Craig Wireless

Craig Wireless is the telecommunications successor to a Canadian broadcasting business whose origins date to Western Manitoba Broadcasters, founded in 1948 by John Craig and a group of Manitoba investors. The company developed from radio and television operations in Brandon, Manitoba, and later expanded into conventional television, specialty channels, wireless cable television, and high-speed Internet services. Its corporate identity changed several times: Western Manitoba Broadcasters became Craig Broadcast Systems in 1991 and later operated broadcasting activities through Craig Media and Craig Specialty. After the sale of the company’s conventional television assets to CHUM Limited in 2004, the remaining telecommunications operations adopted the Craig Wireless name. The company’s early development was closely tied to the CKX stations in Brandon. John Craig acquired CKX-FM in the mid-1940s after the Manitoba Government Telephone System relinquished licenses associated with CKX-TV and CKY-FM. His son Stuart Craig later became president and general manager of CKX-TV and CKX-FM, overseeing an expansion that helped establish the broader broadcasting enterprise. CKX-TV brought television service to Brandon, while CKX-FM followed with expanded radio operations. Under the Craig Broadcast Systems identity, the business owned the original A-Channel television system, CKX in Brandon, and several digital specialty channels. Its television portfolio included stations in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Brandon, as well as specialty services that evolved into later Canadian channels. The company also produced a local news insertion for Dauphin, Manitoba, through an arrangement with CBC Television rather than by operating a separate full-power station there. The company expanded beyond broadcasting into telecommunications, offering wireless cable television and broadband Internet services. It also maintained an American subsidiary in Honolulu for a period, although that operation reduced its staff in early 2003 during discussions related to a possible combination with Oceanic Cable. In 2003, Craig secured approximately C$145 million in financing, including investment from Providence Equity Partners and a credit facility arranged through Canadian financial institutions. The financing supported a reorganization that separated the conventional television operations, branded Craig Media, from the specialty-channel activities associated with Craig Specialty. Craig Media owned Toronto 1 and the A-Channel stations when CHUM agreed to acquire the broadcasting assets in 2004 for C$265 million in cash. CHUM did not purchase the telecommunications operations. Those retained activities continued under the Craig Wireless name, and Boyd Craig, another grandson of founder John Craig, assumed control after the transaction. Publicly available reference material identifies Craig Wireless primarily as the continuing telecommunications business rather than as the former national television group. Detailed information about its current ownership, management, product portfolio, financial performance, and present operating status is not established in the supplied sources.

Craig Wireless traces its roots to Western Manitoba Broadcasters, established in 1948 by John Craig and several Manitoba associates. The business emerged from Craig's earlier involvement with CKX-FM and the licensing history of CKX-TV and CKY-FM under the Manitoba Government Telephone System. The resulting enterprise was centered in Brandon, Manitoba, and became one of the region's important privately controlled broadcasting businesses. John Craig's son, Stuart Craig, succeeded him in 1955 as president and general manager of CKX-TV and CKX-FM. Under Stuart's direction, the company expanded its radio and television activities. CKX-TV helped bring television service to Brandon, and CKX-FM later developed as a related radio operation. During the 1980s and 1990s, the business also arranged for a local news program in Dauphin, Manitoba, to be inserted into CBC programming on the city's retransmitter. This was a contracted local-news service rather than operation of a separate television station. In 1991, Western Manitoba Broadcasters changed its name to Craig Broadcast Systems. The renamed company expanded beyond its Brandon base and eventually operated the A-Channel television system, including stations in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Brandon. It also developed or owned digital specialty services. These included MTV Canada, later known as MTV2 Canada; MTV2 Canada, later associated with Stingray Juicebox; and TV Land Canada, which was subsequently replaced by Comedy Gold. Several other specialty concepts were proposed but never launched, including news, music, lifestyle, technology, pets, fashion, and western-themed services. Craig also moved into telecommunications. Its activities included wireless cable television using multichannel multipoint distribution technology and high-speed Internet access. The company operated an American subsidiary in Honolulu for a period. In early 2003, that subsidiary reduced its workforce while the company was involved in discussions concerning a possible combination with Oceanic Cable. The company obtained approximately C$145 million in financing in 2003, consisting of an investment associated with Providence Equity Partners and a credit facility arranged by RBC Capital Markets and BMO Nesbitt Burns. It used this financing during a corporate reorganization that separated its conventional television operations from its specialty-channel activities. The conventional stations and Toronto 1 were associated with Craig Media, while the specialty services were grouped under Craig Specialty. In 2004, CHUM Limited purchased Craig's broadcasting assets for C$265 million in cash. The transaction included the A-Channel stations and other conventional television operations but excluded the telecommunications business. Following the transaction, the retained telecommunications operations adopted the Craig Wireless name. Boyd Craig, another member of the Craig family, took over the company at that stage. The former television portfolio later underwent further changes: CKX ceased broadcasting in 2009, and other former Craig channels and stations were subsequently rebranded, replaced, or discontinued. Available reference material does not establish the current ownership, leadership, financial condition, or operating status of Craig Wireless.

• 2009

  CKX in Brandon ceases operations

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  CKX, a former Craig television station in Brandon, stopped operating on October 2, 2009.

• 2004

  CHUM acquires the broadcasting assets

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  CHUM Limited bought Craig's conventional television operations for C$265 million in cash, leaving the telecommunications operations outside the transaction.

• 2004

  Telecommunications operations adopt the Craig Wireless name

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  The retained telecommunications business began operating under the Craig Wireless identity after the CHUM transaction.

• 2003

  Corporate reorganization and financing

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  The company secured approximately C$145 million in financing and separated conventional television, specialty television, and telecommunications activities.

• 1991

  Name changed to Craig Broadcast Systems

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  Western Manitoba Broadcasters adopted the Craig Broadcast Systems name.

• 1955

  Stuart Craig assumes leadership of CKX operations

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  John Craig's son Stuart became president and general manager of CKX-TV and CKX-FM and led an expansion of the broadcasting business.

• 1948

  Western Manitoba Broadcasters founded

  [1]Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org

  John Craig and several partners founded the broadcasting company that ultimately became associated with Craig Wireless.

A regional Canadian telecommunications provider built from a family-controlled broadcasting heritage, with emphasis on wireless cable television and broadband connectivity.

• Telecommunications service

  Wireless cable television

  Craig Wireless offered multichannel multipoint distribution service, commonly described as wireless cable television. The service delivered multichannel television programming without relying solely on a conventional wired cable network and was associated with the company's operations in Manitoba and British Columbia.

• Internet access

  High-speed Internet

  High-speed Internet access formed part of Craig's expansion from broadcasting into telecommunications. The supplied reference material identifies the service as a company offering but does not provide technical specifications, customer numbers, pricing, or current availability.

• Television network

  A-Channel

  A-Channel was Craig's conventional television system, with stations in several Canadian markets including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Brandon. The system was part of the broadcasting assets sold to CHUM in 2004 and was later associated with the Citytv brand.

• Specialty television

  Craig Specialty channels

  Craig's specialty television portfolio included MTV Canada, MTV2 Canada, and TV Land Canada. These services changed names or ownership over time, with later identities including MTV2, Stingray Juicebox, and Comedy Gold. The specialty-channel assets were distinct from the telecommunications operations retained after the 2004 CHUM transaction.

• 2004

  Sell conventional television assets to CHUMM&A

  Background

  Craig's television group included the A-Channel system, Toronto 1, CKX, and related conventional broadcasting operations.

  Action taken

  Craig sold its broadcasting operations to CHUM Limited for C$265 million in cash.

  Aftermath

  CHUM acquired the television assets but not the telecommunications business, which continued under the Craig Wireless name.

  Transaction value. C$265 million in cash (2004)

  Source

• 2003

  Separate conventional, specialty, and telecommunications operationsStrategy

  Background

  Craig secured new financing while managing a portfolio that included conventional television, specialty channels, and telecommunications services.

  Action taken

  The company reorganized its conventional television activities under Craig Media and its specialty-channel activities under Craig Specialty, while continuing telecommunications operations separately.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization preceded the sale of the conventional television assets to CHUM in 2004; the telecommunications operations remained outside that transaction.

  Financing. Approximately C$145 million secured (2003)

  Source

1. 1Craig Wirelessen.wikipedia.org