CHAN-DT

On October 1, CHAN-TV joined the new CTV Television Network. Ray Peters, who had earlier been made station manager, became Managing Director of CHAN-TV.

CHAN’s Burnaby studio complex finally opened.

Frank Griffiths, a local entrepreneur, purchased an interest in Vantel Broadcasting Co. Ltd., owner of CHAN-TV and CHEK-TV Victoria.

179,000 shares of Western Broadcasting Co. were sold. 85,000 were sold by Frank Griffiths to United Acuumulated Mutual Fund. It was uncertain who purchased the other 94,000 shares.

Andy Marquis was news director. Ray Peters was president.

An offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of BCTBSL not already held by Selkirk Holdings Ltd., Famous Players Canadian Corp. and Saturna Properties Ltd., a holding subsidiary of Western Broadcasting Co. Ltd. was made by the three companies and accepted by the other shareholders, and subject to regulatory approval. The transaction would give in Class A non-voting shares 43.71% to Selkirk, 32.95% to Saturna and 23.44% to Famous Players. In Class B voting shares: Selkirk would hold 51%, Saturna 28.68% and Famous Players would have 20.32%. In preferred shares, Selkirk would have 40.70%, Famous Players 33.67% and Saturna 25.63%.

Famous Players Canadian Corporation applied to the CRTC to sell its interests in CFCM-TV/CKMI-TV (50%) Quebec City and CKCO-TV-CFCA-FM-CKKW-AM (48%) Kitchener to Famous Communications Ltd., a new public company to be incorporated. There was also a pending deal that would have Famous Players acquire a small, additional interest in CHAN-TV Vancouver and CHEK-TV Victoria.

On June 13, the CRTC denied an application for a share transfer by British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd. of 371,887 class B, 447,000 class A non-voting and 46,738 preferred shares. The Commission would not authorize a transfer that would increase the participation of any person or party in the ownership, management or control of more than one company licensed to operate a CTV affiliate. Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ltd. was a shareholder in two member stations of CTV (CHAN, as well as CKCO Kitchener). If this application had been approved, Famous Players would have increased its ownership in BCTV.

On June 13, the CRTC denied an application for a share transfer by British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd. (CHAN-TV, CHAN-TV-1 Chilliwack, CHAN-TV-2 Bowen Is., CHAN-TV-3 Squamish) of 371,887 class B, 447,000 class A non-voting and 46,738 preferred shares. The Commission would not authorize a transfer that would increase the participation of any person or party in the ownership, management or control of more than one company licenced to operate a CTV affiliate. Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ltd. was a shareholder in two member stations of CTV (CHAN, as well as CKCO Kitchener). If this application had been approved, Famous Players would have increased its ownership in CHAN.

News director Andrew Marquis left to anchor Pulse news at CFCF-TV in Montreal.

The CRTC approved new transmitters for CHAN-TV at Prince George (CIFG-TV), 100 Mile House (CITM-TV), Williams Lake (CITM-TV-1), and Quesnel (CITM-TV-2). The Caribou Region began receiving CHAN service.

All this expansion of service which now reached most of the populated area of Mainland B. C. was due to the engineering knowledge of Ernie Rose and his hard work, which earned him the Honour of entering the CAB Hall of Fame.

Former All-Canada Television VP Don Smith joined CHAN as VP Sales.

Lloyd Colthorp, Bill Eilliott, Art Collins and Ernie Rose all became Vice-Presidents

The Kootenays began receiving the BCTV signal.

Eleven rebroadcast transmitters on Vancouver Island would change program source from CHEK-TV to CHAN-TV to provide CTV service as CBC rebroadcasters commence operations in the same area. They would revert to CHEK-TV when that station became a CTV affiliate.

Don Smith was appointed executive vice president.

BCTV low power rebroadcast transmitters were approved for Cranbrook/Kimberley, Mount Thompson, Creston, Moyie and Fernie.

BCTV appointed Tak Negoro assistant vice president of engineering, effective October 1. He had been with Hoyles, Niblock in Vancouver and Montreal for the past 15 years. Negoro succeeded Ernie Rose who retired.

In December, CHAN-TV’s full programming was now transmitted via Anik B satellite to all of British Columbia, the Mackenzie region of the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon.

Western Broadcasting obtained control of BCTV. News continued to be the station’s cornerstone. The station converted the newsroom to a studio. In ten short years during the 80’s, the news staff grew from 6 to 86. Not coincidentally, the audience surveys saw similar gains. The 6 pm “News Hour” was Canada’s most-watched local newscast, second in North America, with an audience of 640,000 viewers. As part of the Westcom TV Group, BCTV also produced a week-day national newscast “Canada Tonight”, seen on Westcom’s Alberta and Ontario stations.

Don Smith was appointed President of Westcom Group.

On January 11, the CRTC renewed CHAN-TV’s licence until September 30, 1985.

On March 8, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CHAN-TV-4 Courtenay by increasing the transmitter power from 930 watts to 1,300 watts and changing the channel from 13 to 11.

Long-time radio-TV talk show host Jack Webster ended his daily show on May 1 with a 90-minute review of his nine years on TV. The 68 year old would continue to work at BCTV on news, public affairs and special events. On May 2, Webster was inducted into Canada’s News Hall of Fame.

Lloyd Colthorp retired after 27 years with CHAN/BCTV.

Don Smith was president of BCTV.

On September 28, the CRTC approved Maclean-Hunter Ltd.’s $606 million purchase of Selkirk Communications, and the subsequent transfer of Selkirk’s interest in BCTV to Westcom TV Group (WIC), giving Westcom 100% of BCTV. Westcom in effect acquired the 41% of BCTV not already held, from MH Acquisitions Inc.

Tony Parsons was appointed news director. He would also continue to host The Early News and News Hour

BCTV made an out of court settlement with newsman Robert Malcolm, a 20 year employee who was replaced as 11:30 p.m. anchor in September of 1991. He stayed on until a heart attack in February of this year.

Bill Elliott, Vice President of Production, retired after thirty-two years at CHAN/BCTV

Frank Griffiths passed away at the age of 77 on April 7…the day he was to be inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame

On January 23, the CRTC approved the application to amend the broadcasting licence for CHAN-TV by adding to the licence 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 March 17, the CRTC issued one year licence renewals (to August 31, 1996) for CHAN-TV Vancouver, CHEK-TV Victoria, and their respective transmitters elsewhere in British Columbia. This one-year term reflected the Commission’s serious concerns regarding, most particularly, the practices followed by the licensee in the accounting of its Canadian programming expenditures. The Commission expected the licensee, by no later than September 1, to prepare and file new renewal applications for each of CHAN-TV and CHEK-TV that respond fully to this and related concerns.

BCTV became the first Western Canadian broadcaster to convert its signal from analog to digital

Don Smith retired. WIC appointed Barry Duggan president and CEO of BCTV. He joined the company in 1992 to head up RDTV in Red Deer and was last president of WIC’s CITV-TV in Edmonton.

Emily Griffiths, President of Western Broadcasting and controlling shareholder of WIC, retired on the third anniversary of her husband Frank’s death. She said she had always intended to leave at age 75. Mrs. Griffiths remained with the company as chairman emeritus. She was succeeded on the board of directors by Edmondo Giacomelli.

Barry Duggan resigned as president and CEO of BCTV Vancouver, where he succeeded Ron Bremner a short time earlier. Art Reitmeyer, who was in charge of WIC’s CITV Edmonton and CKRD-TV Red Deer, succeeded Duggan, and Jim Bagshaw, who was in charge of CICT-TV Calgary, became president and CEO of all of WIC’s Alberta TV operations.

BCTV’s 28-year veteran program director Dorothy Steward, retired at the end of February.

Westcom TV announced plans to cut 95 jobs as part of “restructuring” following the licensing of new competitors in B.C. and Alberta. Following the elimination of 46 positions already, 51 would be cut at BCTV in Vancouver and Victoria; another 44 would be lost at WIC’s four Alberta stations. CEO Art Reitmayer said the jobs would be phased out gradually and he hoped most affected workers would take early retirement or buyouts.

BCTV Vancouver replaced its sports team of Bernie Pascall, John McKeachie and Barrie Houlihan with Squire Barnes, Barry Deley (was with RDTV Red Deer), Keith Wells (from ITV Edmonton and CHEK Victoria) and Jay Janower (was in BCTV’s newsroom). BCTV president Art Reitmayer said the station was determined to achieve the same excellent ratings for sports as it received for news.

The Griffiths family holdings in WIC Western International Communications Ltd. were sold, subject to CRTC approval, to Shaw Communications Inc. and CanWest Global Communications Corp.

Following months of negotiation, agreements were filed with the CRTC on the split of WIC assets between CanWest Global, Corus Radio (formerly Shaw Radio), and Shaw Communications.

Geoff Fisher, 36, operating a BCTV microwave van, was killed while setting up for a live broadcast on the Noon News. Talk Radio pioneer Jack Webster died of heart failure at 80. Webster became one of Canada’s best-known and highest-paid broadcasters. He had worked at BCTV for a number of years. Steve Wyatt was news director. Deborra Hope was a reporter.

The New WIC Western International Communications CEO was Peter Classon, who succeeded Thomas Peddie. Classon had served on WIC’s Board of Directors but was probably best known as the former President/CEO of the BC Lions football club. Brett Manlove was named Assistant GM at BCTV Van. He would also continue in his role as Sales Manager. Vice President and GM Jim Nicholl left and was replaced by Warren Olson, formerly VP and CFO of BCTV.

Following an April hearing in Vancouver, in July the CRTC announced the approval of the purchase of WIC Television by CanWest Global, which included BCTV Vancouver, conditional on CanWest Global divesting CKVU-TV Vancouver.

The change in ownership resulted in an unprecedented network shuffle in the Vancouver market, which would see CHAN-TV taking over the Global Network, CIVT-TV assuming the CTV Network and CKVU-TV becoming an independent CHUM station effective September 1, 2001.

On January 30 it was announced that Kevin Newman would be leaving ABC “World News Tonight” and returning to Canada to anchor a new national supper hour newscast originating from the CHAN-TV studios.

On May 16 an announcement was made that CHAN-TV news anchor Bill Good would be leaving to host the supper hour news on rival CIVT-TV beginning September 1. Good had been with BCTV for 24 years. He would continue to host his daily talk show on CKNW 980.

On July 3, news was released that long-time news anchor Pamela Martin would also be leaving to join Bill Good at CIVT-TV.

On August 17, plans were announced to place popular newscaster Jill Krop as anchor of a new 11 p.m. “News Hour Final” to replace the CTV News with Lloyd Robertson, which would be moving along with the network to CIVT-TV. An expansion of the “Morning News” from 5:30 to 9:00 a.m. was also announced.

At midnight on September 1, CHAN-TV and sister station CHEK-TV became the Global TV Network affiliates in Vancouver and Victoria respectively. This change also involved two other TV stations in the Vancouver market, CIVT-TV (to CTV) and CKVU-TV (to CHUM Independent). CHAN-TV moved to the new slogan of “Global B.C.” but also continued to identify its newscasts as “BCTV News on Global”.

Barry Dodd left BCTV Vancouver for CIVT-TV.

BCTV Vancouver president Art Reitmayer was now VP, special projects for CanWest Global Communications. He was succeeded at BCTV by Jack Tonik, senior VP for CanWest Media Sales. Tomik would hold both titles.

On January 17 an article by Barrett Hooper in the National Post announced that after only four months since its inception, the Vancouver-produced supper-time newscast “Global National” with Kevin Newman had built a national audience nearly double that of competing CBC newscast “Canada Now”.

On April 21 the CRTC approved application by Global Communications Limited for a licence to operate a transitional digital television undertaking in association with CHAN-TV Vancouver. The new digital station was licensed to operate on UHF channel 22 with an average effective radiated power of 4,300 watts. Except for up to 14 hours per week, the applicant proposed that the station would simulcast the current analog programming service.

Approval was granted for the transfer of ownership of CanWest MediaWorks Inc. through the transfer of the beneficial ownership of CanWest Global Communications Corp., the parent corporation of CMI, from Mrs. Ruth Asper to David, Gail and Leonard Asper, holding together, through their personal holdings, 88.95% of the voting rights of CGCC.

On March 6 the CRTC approved extension of the time limit to April 21, 2008 to commence the operation of the transitional digital television programming undertaking CHAN-DT.

On the weekend of April 12, on-air testing of the new digital transmitter began. Global sources indicated the official sign-on date as April 18. By April 24, the digital signal was added to Vancouver’s Shaw Cable system on channel 217.

On May 15th, the CRTC announced a one-year licence renewal, effective September 1st 2009, for all of CanWest’s Over-The-Air stations, including CHAN-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.”

Charlie White died at age 84. White was a broadcast pioneer who was a founder of both C-FAX Victoria and CHEK-TV Victoria . He was also a long-time director of BCTV (now Global).

Brian Coxford retired after 40 years with Global BC.

Robyn Rudolph was promoted to Creative Director, Global News in British Columbia, responsible for all advertising, promotion and branding of the Global National and Global BC newscasts.

Global BC was not discriminating against police when it aired a newscast’s top three stories that were not flattering to them. A complainant said there was an anti-police bias but the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council disagreed.

On October 22, the CRTC approved an application by Shaw Communications Inc., on behalf of Canwest Global Communications Corp., for authority to change the effective control of Canwest Global’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which will henceforth be exerciced by Shaw. This change would be effected through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shaw known as 7316712 Canada Inc. Upon the closing of the proposed transaction, Shaw, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 7316712 Canada, would become the sole owner of Restructured Canwest and of CWI, and would acquire control of all broadcasting undertakings currently controlled by Canwest Global. Shaw ascribed a total value of $2.005 billion for the acquisition of all broadcasting assets controlled by Canwest Global and initially proposed a tangible benefits package in the amount of $23 million.

Events leading up to the October 22, 2010 decision:

On October 6, 2009, Canwest Global, along with its operating subsidiary Canwest Media Inc. and certain other subsidiaries, filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, R.S.C. 1985 c. C-36, as amended. At the beginning of November, Canwest Global, with the assistance of RBC Capital Markets, initiated an equity solicitation process to identify potential new Canadian investors. On February 19, 2010, after arm’s length negotiations between Shaw, Canwest Global and the Ad Hoc Committee (comprised of holders of over 70% of the 8% senior subordinated notes issued by Canwest Investments Co., due 2012), Canwest Global’s board approved Shaw’s offer. On March 31, Shaw filed an application with the CRTC for approval of its acquisition of effective control of the conventional and specialty television undertakings indirectly owned by Canwest Global. Under that original offer, Shaw was to subscribe for Class A Voting shares representing a 20% equity and 80% voting interest in Restructured Canwest for a minimum $95 million in the aggregate. On May 3, Shaw scquired from Goldman Sachs & Co. affiliates 29.9% of the voting shares and 49.9% of the common non-voting shares in the capital of CWI. On May 4, Shaw advised the CRTC that, pursuant to an amendment to the March 31 application, Shaw’s indirect equity interest would be 100% of Restructured Canwest. Shaw also advised that, in addition to acquiring the shares of CWI indirectly held by Canwest Global, it would acquire, by way of an option, the remaining shares in the capital of CWI, held by Goldman Sachs entities, immediately following Commission approval of the application. On May 18, Canwest Global filed an application for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization for restructuring purposes, as contemplated in the document entitled “Plan of Compromise, Arrangement and Reorganization”, of the Canwest Global licensed broadcasting subsidiaries pursuant to the CCAA, resulting in the issuance of new broadcasting licences. On July 28, at the end of the CCAA Proceedings, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice rendered an Order approving the Plan.

On October 27, Shaw Communications announced it had reached the final stage in its purchase of Canwest’s television operations. There would be a gradual shift of branding to Shaw Media, and the company would gradually retire the Canwest name. Shaw would also close the Canwest corporate headquarters in Winnipeg. Shaw announced a new management team for the broadcasting division. It would be headed by Paul Robertson, who previously served as president of Shaw-controlled Corus Entertainment’s television division and oversaw the purchase of the Canwest assets.

October 31st marked the 50th Anniversary of CHAN-TV going on the air. A one-hour special was broadcast on that evening, detailing the fifty-year history of the station.

Brett Manlove, vice president of Global British Columbia and general manager of Global BC (Vancouver) left the company. Kenton Boston was now senior director of national news and station manager for Global BC. Ian Haysom became regional director of news for BC and Saskatchewan (based in Vancouver where he had been news director for the last nine years). Gerry Belec became director, news design and technology based in Vancouver.

Robert Park Malcolm died at age 69. He had been with CFUN and CKNW, and had anchored the late news at BCTV for over 19 years.

On March 29, the CRTC administratively renewed the licence for a number of conventional television and transitional digital television stations until August 31, 2011. MORE…

On June 29, CHAN-DT increased its effective radiated power from 8,300 watts to the post-transitional level of 40,000 watts.

Don Smith, BCTV Vancouver vice-president of sales beginning in 1973 and president in 1982, died at the age of 80. He joined BCTV after 22 years with All-Canada Radio & Television. Smith retired from broadcasting in 1996, but continued as a consultant.

On July 27, the CRTC renewed the licence for CHAN-DT and its transmitters CHAN-TV-1 Chilliwack, CHAN-TV-2 Bowen Island, CHAN-TV-3 Squamish, CHAN-TV-4 Courtenay, CHAN-TV-5 Brackendale, CHAN-TV-6 Wilson Creek, CHAN-TV-7 Whistler, CITM-TV 100 Mile House, CITM-TV-1 Williams Lake, CITM-TV-2 Quesnel, CIFG-TV Prince George, CHKL-TV Kelowna, CHKL-TV-1 Penticton, CHKL-TV-2 Vernon, CHKL -TV-3 Revelstoke, CISR-TV Santa Rosa, CISR-TV-1 Grand Forks, CKKM-TV Oliver, CKTN-TV Trail, CKTN-TV-1 Castlegar, CKTN-TV-2 Taghum, CKTN-TV-3 Nelson, CKTN-TV-4 Creston, CHKM-TV Kamloops, and CHKM-TV-1 Pritchard, until August 31, 2016. MORE…

The deadline for conversion to digital in mandatory markets was August 31 and CHAN made the change on that date. Analog channel 8 left the air and was replaced by digital channel 22 (on the air since 2008). The virtual channel is 8.1. Vancouver was the only mandatory market for CHAN but owner, Shaw Communications, committed to converting all of the station’s over-the-air transmitters to digital by 2016.

On July 27, the CRTC approved applications by Shaw Television G.P. Inc. (the general partner) and Shaw Media Global Inc. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Shaw Television Limited Partnership (Shaw), to amend the broadcasting licence for the conventional television programming undertaking CHAN-DT Vancouver in order to add post transitional digital transmitters to replace its existing analog transmitters CHKL-TV-1 Penticton and CHKL-TV-2 Vernon. MORE…

Senior Global News team changes: Boston Kenton, the Senior Director, National News and Global Vancouver Station Manager, was promoted to VP, BC and National News; Mike Omelus, the Eastern Regional Director responsible for Global Maritimes, Global Montreal and Global Winnipeg, was promoted to Senior Director, Southern Alberta; Tim Spelliscy, the Regional Director, News, AB and Station Manager at Global Edmonton, was promoted to Senior Director, Edmonton and Prairie Region; and Ward Smith was promoted from News Director/Station Manager at Global Toronto to Senior Director, Eastern Region. Boston continued responsibility for all national and foreign news operations, including the Ottawa Bureau and The West Block, as well as all BC news operations, including CHBC/Global Okanagan; Omelus moved to Calgary and was responsible for all Global News operations in Calgary and Lethbridge, and would work with Shaw on community engagement strategies and develop models for delivering Global News to new markets; Spelliscy continued to oversee operations at the Edmonton production centre, and had new responsibilities for Global Saskatoon, Global Regina and Global Winnipeg; and Smith remained in charge of Global Toronto as well as Global Montreal and Global Maritimes, as well as the Network Resource Centre based in Toronto. Moving to Vancouver and reporting to Boston was Jeff Bollenbach, the Station Manager/News Director at Global Calgary. He would work preparing the new BC regional 24/7 news channel (BC-1) for its anticipated launch on March 1.

Wayne Cox, the weather forecaster at Global BC’s News Hour, left the station in December. He had been in the business for 44 years, both in TV and radio.

Global BC News Director and regional director, news, British Columbia and Saskatchewan Ian Haysom stepped down at the end of May. His successor as News Director at Global BC was Jeff Bollenbach who also was news director at BC1, the specialty news channel which launched at 9:00 a.m. on March 14.

Alan Clapp passed away at age 83. He pioneered BCTV’s nightly news program in the early ‘70s when the station switched to a 60-minute supper hour newscast.

On May 9, the CRTC approved the applications by Shaw Television to amend the licence for CHAN-DT Vancouver in order to add digital transmitters to replace its existing analog transmitters CHKM-TV Kamloops and CIFG-TV Prince George. The Kamloops transmitter would operate on channel 22 with a maximum effective radiated power of 30,000 watts (average ERP of 15,800 watts with an effective height above average terrain of 150 metres). The Prince George transmitter would operate on channel 29 with a maximum effective radiated power of 30,000 watts (average ERP of 15,800 watts with an EHAAT of 482 metres).

On October 9, the CRTC approved the applications by Shaw Television Limited Partnership to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language conventional television programming undertaking CHAN-DT Vancouver in order to add digital transmittters to replace its existing analog transmitters CHAN-TV-1 Chilliwack (channel 31, maximum effective radiated power of 428 watts)and CHAN-TV-4 Courtenay (channel 25, max. ERP of 4,450 watts).

Terry Dolan passed away at age 79. He worked in the news business, including CHAN-TV and CBC. He retired in 1994.

Bill Elliott died in December. The former VP production at BCTV in Vancouver helped to sign on CHCH-TV Hamilton in 1954. In 1960 he made the move west to BCTV.

On February 11, the CRTC approved the application by CHAN-DT to replace existing analog transmitter CHAN-TV-6 Wilson Creek. The new transmitter would operate on channel 23 with a maximum ERP of 4,300 watts (average ERP of 1,900 watts).

Brian Coxford retired after 40 years with Global BC.

On October 28, the CRTC approved the applications by Shaw Television Limited Partnership to amend the licence for CHAN-DT to add digital transmitters to replace its existing analog transmitters CHAN-TV-2 Bowen Island, CHAN-TV-3 Squamish, CHAN-TV-5 Brackendale, CHAN-TV-7 Whistler, CITM-TV 100 Mile House and CITM-TV-1 Williams Lake.

On December 17, the CRTC approved the application by CHAN-DT to add digital transmitters to replace its existing analog transmitters CHKM-TV-1 Pritchard (channel 9 781 watts max ERP) and CITM-TV-2 Quesnel (channel 8 569 watts max ERP).

On March 3, the CRTC approved CHAN-DT’s application to add digital transmitters to replace its existing analog transmitters CISR-TV-1 Grand Forks (ch. 7), CISR-TV Santa Rosa (ch. 44) and CKTN-TV-2 Taghum (ch. 23).

On April 29, the CRTC approved the application for CHAN-DT to add a digital transmitter to replace its existing analog transmitter CHKL-TV-3 Revelstoke. The new transmitter CHKL-DT-3 would operate on channel 7 with an average ERP of 11 watts (max. ERP of 80 watts with an EHAAT of 1,166 meters).

On March 23, the CRTC approved an application by Shaw Communications Inc. on behalf of Shaw Media Inc. and its licensed subsidiaries, for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization by transferring all of Shaw Communications’ shares in Shaw Media to Corus Entertainment Inc. or one of its subsidiaries. Since the creation of Corus in 1999, the Commission had regarded the two companies to be effectively controlled by J.R. Shaw and this reorganization wouldn’t change that. The deal was expected to close on April 1.

In early April, Corus Entertainment completed its $2.65 billion acquisition of Shaw Media. Corus now had 45 specialty TV services, 15 conventional TV channels, 39 radio stations, a global content business, and a portfolio of digital assets.

John Daly’s final newscast after 30 years at Global News BC, was August 31. Daly won the first Jack Webster Award in 1987, for the best reporting of the year, in any medium.

Finley (Fin) J. H. Anthony died at the age of 87 on July 16. He started out at CJVI Victoria in 1951, moved on to CKNW New Westminster, and then Vancouver’s CFUN, CKLG and BCTV. He was the voice of Woodward’s Department Store from 1963 to 1987. He also hosted a fishing show on KVOS-TV Bellingham.

Former BCTV anchor and commentator Bill Phillips died at the age of 83 on August 24. Over his career, he also worked at CJIB Vernon, CBC Radio and TV in Vancouver, CHQM-AM/FM and CJAZ-FM Vancouver, and CIGV Penticton.

Lloyd Colthorp (87) died on November 19. He started out in Medicine Hat radio, and then moved to CHCH-TV Hamilton, and finally, BCTV Vancouver. At BCTV, Colthorp was traffic manager and went on to become VP of programming, until his retirement in 1987.

Samantha Falk anchored her last newscast at Global BC. She joined Global News Vancouver in 2002 and had hosted Global News health series Body & Health and also spent time as a reporter with CTV News in Toronto and Vancouver.

Frank Babich, 74, died on September 14. Babich started out as one of youngest salesman in the Toronto office for CHCH-TV before moving to Vancouver to become VP of sales for BCTV/CHEK. He served in that role for 19 years up until his retirement in June 1997. Babich then joined the BC Lions and Vancouver 86ers Soccer Club in the roles of vice-president & director of sales.

Julio Pastora (41) died November 19. Pastora started his broadcasting career with CKNW-AM Vancouver in 2000. In 2006 he moved to Global BC where he served as a news producer, working for both Global National and the affiliate newscasts. Since late 2015, Pastora had been working for the BC government.

On June 13, the CRTC approved the deletion of the following CHAN-DT rebroadcast transmitters at the request of Corus Entertainment Inc. – CHAN-DT-2 Bowen Island, CHAN-DT-3 Squamish, CHAN-DT-5 Brackendale, CHAN-DT-6 Wilson Creek, CHAN-DT-7 Whistler, CHKL-DT-3 Revelstoke, CHKM-DT-1 Pritchard, CHRP-DT-2 Revelstoke, CISR-DT Santa Rosa, CISR-DT-1 Grand Forks, CITM-DT 100 Mile House, CITM-DT-1 Williams Lake, CITM-DT-2 Quesnel, CKKM-TV Oliver, CKTN-DT-2 Taghum, CKTN-TV-1 Castlegar, CKTN-TV-3 Nelson, and CKTN-TV-4 Creston.