CKO

CKO was a Canadian all-news radio network that operated from 1977 to 1989. It was created as a privately owned national radio service built around a shared CKO identity and a group of owned-and-operated stations in major Canadian markets. The network was intended to bring a continuous news format to Canadian listeners through a combination of national reporting, local and regional inserts, public-affairs coverage, talk programming, business reports and selected sports broadcasts. The service originated with a licensing decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in 1976. The commission approved David Ruskin's application, made on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated as Canada All-News Radio Ltd., for a national group of all-news FM stations. Granting multiple licences to a single owner was unusual in the Canadian broadcasting environment. The CRTC did not authorize a new Montreal FM transmitter, citing frequency scarcity and concerns about the balance between English- and French-language services, so CKO entered Montreal by acquiring and converting the existing CFOX station in Pointe-Claire. CKO began broadcasting on July 1, 1977, initially from Toronto and Ottawa. The launch included a recorded message from Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, although the Ottawa start was affected by electrical problems and early coverage identified technical and editorial weaknesses. During its first year, the network expanded into Montreal, London, Calgary and Vancouver, followed by Edmonton in 1978 and Halifax in 1985. Winnipeg was added in 1989 and became the last CKO station to launch. Licences were also held for Regina, Saint John and St. John's, but those stations were never built before the network closed. Programming combined a national news feed with material intended to preserve a local presence in each market. CKO carried live broadcasts of proceedings from the House of Commons, including Question Period, beginning in late 1977. This gave listeners regular radio access to parliamentary proceedings before the later development of comprehensive nationwide parliamentary television coverage. The schedule also included business, science, books, public affairs, open-line and interview programs. Although primarily a news service, CKO broadcast Toronto Maple Leafs hockey and National Football League games, decisions that generated a regulatory complaint from Toronto station CKFH but were ultimately permitted by the CRTC. The network struggled commercially almost from the beginning. Ratings were lower and losses higher than management had expected after the first year. CKO attempted to strengthen its position through promotion, increased Toronto transmission power and expansion, but advertising revenue remained inadequate. A proposed sale to Allarco Broadcasting failed in 1981. CKO subsequently reduced staffing and local programming, leaving many outlets increasingly dependent on Toronto-originated network content. The service also pursued frequency changes, additional stations and ownership restructuring as possible routes to financial improvement. Ownership became increasingly complicated in the late 1980s. AGRA Industries, initially a 45 percent shareholder in Canada All-News Radio Ltd., came to exercise effective control through arrangements involving Cybermedix. In 1987, CKO acquired Maclean-Hunter's Newsradio broadcast-syndication division. In 1988, AGRA transferred its 99 percent interest in CKO to Cybermedix, its majority-owned media division. CKO also sought to exchange its Toronto frequency with CKEY, a transaction that would have provided a proposed $4 million payment and supported planned expansion into additional Canadian cities. The CRTC rejected that application. By 1989, management told the CRTC that the network expected eventually to reach break-even, but continuing losses and an unresolved proposed sale of Cybermedix to Cogeco undermined the business. AGRA agreed in principle to sell Cybermedix, with Cogeco proposing to retain CKO and the cable operations while disposing of the medical-laboratory assets. Regulatory approval was still required, and Cogeco could not operate CKO before receiving it. AGRA instead shut the network on November 10, 1989. President Bill Stewart informed employees by conference call while the network was broadcasting its noon Eastern Time newscast. The licences were surrendered and formally revoked by the CRTC on August 15, 1990. CKO remains a notable early Canadian attempt to create a national, privately operated all-news radio network.

CKO emerged from a 1976 CRTC decision to authorize a privately owned national network of all-news radio stations. David Ruskin submitted the application on behalf of the proposed Canada All-News Radio Ltd. The commission approved eleven licences for one owner, an arrangement later described by Canadian broadcasting historians as unusual. Montreal presented a particular regulatory obstacle: the CRTC declined to authorize a new English-language FM transmitter because of frequency scarcity and market-language concerns. CKO therefore entered Montreal by acquiring CFOX in Pointe-Claire and converting it to the network's news format. Broadcasting began on July 1, 1977, with Toronto and Ottawa as the initial markets. The Ottawa start experienced power-related delays, and early observers noted technical problems and inconsistent editorial execution. Nevertheless, CKO expanded during 1977 into Montreal, London, Calgary and Vancouver, then added Edmonton in 1978. Its format was broader than a simple rolling news bulletin. National news was combined with local and regional inserts, public-affairs coverage, interviews, talk shows, business reporting and selected sports. The network's national feed allowed material to be shared across stations, while market-specific segments were intended to make the service relevant to local audiences. One of CKO's most distinctive public-service features was its live radio coverage of Question Period in the House of Commons, introduced in late 1977. This gave Canadians regular access to parliamentary debate at a time when national television coverage of the legislature was not yet as extensive. CKO also carried Toronto Maple Leafs hockey and NFL football. When CKFH, which had previously broadcast Maple Leafs games, complained to the CRTC, the commission concluded that CKO's sports broadcasts were compatible with its programming obligations. The network's financial performance remained weak. After its first year, CKO faced lower ratings and larger losses than management had anticipated. Management considered promotional activity and stronger Toronto transmission facilities as ways to improve audience share. The London bureau was closed in 1978 because advertising sales did not support it. A proposed sale to Allarco Broadcasting failed in 1981, after which CKO cut staff and reduced local output. Stations increasingly relied on programming originating in Toronto, weakening the local character that had been part of the original concept. CKO continued to pursue expansion and technical changes. Halifax joined the network in 1985. The organization applied to move its Montreal service to 95.1 MHz FM, but the CRTC denied the application in 1987. A later application to move the Montreal outlet from 1470 kHz to 650 kHz and reduce its authorized power was approved in 1989, although the technical change was never implemented before closure. In 1987, CKO acquired Maclean-Hunter's Newsradio syndication division. In 1988, it sought to exchange frequencies with Toronto's CKEY 590. The proposed deal included a reported $4 million payment that CKO said would help fund stations planned for Winnipeg, Regina, Saint John and St. John's. The CRTC rejected the application on April 25, 1988. Corporate control also shifted. AGRA Industries had initially held 45 percent of Canada All-News Radio Ltd., but by the late 1980s it exercised effective control through a structure involving Cybermedix. In 1988, AGRA transferred its 99 percent interest in CKO to Cybermedix. CKO launched its Winnipeg station in 1989, but the network never built the licensed Regina, Saint John or St. John's stations. The final period combined restructuring hopes with continuing operating losses. AGRA agreed in principle to sell Cybermedix to Cogeco. Cogeco intended to retain CKO and the cable systems while selling the medical-laboratory businesses, but the transaction required CRTC approval. CKO told the commission in March 1989 that it expected to stop losing money and reach break-even by 1993. That goal was not achieved. With losses continuing and the ownership transaction unresolved, AGRA closed the network on November 10, 1989. President Bill Stewart notified employees through a conference call, and CKO went off the air during the noon Eastern Time newscast. Contemporary reports estimated that the network had lost about $55 million over its existence. The licences were surrendered and formally revoked by the CRTC on August 15, 1990.

• 1990

  Broadcast licences revoked

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC formally revoked CKO's surrendered licences on August 15.

• 1989

  Winnipeg becomes final launched station

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  CKO launched its Winnipeg station, its final new outlet before shutdown.

• 1989

  Network closes

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  CKO ended operations on November 10 while an intended Cogeco transaction remained subject to regulatory approval.

• 1988

  Toronto frequency exchange rejected

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC denied CKO's proposed exchange with CKEY 590, which CKO had linked to plans for further station expansion.

• 1987

  Maclean-Hunter Newsradio division acquired

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  CKO acquired Maclean-Hunter's broadcast-news syndication division.

• 1985

  Halifax joins the network

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  CKO added a Halifax station as part of its national expansion strategy.

• 1981

  Allarco sale proposal fails

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  A proposed sale to Allarco Broadcasting did not proceed, followed by staffing and local-programming reductions.

• 1978

  Edmonton station launches

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  Edmonton joined the operating network while the London bureau was closed because of weak advertising sales.

• 1977

  CKO begins broadcasting

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  The network launched on July 1 with stations in Toronto and Ottawa, then expanded into several other Canadian markets during the year.

• 1977

  Parliamentary Question Period added

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  CKO began live radio coverage of House of Commons Question Period.

• 1976

  CRTC approves national all-news network

  [1]CKOen.wikipedia.org

  The CRTC approved David Ruskin's application for a national group of all-news radio licences under Canada All-News Radio Ltd.

A national Canadian radio alternative centered on continuous news, public affairs and information programming, supplemented by market-specific reporting and selected sports and talk content.

• Radio network · 1977

  CKO national all-news service

  CKO's core offering was a continuously scheduled national radio-news service distributed across a network of Canadian stations. It combined national reporting with local and regional inserts, allowing stations to share a common news operation while retaining some market-specific coverage. As financial pressures mounted, local output was reduced and many stations increasingly rebroadcast programming originating in Toronto.

• Radio programming · 1977

  Public affairs and parliamentary programming

  CKO supplemented its news bulletins with public-affairs programs, interviews and live coverage of Canadian political institutions. Its regular broadcasts of House of Commons Question Period were an important information feature, providing listeners with direct radio access to parliamentary debate before comparable nationwide television coverage became widely established.

• Radio programming · 1977

  Business and financial reporting

  Business coverage formed a recurring part of the CKO schedule. Programs such as This is Business and Wall Street Report addressed commercial, market and financial subjects for a national audience, reinforcing the network's positioning as an information service rather than only a headline-driven news outlet.

• Radio programming · 1977

  Talk and open-line programming

  The network carried interview, discussion and listener-participation programs, including national talk and open-line formats. These programs broadened the schedule beyond news updates and gave CKO a way to address public affairs, opinion and everyday topics in a conversational format.

• Sports radio · 1978

  Sports broadcasts

  Although CKO was structured as an all-news network, it also carried selected sports programming. Its broadcasts included Toronto Maple Leafs hockey and National Football League games. The Maple Leafs broadcasts prompted a complaint from CKFH, but the CRTC allowed them to continue as compatible with CKO's broader programming commitments.

• 1978Audience and transmitter-power promotion

  Canada

  After a weak first year, management relied on a promotional campaign and sought increased Toronto transmitter power to improve audience performance and strengthen the network's competitive position.

  Outcome. The available record indicates that CKO continued to face financial and audience difficulties despite these efforts.

  Source

• 1989

  Pursue a Montreal AM frequency and power changeOther

  Background

  CKO continued to seek technical adjustments for its Montreal outlet.

  Action taken

  The CRTC approved a move from 1470 kHz to 650 kHz together with a reduction in authorized power.

  Aftermath

  The change was never implemented because the network closed before the technical transition could occur.

  Source

• 1989

  Consider continuation under a proposed Cogeco transactionM&A

  Background

  AGRA agreed in principle to sell Cybermedix to Cogeco while CKO continued to lose money.

  Action taken

  Cogeco planned to retain CKO and the cable systems while selling the medical-laboratory assets, subject to CRTC approval.

  Aftermath

  The transaction remained pending, and AGRA closed CKO before Cogeco could operate the network.

  Source

• 1989

  Project a path to break-evenStrategy

  Background

  CKO reported to the CRTC that it expected its financial performance to improve despite continuing losses.

  Action taken

  In March, the network told the commission that it expected to stop losing money and reach break-even by 1993.

  Aftermath

  The projection was overtaken by the network's shutdown later in 1989.

  Source

• 1988

  Seek a Toronto frequency exchange and expansion fundingStrategy

  Background

  CKO wanted to improve its financial position and fund planned stations in Winnipeg, Regina, Saint John and St. John's.

  Action taken

  It applied to exchange frequencies with Toronto AM station CKEY 590. The proposed transaction included a $4 million payment to CKO.

  Aftermath

  The CRTC rejected the application on April 25, 1988, and the proposed expansion financing was not realized through that transaction.

  Proposed payment to CKO. (1988 proposed transaction)

  Source

• 1987

  Pursue a Montreal frequency changeOther

  Background

  CKO sought technical changes that it believed could improve the operation and reach of its Montreal service.

  Action taken

  The network applied to move its Montreal outlet to 95.1 MHz FM.

  Aftermath

  The CRTC denied the application.

  Source

• 1981

  Reduce staffing and local programmingStrategy

  Background

  A proposed sale to Allarco Broadcasting had failed, while CKO continued to face weak ratings and substantial operating losses.

  Action taken

  CKO cut staff and reduced the amount of locally produced programming, with stations relying more heavily on Toronto-originated material.

  Aftermath

  The changes lowered the network's local operating burden but further centralized its output.

  Source

• 1978

  Add sports coverage to the all-news scheduleProduct launch

  Background

  CKO sought to broaden its appeal while operating a format primarily centered on news and public affairs.

  Action taken

  The network began carrying Toronto Maple Leafs hockey and National Football League broadcasts.

  Aftermath

  CKFH challenged the Maple Leafs broadcasts, but the CRTC rejected the complaint and allowed the programming to continue.

  • CKFH — CKFH asked the CRTC to stop CKO's Maple Leafs hockey broadcasts.

  Source

• 1977

  Launch a national all-news radio formatProduct launch

  Background

  CKO was established to create a privately owned Canadian radio network focused on continuous news and information programming.

  Action taken

  The network began broadcasting from Toronto and Ottawa on July 1, later adding other markets and local inserts.

  Aftermath

  The service achieved national reach but encountered technical, editorial, audience and advertising challenges early in its existence.

  Source

1. 1CKOen.wikipedia.org