CHUM Limited

CHUM Limited was a Canadian media company headquartered in Toronto and active from the mid-1940s until its corporate dissolution in 2007. Its origins lay in York Broadcasters Limited, a company established by Toronto businessmen to operate CHUM-AM, a radio station that began broadcasting in 1945. The station initially combined news, public affairs, music and sports, but its strategic direction changed after salesman Allan Waters acquired control in 1954. Under Waters, CHUM secured round-the-clock broadcasting, increased its transmission power and developed the operating and financial capabilities that supported a broader media business. The company expanded beyond its original Toronto radio property during the 1960s. It launched CHUM-FM in 1963, acquired interests in Ottawa radio and obtained control of CKVR-TV in Barrie, Ontario. CHUM became a public company in 1967 and subsequently assembled radio assets across Canada. Its CHUM Radio Network syndicated programming nationally and, by the end of its independent existence, the group had interests in or ownership of approximately 33 radio stations. Radio remained an important part of the business, but television became the company’s defining growth platform. CHUM entered Toronto television through CITY-TV, the unconventional UHF station launched by Moses Znaimer in 1972. After CITY encountered financial difficulties, CHUM acquired an initial stake in 1980 and obtained full control in 1981. The station’s distinctive urban, youth-oriented and locally produced style became central to the CHUM television identity. In 1987, CITY-TV and other television operations moved to the CHUM-City Building at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, a facility that became closely associated with the company and later served as Bell Media’s Toronto headquarters. From the 1980s through the 1990s, CHUM diversified into specialty television and additional conventional stations. Its portfolio included MuchMusic and related channels, Bravo!, Space, Star!, Fashion Television Channel, CP24, SexTV: The Channel and Canadian Learning Television. The company also experimented with station formats. CKVR-TV left the CBC in 1995 and was relaunched with a more contemporary, youth-focused presentation under the New VR identity. CHUM later applied elements of this model to other former network affiliates and, in 2005, organized them under the A-Channel brand. The group also acquired television assets from Baton Broadcasting and Craig Media, integrating several of Craig’s stations into Citytv. CHUM’s final expansion phase included its 2004 purchase of Craig Media for approximately C$265 million, bringing additional conventional stations and digital specialty services into the group. The company’s scale and collection of recognizable channels made it an attractive acquisition target. In July 2006, CHUM agreed to be acquired by Bell Globemedia, later renamed CTVglobemedia. The transaction closed in June 2007 after regulatory review. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission required the purchaser to sell CHUM’s Citytv stations, which were subsequently acquired by Rogers Communications. Most of CHUM’s remaining broadcasting assets moved into CTVglobemedia. CHUM Limited ceased to operate as an independent company after the transaction and was renamed CTV Limited, now part of Bell Media. Bell’s later acquisition of CTVglobemedia restored the former CHUM broadcasting assets to Bell control. The CHUM corporate name disappeared from the successor organization, although Toronto radio stations using the CHUM-AM and CHUM-FM call signs continued to preserve part of the company’s legacy.

CHUM Limited began as York Broadcasters Limited, which received authorization in late 1944 to operate a Toronto radio station. CHUM-AM launched on October 28, 1945, initially broadcasting from the Mutual Street Arena with a mixture of information, music, sport and live entertainment. The station was associated with several Toronto businessmen, including station manager Al Leary and company president Jack Part. A decisive transition occurred in 1954, when Allan Waters acquired control. Waters obtained authorization for 24-hour broadcasting and raised the station’s power to 5,000 watts. In 1959, York Broadcasters changed its name to CHUM 1050 Radio Ltd., and the operation moved to Yonge Street. CHUM-FM began broadcasting in 1963. The company entered television through an interest in CKVR-TV in Barrie, ultimately obtaining full control in 1970. CHUM Limited went public in 1967 while continuing to expand its radio holdings. Television became the group’s principal source of creative differentiation after it acquired CITY-TV in Toronto. CITY had been launched in 1972 by Moses Znaimer and became known for unconventional local programming, street-level news and a younger urban audience. CHUM first acquired a minority interest in 1980 and completed its purchase in 1981. The company later moved CITY-TV and related television operations into the CHUM-City Building at 299 Queen Street West. During the 1980s and 1990s, CHUM assembled a broad collection of specialty channels, including MuchMusic, Bravo!, Space, Star!, CP24, Fashion Television Channel, SexTV: The Channel and Canadian Learning Television. It also developed and acquired conventional television stations. CKVR’s 1995 conversion from a CBC affiliate to the independent New VR format became a notable strategic experiment, using contemporary programming and a news style influenced by CITY-TV. CHUM subsequently applied related ideas to other former network affiliates and created the A-Channel identity in 2005. CHUM established a national radio network in 1995 and continued buying media assets. Its 2004 acquisition of Craig Media added five local television stations and three digital specialty services. Some of those stations were integrated into Citytv, while other assets were sold or retained during later regulatory restructuring. After Allan Waters left the board in 2005 and died later that year, CHUM agreed in July 2006 to be acquired by Bell Globemedia, which became CTVglobemedia. Regulatory approval required the sale of Citytv, and Rogers Communications acquired those stations. The remaining CHUM properties transferred to CTVglobemedia on June 22, 2007. CHUM Limited was renamed CTV Limited and ceased to exist as an independent corporate media group. Bell Canada’s acquisition of CTVglobemedia was completed in 2011, creating Bell Media and completing the transition of most former CHUM assets into Bell’s broadcasting division.

• 2011

  CTVglobemedia becomes Bell Media

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Bell completed its acquisition of CTVglobemedia and renamed the broadcasting business Bell Media.

• 2007

  CHUM is absorbed by CTVglobemedia

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition closed after the Citytv stations were designated for divestiture and later sold to Rogers.

• 2005

  NewNet stations become A-Channel

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CHUM announced and implemented the relaunch of its NewNet stations under the A-Channel brand.

• 2004

  Craig Media acquisition

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CHUM purchased Craig Media, adding conventional television and digital specialty assets.

• 1995

  New VR and the CHUM Radio Network

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CKVR was relaunched as New VR after leaving the CBC, and CHUM created a national radio programming network.

• 1981

  CHUM acquires CITY-TV

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CHUM completed its acquisition of Toronto’s CITY-TV, adding a highly distinctive urban television brand.

• 1970

  CHUM obtains full control of CKVR-TV

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The company completed its move from minority participation to full control of the Barrie television station.

• 1967

  CHUM Limited becomes publicly traded

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  The expanding company adopted the CHUM Limited corporate identity and became a public company.

• 1963

  CHUM-FM launches

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CHUM introduced its Toronto FM service with a classical music and fine arts format.

• 1954

  Allan Waters takes control

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  Allan Waters acquired control and began the expansion that transformed the station into a broader media company.

• 1945

  CHUM-AM begins broadcasting

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  CHUM-AM launched in Toronto on October 28, initially as a dawn-to-dusk station.

• 1944

  York Broadcasters receives a Toronto radio licence

  [1]CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org

  York Broadcasters Limited received authorization to operate the station that became CHUM-AM.

A Canadian broadcasting and media group built around radio, distinctive local television, youth-oriented entertainment and a large portfolio of specialty channels.

• AM radio station · 1945

  CHUM-AM

  CHUM-AM was the Toronto radio station around which the company was formed. It began in 1945 with a general programming mix and became the foundational property of the CHUM broadcasting group. The CHUM call sign continued after the corporate company disappeared.

• FM radio station · 1963

  CHUM-FM

  CHUM-FM launched in Toronto in 1963 with a classical music and fine arts format. It later became part of the company’s Toronto radio portfolio and retained the CHUM call sign after the sale of the parent company.

• Conventional television · 1972

  CITY-TV

  CITY-TV was a Toronto station known for unconventional presentation, locally focused news and an urban, youth-oriented style. CHUM acquired control in stages and made it the centerpiece of a broader Citytv television identity. The Toronto and other Citytv stations were divested to Rogers in 2007.

• Specialty television

  MuchMusic

  MuchMusic was CHUM’s best-known specialty television property and targeted younger audiences through music videos, live performances, interviews and related entertainment programming. It became the anchor of a family of music and youth-oriented channels developed by CHUM.

• Specialty news television

  CP24

  CP24 was part of CHUM’s specialty television portfolio and focused on continuous local and regional news coverage. Its Toronto-oriented format complemented the group’s conventional television and radio operations.

• Conventional television network · 2005

  A-Channel

  A-Channel was the identity applied in 2005 to CHUM’s former NewNet stations. The brand represented CHUM’s attempt to create a consistent alternative local television format across several Canadian markets while retaining a differentiated news and programming approach.

• 1959CHUM Christmas Wish

  Toronto

  CHUM-AM developed an annual charitable appeal that evolved from the CHUM Kids Crusade and operated with the CHUM Charitable Foundation.

  Outcome. The initiative continued for more than four decades and later became the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish.

  Source
• 1945CHUM community-service programming

  Toronto

  At launch, CHUM emphasized community service, news, live talent and public information as part of its radio identity.

  Outcome. This public-service orientation became part of the station’s early positioning.

  Source

• 2007

  Divest Citytv stationsM&A

  Background

  The CRTC approved CTVglobemedia’s acquisition of CHUM only on the condition that the Citytv stations be sold.

  Action taken

  The stations were placed for sale and transferred to Rogers Communications.

  Aftermath

  CTVglobemedia retained most of the other CHUM broadcasting assets, while CHUM Limited ceased to operate independently.

  • Rogers Communications — Rogers purchased the Citytv stations and became their successor owner.

  Source

• 2006

  Agree to sale to CTVglobemediaM&A

  Background

  CHUM’s national radio and television portfolio made it a major target in the consolidation of Canadian broadcasting.

  Action taken

  CHUM agreed to be acquired by Bell Globemedia, subsequently known as CTVglobemedia.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in 2007, subject to the divestiture of the Citytv stations to Rogers Communications.

  Reported transaction value. C$1.7 billion (2006)

  • Rogers Communications — Rogers agreed to acquire the Citytv stations as the required regulatory divestiture.

  Source

• 2004

  Acquire Craig MediaM&A

  Background

  CHUM pursued additional conventional television and digital specialty assets to expand its Canadian broadcasting footprint.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Craig Media and its television and digital channel portfolio.

  Aftermath

  Several acquired stations were integrated into Citytv, while other properties were sold or restructured during the subsequent CTVglobemedia transaction.

  Reported transaction value. C$265 million (2004)

  Source

• 1995

  Reposition CKVR-TV as New VRStrategy

  Background

  CHUM sought to make the former CBC affiliate more competitive in the Toronto-area viewing environment.

  Action taken

  The station left the CBC, adopted a contemporary presentation, introduced a CITY-TV-influenced news approach and added newer entertainment and sports programming.

  Aftermath

  The experiment was considered sufficiently successful for CHUM to apply related formatting to other acquired stations.

  Source

1. 1CHUM Limiteden.wikipedia.org