CFCN-DT

The Board of Broadcast Governors approved an application by CFCN Television Ltd. for the operation of Calgary’s second television station. It would broadcast on channel 4 with an effective radiated power of 55,000 watts video and 27,500 watts audio. Antenna height (EHAAT) would be 669 feet and a directional signal would be transmitted. The antenna tower would be on land southwest of the city, near the Old Banff Coach Road. The only competing applicant was Chinook Communications Ltd. CFCN-TV would broadcast a total of 84 hours and 45 minutes of programming per week. Of this, 35 hours would be live, 2.5 hours would be remote pickups, 46 hours would be filmed programs and one hour would be videotaped recordings. 

The chairman of the board of CFCN Television Ltd. was H. Gordon Love, president of Voice of the Prairies Ltd., Radio Station CFCN and owner of Western Publishing & Lithographing. Love was also president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. James A. Love (son), vice president of Voice of the Prairies, would be president of the TV company. William N. Love (son), director of the radio company, would be secretary treasurer for CFCN Television Ltd. TV vice presidents would be Gordon L. Carter (son-in-law of Gordon Love) and Robert W. Lamb. Carter was also operations manager of radio while Lamb was technical supervisor for radio and would carry that same title with television. Other shareholders were Mrs. Gordon Love and Mrs. Carter. Hugh Edmunds was named program manager. He had been assistant operations manager of CFQC-TV in Saskatoon. 

Gordon Carter, vice president and operations manager, announced in August that construction of a carpenter and storage shop was completed and the station would start broadcasting from this building on an initial basis, next month. At the start, CFCN-TV would be on the air from 5:00 p.m. to midnight. One camera would be in operation and live news, weather and sports would air from the shop and also from the mobile trailer at 6:30 and 10:30 p.m. By the end of the year, a complete program schedule would be running – 12:00 p.m. to midnight. The main studio building would be ready by that time. 

Members of the newly licensed second television stations formed the Independent Television Organization with the expectation of creating a second television network in competition with the CBC. ITO officers: Richard E. Misener of CFCF-TV (president), Ralph Misener of CJAY-TV (vice president), Charles Baldour from CFTO-TV (secretary) and E. L. Bushnell of Bushnell Broadcasting (treasurer). Elected directors: Finlay MacDonald (president of CJCH), Paul L’Anglais (vice president of CFTM-TV), Gordon Love (chairman of CFCN), G.R.A. Rice (president of CFRN) and Art Jones (president of CHAN-TV).

Canadian General Electric built a 173 foot antenna for CFCN-TV, the largest of its type built to date by the company. The antenna was shipped to Calgary in four sections and would be erected in stages atop the station’s 344 foot tower, making the overall height 517 feet. The antenna was high gain, ultra power, slot type. Power output would be 100,000 watts video E.R.P. A 5 kW General Electric modular transmitter would be used. Complete studio facilities were also from Canadian General Electric, including an EMI 4/12″orthicon camera.

CFCN-TV began broadcasting at 6:00 p.m., September 9. It was the first independent television station in Canada, and Calgary was the first Canadian city to have two English-language television stations. On its first night of operations, CFCN-TV showed a test pattern from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by “Pulse”, a half-hour newscast. This was followed by two back-to-back movies: “Laughter in Paradise”, and “To The Ends of the Earth”. When CFCN-TV signed on, it broadcast from temporary facilities since the station had gone to air very shortly after having its license approved by the BBG. The initial broadcast day consisted of six hours of programming. One and a half hours were local. Canadian General Electric president J. Herbert Smith was a guest on opening day. CFCN-TV’s potential audience was 400,000 in Calgary and vicinity.

Print ad promoting the opening – On the air! CFCN-TV 4 Calgary. FIRST second channel station in Canada – on the air September 9th with regular programming, as promised!

Program promotion ad – Sold on CFCN-TV Calgary – Route 66, Andy Griffith Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Manhunt, Lock-up, Guestward Ho, Saber of London, Sea Hunt, 77 Sunset Strip, Trackdown, San Francisco Beat, Rifleman, Mr. Adams and Eve.

The station joined the newly formed Canadian Television Network, CTV, on October 1.

By this time, CFCN-TV operated the following rebroadcast transmitters in Alberta: Brooks (channel 9), Drumheller & Hand Hills (12) and Banff (8); Brtish Columbia: Columbia River Valley (6) and Kimberley (3). The Calgary transmitter had an effective radiated power of 55,000 watts video and 27,500 watts audio. James A. Love was President of CFCN Television Ltd. Bob Lamb was Chief Engineer. 

CFCN applied for rebroadcast transmitters at Lethbridge, Cardston and Claresholm. CJLH-TV (Lethbridge) offered conditional rental of their facilities for CFCN for its Lethbridge operation. Stipulation: CJLH wanted to tie itself to CHCT so the Calgary station could feed much of the CBC’s programming to Lethbridge. CJLH said in this way an alternative service could be provided and the Lethbridge studios could become a production centre for two stations. The CBC requested that CHCT use channel 10 in Lethbridge so channel 13 could be reserved for future CBC plans. The applications were deferred. The BBG wanted to hear an application by CJLH to operate as a part-time rebroadcaster of CHCT.

Slogan: Your Calgary “Action Station”.

Ted Chapman was vice president and general manager. Herbert G. Marshall was appointed general sales manager as of mid-February. He had been with rep firm RTVR.

CFCN again applied for a Lethbridge transmitter which would receive programming over the air from Calgary. It would also offer programming on a part-time basis from studios in Lethbridge. They proposed to operate on channel 13 with an effective radiated power of 36,700 watts video and 7,340 watts audio. Antenna height would be 582 feet (EHAAT) and a directional pattern would be used. 

On May 16, CFCN Television Ltd. was given approval for a television station at Lethbridge, operating on channel 13 with effective radiated power of 36,700 watts video and 7,340 watts audio. Antenna height would be 582 feet and a directional signal would be transmitted. The new station would be a part-time rebroadcaster of CFCN-TV Calgary and receive that programming over the air.  

On the same date, a transmitter was approved for Drumheller, operating on channel 10 with a transmitter power of 5 watts (directional). It would receive programming from Calgary, over the air. (CFCN was already noted has having a transmitter in Drumheller in 1965)

CFCN-TV Lethbridge signed on the air September 3. It shared the CJLH-TV tower, and studio space in the CJLH Building.

On March 18, CFCN-TV Lethbridge was given the ok to increase ERP to 47,000 watts video. Audio ERP would remain 7,340 watts.

On March 21, the transfer of 21,288 common shares of CFCN Television Ltd. to Maclean-Hunter Ltd. was approved.

A rebroadcast transmitter was approved for Burmis, operating on channel 5 effective radiated power of 200 watts video and 100 watts audio, and transmitting a directional signal from a 445 foot tower. It would receive programming over-the-air from CFCN-TV-5 (channel 13) in Lethbridge.

Bob Lamb was vice president of engineering. He had been with the company (CFCN-AM) since 1944 and helped get CFCN-TV on the air in a record 36 days in 1960.

Herbert G. Marshall was appointed manager of CFCN-TV by Ted Chapman, president, CFCN Television & Radio Ltd. Marshall joined CFCN-TV in 1968 as general sales manager. Wally Kirk was appointed program manager of CFCN-TV. He had been with some ad agencies before this but had been with CFCN-TV in the past as client services director.

The licence for CFCN-TV-4 Burmis was renewed.

CFCN received approval to operate a transmitter at Medicine Hat to rebroadcast the programs of CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge.

CFCN-TV’s transmitter at Medicine Hat (channel 8) was authorized to decrease effective radiated video power from 13,400 watts to 6,700 watts.

Because of plans for the CBC’s new tv station at Calgary, CFCN-TV-2 Banff received permission to move from channel 8 to channel 7.

The re-organization of the Maclean-Hunter group of companies (16 cable systems and the CFCN/Shoreacres/Great Lakes broadcasting group) was approved by the CRTC. Reservations were expressed regarding the nearly 10% equity of the Toronto-Dominion Bank in the new company, Maclean-Hunter Holdings Ltd. The shares had been held by Hunco and D. F. Hunter. Effective control of Maclean-Hunter Ltd. was now held by the directors and senior managerment.

Terry Coles was appointed vice president and general manager of CFCN-TV. He had been at CFCL-TV Timmins.

Approval was granted for a change of antenna site for CFCN-TV-3 at Brooks.

The CRTC urged CFCN-TV and Edmonton’s CFRN-TV to develop quality productions for national broadcast on the CTV network. The two stations had established a joint production fund, with each contributing $50,000. CFCN-TV had also increased its local programming budget by 35% and planned to spend $1.2 million for new equipment. The Commission wanted the two stations to allocate further resources to production, including pilots of network caliber, to reflect the changing social and cultural environment of Alberta.

Terry Coles became VP and GM. He had been with Mid-Canada Television in Timmins.

In April, David Spence joined CFCN-TV to do weather.

CFCN-TV sold its Calgary transmitter site.

CFCN was given approval to operate on channel 5 with power of 116 watts at its Cranbrook, B. C. rebroadcaster.

Following a review of cross-ownership, the licenses for CFCN-AM-TV and CFVP-SW were renewed. CFCN Communications Ltd. was owned by Maclean-Hunter which also owned 49.7% of Toronto Sun Publishing Corp. (owner of the Calgary Sun). The CRTC was satisfied that the legal agreement between TSPC and M-H put restraints on Maclean-Hunter control of the Calgary Sun.

At thist time CFCN-TV operated the following transmitters in Alberta: Drumheller CFCN-TV-1, Banff CFCN-TV-2, Brooks CFCN-TV-3 , Burmis CFCN-TV-4,    Lethbridge CFCN-TV-5,  Drumheller CFCN-TV-6, and Medicine Hat CFCN-TV-8; British Columbia: Cranbrook CFCN-TV-9, Fernie CFCN-TV-10, Sparwood CFCN-TV-11, and Moyie CFCN-TV-12.

Five western CTV affiliates announced they would join forces for the production of quality TV dramas. Initially, resources of up to $2 million would be pooled by CFCN Calgary, CFRN Edmonton, CFQC Saskatoon, CKCK Regina and CKY Winnipeg. The stations hoped to obtain additional funds from Telefilm Canada for ongoing drama production in the prairie region.

Weatherman David Spence left for CKY Radio in Winnipeg.

On June 30, CFCN-TV-1 Drumheller received approval to increase effective radiated power from 14,100 watts to 40,000 watts.

Edward W. Chapman was appointed chairman of the board of directors, CFCN Communications Ltd.

Terry Coles left CFCN-TV. He had been president and general manager. Coles would show up as general manager of Winnipeg’s CKY-TV.

On August 10, CFCN Communications Ltd. was authorized to acquire CFWL-TV-1 Invermere, a rebroadcaster of CFCN-TV Calgary, from Invermere District Television Co. Ltd. CFCN had been providing the capital costs necessary for the maintenance of this rebroadcaster for several years.

On August 12, CFCN-TV was authorized to add a transmitter at Canmore (Harvie Heights), on channel 45 with a transmitter power of 35 watts. CFCN-TV also intends to change the program source for CFCN-TV-2 Banff from CFCN-TV Calgary to the new rebroadcaster at Harvie Heights. A transmitter was also approved for Pigeon Mountain, on channel 40 with a transmitter power of 5 watts.

CFCN-TV was said to be the first individual station in Canada to caption its local news for the hearing impaired.

David Spence returned to do weather at CFCN-TV.

Thompson MacDonald left the post of news director (director of news and public affairs) at CFCN-TV. He would be succeeded by Dale O’Hara.

On January 8, the Sundre and District Chamber of Commerce requested the revocation of its licence for the broadcasting transmitting undertaking CFJL-TV-1 Sundre, which was authorized to rebroadcast the programs of CFCN-TV Calgary. The licensee indicated that the CFJL-TV-1 transmitter had been out of service for a number of years and that the cost of restoring the transmitter would be prohibitive. The Commission noted that the CFCN-TV service was provided to cable subscribers in this area by Mountain View Cable Ltd.

Maclean Hunter Ltd. (CFCN Communications) put CFCN-TV up for sale. CFCN president Sean Purdue said the move represented a change in the parent company’s long-term investment strategy. The station was said to be worth as much as $100 million. M-H had also put CHCH-TV Hamilton on the block amid speculation the company wanted to concentrate on its area of expertise – publishing. Later in the year, CFCN-TV was taken off the market because no acceptable offers had been received. CFCN-AM and CJAY-FM were now on the market though.

Weatherman Don Wood left CFCN-TV at the end of the year. He had been with the station for 31 years. He would continue to teach at SAIT.

Standard Radio Inc. received permission to purchase CFCN-AM, CJAY-FM and CFVP shortwave from CFCN Communications Ltd. This put CFCN radio and television under separate ownership.

On January 18, CFCN-TV was authorized to add the CFON-TV-1 transmitter at Oyen, which rebroadcasts CFCN-TV and is currently licensed to The Oyen and District Television Association. The licence issued to the Association for CFON-TV-1 was revoked.

Dale O’Hara was CFCN-TV’s news director.

On December 19, the Canadian Radio-Television & Telecommunications Commission approved Rogers Communications Inc’s purchase of Maclean-Hunter Ltd. M-H was the parent company of CFCN Communications Ltd., owner of CFCN-TV.

On February 15, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CFCN-TV by adding the following condition of licence: In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast more than 12 minutes of advertising material in any clock hour in a broadcast day, in order to broadcast infomercials as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1994-139 and in accordance with the criteria contained in that public notice, as amended.

On June 21, the CRTC approved the sale of CFCN-TV by Rogers to BBS Western Acquisition Corp. (Baton Broadcasting Inc.) This sale of CFCN to Baton was completed on June 28, 1996.

Bob Lamb died December 5. After working for CFRN-AM and CFCN-AM, he supervised the building of CHCT-TV in Calgary and helped found the WABE. In 1960, he and Gordon Love were licensed to build CFCN-TV. He spent most of his broadcast career as VP of engineering and finance at CFCN-TV.

The CRTC approved a corporate reorganization of Baton on January 23. Among other things, the reorganization featured the amalgamation of all Baton divisions (CFCN comes directly under the Baton Broadcasting banner. Baton’s TV West had been the owner).

After purchasing the CTV Television Network, Baton Broadcasting Inc. changed its name to CTV Inc. The name change was effective December 21.

George Gonzo left CTV (based in Calgary) as vice president of sales for the Western Region.

Rumours had many of the big media companies eyeing CTV.

In a surprise move, late in February, BCE (Canada telephone giant) through its subsidiary BCE Media, proposed to purchase CTV Inc. for $ 2.3 billion, the largest transaction in Canadian broadcasting.

Later in March the CTV board approved the deal, which required CRTC approval.

In June BCE submitted their brief to the CRTC with the largest “benefits package” ever presented to the regulative body. The benefits, money allocated over the proposed seven year licence term, were almost entirely to be spent on new Canadian programming. Ivan Fecan agreed to stay with the network under BCE ownership.

The CRTC hearing was held in September and was approved on December 7th.

On September 17, CFCN-TV was granted an increase in effective radiated power from 55,000 watts to 100,000 watts. CTV planned to replace the existing transmitting tower. It would also replace the old directional antenna with a new non-directional antenna, resulting in a power increase and a minor increase in CFCN-TV’s coverage area.

When CFCN-TV had its licence renewed, it operated the following transmitters: CFCN-TV-1 Drumheller, CFCN-TV-2 Banff, CFCN-TV-3 Brooks, CFCN-TV-6 Drumheller, CFCN-TV-13 Pigeon Mountain, CFCN-TV-14 Canmore (Harvie Heights) and CFCN-TV-16 Oyen, Alberta. CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge operated these transmitters: CFCN-TV-4 Burmis, CFCN-TV-8 Medicine Hat, CFCN-TV-17 Waterton Park, CFCN-TV-18 Coleman, Alberta, and CFCN-TV-9 Cranbrook, CFCN-TV-10 Fernie, CFCN-TV-11 Sparwood, CFCN-TV-12 Moyie, CFCN-TV-15 Invermere and CFWL-TV-1 Invermere, British Columbia.

On July 21, a change in the ownership structure of Bell Globemedia Inc. was approved. The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and Torstar Corp. (Toronto Star) would each acquire a 20% voting interest in BGM (purchasing shares from BCE). Woodbridge Co. Ltd. would acquire additional shares from BCE and increase its holdings in BGM from 31.5% to 40%. BCE’s voting interest would be reduced from 68.5% to 20%. There would be no clear-cut control of BGM. BGM and its subsidiary CTV Inc. would be controlled by BGM’s Board of Directors pursuant to a Unanimous Shareholder Agreement.

On September 20, approval was granted for the deletion of CFCN-TV-15 and CFWL-TV-1 Invermere, British Columbia from the licence of CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge and to add those thransmitters to the licence of CFCN-TV Calgary. The changes would allow it to deliver a satellite feed of CFCN-TV Calgary to the Invermere transmitters instead of the existing combination of off-air and microwave feed from CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge. The programming would be for the most part unaffected, as the programming of CFCN-TV Calgary and CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge is virtually identical, with the exception of 2.5 hours each week of local Lethbridge news delivered on the CFCN-TV-5 signal. The licensee stated that Invermere is a recreational area, largely populated by Calgary residents, and the change would be a positive one, since the Calgary programming would be of more relevance to this community.

On December 14th, it was announced that effective January 2007, Bell Globemedia would be renamed CTVglobemedia Inc.

CTV globemedia acquired CHUM Limited. With the purchase, CFCN-TV gained a brother radio station in the city – CKCE-FM which had signed on the air earlier in the year.

On November 25, the CRTC approved the operation of a transitional digital television station for CFCN-TV. The station would simulcast the current analog programming service of CFCN-TV, with the exception of up to 14 hours per week of programming that would not be duplicated on the analog service. The digital undertaking would operate from the existing CTV Calgary tower on channel 36 with an average effective radiated power of 124,000 watts.

CFCN-DT channel 29 (virtual channel 4.1) began operations on January 8.

Journalist Gord Kelly died in January. He joined CFCN Radio in 1960. In the 1970’s Kelly was the program director of CFCN-AM and for years hosted the most popular radio talk show in town. In 1985 he became a news reporter for CFCN-TV. Kelly retired in 2008.

On May 15th, the CRTC announced a one-year licence renewal, effective September 1st 2009, for all of CTVglobemedia’s Over-The-Air stations, including CFCN-TV, “to give these broadcasters some flexibility during the current period of economic uncertainty.” Group-based licence renewals would then be addressed in the spring of 2010. The Commission also stated that it recognized the impracticability of imposing any conditions relative to 1-1 ratios between Canadian and non-Canadian programming in the ensuing year, given the programming commitments that were already in place.

The Commission would however continue to explore various regulatory measures “…to ensure that English-language television broadcasters devote an appropriate proportion of their expenditures to Canadian programming.” 

David Spence was still doing weather at CFCN-TV.

It was expected that, by summer, CTV Calgary would host master control for most of the Western Canadian CTV stations: four in Saskatchewan, three in Alberta, CTV Vancouver and BC Interior feeds.

On June 18, the CRTC approved the application by CTVglobemedia Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary CTV Television Inc., to amend the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking CFCN-TV Calgary in order to add a digital transmitter at Calgary. The transmitter would operate from the existing CFCN-TV tower on channel 29 with an average effective radiated power of 120,000 watts (maximum ERP of 220,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 206.1 metres).

Dale Jubb became Manager of Operations at CTV Calgary July 26. He moved from his CEO position at video production facility, Empowered Media in Ottawa. He has also served as a Senior Director for CBC Television and at CPAC Ottawa as Production Manager. Former Operations Manager Karen Irvine moved to Manager, On-Air Operations.

In July, CTV Calgary took over Master Control for CTV Vancouver & the B.C. Interior. With that addition, CTV Calgary was the Master Control hub for all CTV stations west of Manitoba.

CTV Calgary news anchor Barb Higgins announced she would run to become Calgary’s next mayor. As a result, she had to resign from CTV.

Global National’s European Bureau Chief, Tara Nelson, became the Anchor of CTV Calgary’s News at Six package in mid-November. She succeeded Darrel Janz, who’d been in that position for almost four decades. Janz took on a specialized reporter role that included southern Alberta road trips to tell the stories of the people who live and work there. He’ll also be doing weekend anchoring.

On March 7, the CRTC approved an application by BCE Inc. on behalf of CTVglobemedia Inc., for authority to change the effective control of CTVgm’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries to BCE. The Commission concluded that the transaction would be beneficial to the Canadian broadcasting system by ensuring the long-term stability of a significant Canadian television network and advancing the Commission’s objective of providing relevant high-quality Canadian programming to Canadians through conventional and new media distribution channels. BCE was a public corporation and controlled by its board of directors. Before this approval, BCE held 15% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm. The other shareholders were 1565117 Ontario Limited (a corporation ultimately controlled by Mr. David Kenneth R. Thomson) (40% of the voting interest), Ontario Teacher’s Plan Board (25% of the voting interest) and Torstar Corporation (20% of the voting interest). Under the transaction agreement dated September 10, 2010, BCE would acquire the remaining 85% of the voting interest in the capital of CTVgm and would therefore exercise effective control. Condition: enhance local news in Western markets – incremental new local morning newscasts and programming content in Calgary – 3 hours x 5 days per week.

On March 15, CTV Inc., CTV Corp., CTV Limited and CTVglobemedia Inc. amalgamated to continue as CTV Inc. 

On March 29, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for a number of conventional television and transitional digital television stations until August 31, 2011. The CRTC noted that it did not intend to renew authorizations for full-power analog transmitters operating in the mandatory markets or on channels 52 to 69 outside the mandatory markets beyond August 31, 2011. By that time, the Commission expected licensees to have the necessary authority to broadcast in digital.

BCE Inc. announced on April 1 that it had completed its acquisition of CTV and that it had launched Bell Media (replacing CTVglobemedia), a new business unit that would make CTV programs and other Bell content available on smartphones and computers as well as traditional television. In addition to CTV and its television stations, Bell Media now also operated 29 specialty channels, 33 radio stations, Dome Productions, a mobile broadcast facilities provider, and dozens of high-traffic news, sports and entertainment websites, including the Sympatico.ca portal. 

The CRTC approved the transfer of the transmitter CFCN-TV-3 Brooks, Alberta, which rebroadcasts the signal of CFCN-TV Calgary, to the list of transmitters associated with CFCN-TV-5 Lethbridge. According to information provided by Industry Canada, this transmitter had been associated with the Lethbridge station for a number of years so this request was being made so that the Commission could adjust its files accordingly. 

On July 27, the CRTC renewed the licence for CFCN-DT until August 31, 2016. The renewal included the following transmitters: CFCN-TV-1 Drumheller, CFCN-TV-2 Banff, CFCN-TV-6 Drumheller, CFCN-TV-13 Pigeon Mountain, CFCN-TV-14 Harvie Heights, CFCN-TV-16 Oyen, CFCN-TV-15 Invermere, B.C. and CFWL-TV-1 Invermere, B.C. The Commission noted the licensee’s commitment to broadcast 14 hours of local programming per week, averaged over the broadcast year. 

The CRTC approved a change to the ownership of Bell Media Inc., from BCE Inc. to Bell Canada. This transaction would not affect effective control of Bell Media Inc. and of its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which continued to be exercised by BCE Inc. Bell Media Inc. held, directly and through its licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, various radio and television programming undertakings as well as specialty and pay-per-view television services.

August 31 was the final day for analog television broadcasting in mandatory markets and CFCN-TV channel 4 was to leave the air by this date. 

Sam Corea became manager of on air operations at CTV Calgary, succeeding Karen Irvine who retired earlier in the year. It was a promotion for Corea who had been with the station since 1991. Moving into his old position as supervisor in the master control/VTR department was Valera Shaw, who also moved up from within. 

Karen Irvine, manager of on air operations – Western Broadcast Centre (CTV Calgary) – reitred – 34 years after starting with CFCN-TV. Her most recent challenge was the operational conversion of the previous analogue Alberta master controls into the CTV HD Western Broadcast Centre.

Bell Media created four new regional vice president positions for radio and local television. They would report to Chris Gordon, president of radio & local TV. Len Perry, VP and general manager of CTV Calgary would be VP for the Prairies. Local GM’s at radio and TV stations in the region would now report to Perry.

Kelly Johnston, Director of News and Public Affairs at CTV Calgary, was no longer with the station. Johnston had joined CTV Calgary from her News Director role at CKY-TV Winnipeg in 2000. She later was promoted to Managing Editor and in 2008 assumed the role of Director of News & Public Affairs at Calgary.

Ronald W. Osborne died at age 66, in Florida. His broadcasting background included the presidency of Maclean Hunter Ltd. In 1994, he fought off a hostile takeover bid from Rogers Communications. After a protracted battle, a deal was inked for $3.1-billion.

Norm (Harold) Haines died at age 73. He started his broadcast career as an announcer at CFTJ Galt in 1958 and worked at CKCR Kitchener, CFCO Chatham, CKWS-Radio-TV Kingston and CFOX Montreal. Haines moved to Calgary where he was president of Voice of the Prairies Ltd. (CFCN Radio). He took on CFCN in 1973, and in time, developed CJAY-FM, Canada’s first new generation FM station.

Ralph Klein passed away at age 70. The former Alberta Premier worked in broadcasting for a time, at CFCN and CFCN-TV. He spent a couple of years on the radio side before moving to TV, first as a weatherman. Later, he was assigned to cover city hall. He then ran for mayor and won, and then moved to provincial politics

Darrel Janz, after four decades as news anchor at CTV Calgary, retired.

A number of staff cuts were made at Bell Media across the country. This included a number of positions at CTV Calgary.

Russell Oughtred (69) passed away November 26. He got his start in radio news in Medicine Hat, then moved into TV at CTV Lethbridge. Oughtred later moved to CTV Calgary, where he spent most of the 1980’s, before going to CBC Calgary.

Bell Media cut some staff at CTV Calgary in the spring, including sports reporters/ anchors Glenn Campbell, Lisa Bowes and Heath Brown.

When the CFCN-DT licence was renewed in May, CFCN-TV‐1 Drumheller, CFCN‐TV‐6 Drumheller, CFCN‐TV‐16 Oyen, CFCN-TV‐3 Brooks, CFCN‐TV‐4 Burmis, CFCN‐TV‐17 Waterton Park, CFCN-TV‐18 Coleman, CFWL‐TV‐1 Invermere, CFCN‐TV‐12 Moyie, and CFCN‐TV‐11 Sparwood were removed from the licence at the request of Bell Media. The existing licence would expire August 31, 2017.

Richard Coleman, 74, passed away on September 25. Coleman started at CFCN-TV in December of 1965 and retired as VP of Engineering for CTV Alberta in December, 2008.

On July 30, the CRTC gave Bell Media permission to delete 28 analog rebroadcasting transmitters across the country. Bell stated the transmitters did not generate any incremental revenue and generally attracted little to no added viewership. CFCN-TV-15 Invemere would be closed on February 26, 2021.