Star Ray TV

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"Star Ray TV" (VX9AMK)
Channels
BrandingStar Ray TV
Programming
AffiliationsIndependent
Ownership
OwnerJan Pachul
History
Founded1997; 28 years ago (1997)
Technical information
Licensing authority
CRTC
ClassPirate
ERP0.5 kW
HAAT47.2 m (155 ft)
Transmitter coordinates43°41′4.3″N 79°18′2.3″W / 43.684528°N 79.300639°W / 43.684528; -79.300639
Links
WebsiteStar Ray TV

VX9AMK (channel 15), branded Star Ray TV, is an independent pirate community television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The station, which broadcasts from the city's Beaches neighbourhood, was launched in 1997 when Jan Pachul, an amateur radio operator, applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a licence to serve the community. Star Ray TV has temporary authority from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (formerly Industry Canada from 1993 to 2015) to transmit on UHF channel 22.

History

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Star Ray TV test pattern

On August 21, 2000, after five interventions from established broadcasters, the CRTC turned down Pachul's application,[1] on the grounds that it did not meet with the CRTC's low-power broadcasting (LPTV) policy, but Pachul alleged that the CRTC was simply protecting established corporate broadcasters who had already failed in their responsibility to provide programming of community interest.[2] On September 9, the station began broadcasting illegally as a pirate station.[3][4][5]

Pachul appeared before the CRTC on September 19, 2001,[6] and was ordered to shut the station down by November 15 of that year.[7] In December, the CRTC published a new policy permitting the development of community stations on LPTV.[8]

At one point in 2002, Star Ray broadcast on UHF 15 as text-only, based on a loophole by which it claimed text did not constitute "programming" and was therefore not prohibited. More recently, Star Ray has faced allegations that its operations interfere with VHF channel 13, home to CTV's CKCO-DT in Kitchener.

Star Ray TV's alternate logo, used on website

In recent years, the station has broadcast over the Internet. Pachul applied for another broadcasting licence on June 3, 2004, but as of 2008 the CRTC has not published a decision either approving or denying the 2004 licence application.

Since its inception, Star Ray broadcast on UHF channel 15. However, since CHCH-DT moved its signal to UHF 15 on December 2, 2013, Pachul moved Star Ray TV to UHF channel 22 and began broadcasting in digital with a new ATSC transmitter[9] on December 13, 2013, with the virtual channel remaining 15.[10]

Subchannel

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Subchannel of VX9AMK[11]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
15.1 480i 16:9 StarRay Star Ray TV

References

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  1. ^ Aaserud, Kara (December 23, 2005). "Star Ray TV muted by the CRTC: Broadcast regulator denies abrasive TV entrepreneur a license". Scene and Heard. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  2. ^ "Pirate TV Station Brandishing Air Wave 'Sword' at CRTC". Art Threat. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "Star Ray TV will pursue UHF/Internet strategy despite CRTC decision, September 6, 2000". Tech Media Reports. Retrieved December 21, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Star Ray TV abandons plans to stream pirate station over the Internet, CNM, September 2000". Tech Media Reports. Retrieved December 21, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Pirate TV Station in Toronto Challenges CRTC". Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Rebel TV station to take on CRTC: Star Ray headed for hearing over its illegal airing of community programming, Keith Damsell, Globe & Mail, Aug 06, 2001". Friends.ca. August 6, 2001. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "CRTC 2001-109 Mandatory Order issued pursuant to subsection 12(2) of the Broadcasting Act concerning the operation of an unlicensed undertaking at Toronto, Ontario, Ottawa, 26 October 2001". Crtc.gc.ca. October 26, 2001. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "Proposed CRTC bill concerns community TV activists". December 17, 2007. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  9. ^ Spurr, Ben. "Star Ray TV, Toronto's unchanging channel". NOW Magazine. Toronto ON. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. ^ Pachul, Jan (December 13, 2013). "Star Ray Is back in ATSC!". Star Ray TV Forum. Retrieved December 29, 2013. [dead link]
  11. ^ "VX9AMK Toronto, ON". RabbitEars. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
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