operations, including programming and broadcast infrastructure, relies predominantly on voluntary contributions from viewers and supporters, characterized as free-will offerings.[24] Crossroads facilitates donations through online platforms, monthly membership programs, direct bank transfers, and targeted campaigns such as humanitarian relief initiatives.[25] As a registered charity, it issues tax receipts for contributions, with financial accountability maintained via independent annual audits to verify stewardship of funds.[24] While primary revenue stems from private philanthropy, supplementary government grants have been received, including a $4,430 allocation from Employment and Social Development Canada in fiscal year 2020-2021 for specific project support.[26] This donor-centric model supports Yes TV's mandate of providing faith-oriented content without commercial interruptions, though it exposes the network to fluctuations in giving amid economic or cultural shifts in viewer support for religious media.[24]Broadcast Coverage
Owned-and-Operated Stations
Yes TV owns and operates three over-the-air conventional television stations across Canada, all under the ownership of Crossroads Christian Communications through its subsidiary Crossroads Television Systems Inc. These stations form the core of the network's broadcast footprint, delivering a mix of faith-based and family-oriented programming to over-the-air viewers in key markets.[1] The flagship station, CITS-DT, is located in Hamilton, Ontario, serving the Greater Toronto Area as the primary regional broadcaster for eastern Canada. It includes rebroadcast transmitters in London and Ottawa to extend coverage across Ontario.[1] In western Canada, Yes TV operates two local stations in Alberta: CKCS-DT in Calgary and CKES-DT in Edmonton. These stations provide targeted over-the-air service to their respective markets, complementing the network's national distribution via cable and satellite providers.[1]| Station | Call Sign | Location | Type/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship | CITS-DT | Hamilton, ON | Regional; covers GTA with rebroadcasters in London and Ottawa |
| Local | CKCS-DT | Calgary, AB | Over-the-air conventional station |
| Local | CKES-DT | Edmonton, AB | Over-the-air conventional station |