CKRD (otherwise known as RDTV, "The Heart of the West") is a television station in Red Deer, Alberta. It is owned by CanWest Global, and broadcasts on channel 6, cable channel 11 in Red Deer, and via a translator in Coronation, on channel 10.

CKRD is currently a CBC affilate; however, in 2005 it will become the fourth CH station and disaffilate from the CBC.

At the moment, CKRD broadcasts a minimum of 40 hours of programming from the CBC, with the rest of the programming coming from CanWest Global's CH system. Those wanting a full CBC schedule can view Edmonton's CBXT on cable in the area.

News bulletins are broadcast at 12pm and 5pm, with a Saturday bulletin produced by CITV Edmonton aired at either 11pm, or after Hockey Night in Canada.

When CKRD disaffilates from the CBC, they will have to purchase the existing transmitters, and CKRD will move to a new channel; CBXT will add a rebroadcaster at Red Deer on CKRD's current channel. Plans to extend CKRD's signal to Edmonton and Calgary were denied by the CRTC.

History

CKRD began broadcasting on December 11, 1957, as CHCA-TV, the "CA" standing for Central Alberta. The station's founder was Fred Bartley . In September 1965, the call letters were changed to CKRD-TV, the RD standing for Red Deer.

In the period between 1969 and 1976, CKRD was owned by Henry Flock and Gordon Spackman . In 1976, Monarch Broadcasting purchased the station, and in 1989, was purchased by Allarcom . Allarcom merged with WIC in 1991, before being purchased by CanWest Global in 2000.

Sportscaster Ron MacLean began his career at CKRD.