Local TV in Lloydminster goes dark as Stingray closes stations

The Stingray building in Lloydminster that housed CITL-TV and CKSA-TV as seen on Google Street View in August 2024.

Local television in the Alberta-Saskatchewan border city of Lloydminster is no more.

CITL-TV and CKSA-TV have gone off the air, effective immediately, parent company Stingray Radio announced on Tuesday.

“CITL/CKSA TV has operated under increasingly challenging economic conditions which have greatly deteriorated over the last six years,” Stingray said in a news release.

“During that time, viewership has substantially decreased, and revenues have dropped by more than half. Despite cost-containment strategies, the expense of producing local television in a market the size of Lloydminster has resulted in significant losses, making the continued operation of the Lloydminster TV stations unsustainable.”

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“We are profoundly grateful to our loyal viewers, dedicated staff, and everyone who welcomed us into their homes over the years. Your support, trust, and engagement have been the foundation of our stations’ success and sense of purpose,” a notice on the CKSA website reads.

“While this chapter is ending, the memories and connections created will always remain a cherished part of our legacy. We thank you for allowing CITL and CKSA to be part of your lives.”

CITL and CKSA had been part of Lloydminster for more than half a century and represented Stingray’s only conventional TV properties.

It’s unclear how many staff members were impacted by the closures.