1955
Channel 8 had been assigned for use at Owen Sound. W. T. "Doc" Cruickshank,

Doc Cruickshank

owner of CKNX-AM in Whingham, wanted to have a small television station in his community and proposed to move channel 8 to his town. He had to move fast though. The National Broadcasting Co. in the U. S. had applied to the American broadcast regulator for the use of channel 8 for its proposed station at Buffalo, N.Y. By international agreement, Canada and the United States had agreed that there must be a spacing of 171 miles between stations operating on the same channel. If NBC got channel 8 in Buffalo, Doc would be out of luck for the use of that channel at Wingham, and perhaps not have a chance of getting a TV station at all. He went to Ottawa and the regulator promised him channel 8. He was told however that he would have to invest a lot more money for a more powerful signal than what he was proposing. In the end, he got Ottawa's approval.

The RCA transmitter alone would cost $223,000. He had originally planned to spend $125,000 in total on a lower powered TV station. The supplier assisted him financially on the 650 foot tower. That was worth $100,000. The CKNX staff also gave him full backing on the new ventrue.

It usually takes at least a year to go from the planning stage to getting a new station on the air. Doc had CKNX-TV up an running within three months. It was 6:00 p.m., November 18 that channel 8 began broadcasting from Wingham - "the smallest community in the world with its own television station". Wingham only had some 3,000 residents. CKNX-TV served a market made up of five agriculturally oriented counties in mid-western Ontario.

The sign-on program was called "Focus", 60 minutes of news, sports, weather and farm news, along with a Musical combo and an emcee. The program schedule, produced from two studios with one camera, consisted of 30 hours of live production weekly.

Other studio productions included: a daily hour-long women's show, featuring cooking demonstrations. interviews and musical entertainment. The hostess was Marg Brophy, the show called "M'Lady"; Two country and western shows weekly, "Circle 8 Ranch" and "Western Roundup". The emcees were Johnny Brent and Ernie King; Two Sunday religious half-hour shows, "Sing Time", sponsored by the United Church, and "Springs of Living Water" sponsored by the Baptist Church; a weekly half hour "Great Outdoors" for the camper and sportsman with emcee Ernie King.

Doc Cruickshank had expected to lose $30,000 in the first year of operation for the TV station. Instead, just after five months on the air, CKNX-TV had almost broken even.

For the record, NBC ended up with channel 17 in Buffalo. It operated WBUF-TV between 1956 and 1958. In 1959, channel 17 returned to the air as WNED-TV. WGR-TV (channel 2) became the NBC affiliate in the market.

1957
CKNX-TV Channel 8 had an effective radiated power of 20,000 watts video and 12,000 watts audio and was a CBC affiliate. It was owned by Radio Station CKNX Limited (W. T. Cruickshank 87.6%, G. W. Cruickshank 4.1%, J. J. Cruickshank 4.1% and Mrs. L. McCall 4.2%).

W. T. Cruickshank was president of the company and manager. G. W. Cruickshank was operations manager. C. R. Hamilton was commercial manager. D. G. Hildebrand was production and program director. John Strong was news director and Scott Reid was director of engineering.

Effective radiated power was listed at the end of the year as 38,000 watts video and 19,500 watts audio.

Vin Dittmer^1,2,3 was in Sales and talks about those early days.

1962
In the early morning of March 8, the former high school building that housed CKNX Radio and Television burned to the ground, and nothing was saved. However, with the help of neighboring stations in London, Barrie, Kitchener and Toronto, CKNX-TV was back on the air the same night, and showed pictures of the fire, projected on a white sheet.

From various locations in Wingham and from the patched-up shell of the burned-out studio, CKNX operations continued without a hitch.

Just over a year later, now equipped with two cameras and all new equipment, CKNX-TV moved into a new modern building, and held a week- long open house to which more than 10,000 people came from all over western Ontario.

1965
CKNX-TV now had an effective radiated power of 90,000 watts video and 55,000 watts audio.

1967
John Strong was news director. Ric Wellwood did news.

1968
David Burgess left CKNX Radio-TV after 10 years to work in the U.S. He had been a studio engineer.

1969
On July 3, the CRTC approved the transfer of 12,600 preferred shares of capitol stock in Wingham Investments Ltd., a shareholder in Radio Station CKNX Ltd., from W.T. Cruickshank to G.W. Cruickshank.

1970
Jerry Chomyn joined CKNX-AM-TV as a reporter and anchor.

1971
"Doc" Cruickshank died on February 28, a day before a deal to sell CKNX-AM and TV to the London Free Press of London, Ontario, was to close. Wingham Investments Ltd. sold the stations to the London Free Press Holdings Ltd. 

CKNX-TV was having trouble attracting selective time to attract national accounts. Combined with CFPL-TV, this hopefully would be more possible. The London Free Press also promised to air some French language programs on CKNX-TV from the CBC as it has done on CFPL-TV London.

Murray Brown of London was President of CFPL Broadcasting Ltd. and CKNX Broadcasting Ltd. (new corporate name for Wingham), and the General Manager for CKNX-AM-TV was now long time staff member Ross Hamilton. He had been CKNX-TV’s sales manager.

1976
Until the early part of the year, CKNX-TV was still using black-and-white 16mm film for its newsgathering. Instead of switching to electronic newsgathering (ENG) as many stations across North America had done by that point, CKNX opted to use Super-8 colour film. It was decided ENG would be cost prohibitive for CKNX at that time because unlike most stations, its reporters were stationed at bureaus spread out throughout the station's coverage area rather than all at the main station, and adopting ENG would require every bureau to have ENG facilities added.

1977
CKNX-FM signed on the air. Space had to be created in the existing building for the new FM operation. To make room for new studios, record library and office space, CKNX-FM got some of CKNX-TV's storage area.

1980
CKNX-TV installed a new GE Model TTC 16,000 FH 16 kw transmitter. It replaced a 25 year old RCA unit which would now be used for standby purposes. The STL unit was also replaced and a 300 square foot addition to the transmitter building was built. Chief engineer Scott Reid reported the new transmitter provided a slight increase in power, extending the CKNX-TV contour radius by about three miles.

Jerry Chomyn became program director for CKNX-AM-FM. He had been a sales rep with CKNX-TV.

1982
Ross Hamilton was promoted to vice president and general manager of CKNX-AM-FM-TV.

1983
Murray T. Brown retired as president of the broadcasting divisions of London Free Press Holdings Ltd. He would remain as a company director. C. Ross Hamilton became president of CKNX-AM-FM-TV.

Walter J. Blackburn died December 16. Control of the company passed to his daughter, Martha.

1984
On May 22, a rebroadcast transmitter for CKNX-TV at Wiarton was approved. It would be owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation but broadcast CKNX programming, including network shows carried on the station. The new transmitter would operate on channel 20 with an effective radiated video power of 125,000 watts.

London Free Press Holdings Ltd. and its subsidiary CKNX Broadcasting Ltd., merged into The Blackburn Group, Inc.

1986
W.T. ‘Doc' Cruikshank, founder of CKNX-AM-TV, was posthumously appointed to the C.A.B. Broadcast Hall of Fame and to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Bob Elsden

Ray Baynton was news director for CKNX-TV and Radio.

CFPL-TV and CKNX-TV ceased to be affiliates of the CBC Network, and became independent stations.

1991
Ted Eadinger was appointed vice president of television for Blackburn Communications Systems.

1992
Martha Blackburn, Chairman of the Blackburn Group died and subsequently both CFPL-TV and CKNX-TV were sold to Baton Broadcasting of Toronto.

1994
On September 1, CFTO-TV Ltd., Nation's Capital Television Inc. (CHRO-TV Pembroke), South West Ontario Broadcasting Inc. (CFPL-TV London & CKNX-TV Wingham) and Mid-Canada Communications (Canada) Corp. (CKSO-TV Sudbury, CJIV-TV Sault Ste. Marie and CFCL-TV Timmins - and all CTV affiliates and their "Twin Stick" CBC re-broadcasters) amalgamated to become BBS Ontario Inc. a division of Baton Broadcasting Inc.

1996
In September, it was announced that Baton & Electrohome (CKCO-TV Kitchener & CFRN-TV Edmonton) would merge, subject to CRTC approval. This would give Baton 42.9% of CTV Television Network Ltd. Electrohome's share of CTV was 14.3%.

1997
On February 25, the Baton-Electrohome alliance announced a deal with CHUM Ltd., involving the swapping of some TV stations, to give Baton control of CTV. Baton would get CHUM's 14.3% interest in CTV. Baton would swap CFPL-TV London, CKNX-TV Wingham, CHWI-TV Wheatley and CHRO-TV Pembroke/Ottawa for CHUM's Atlantic Television Network (ATV) - (CJCH-TV Halifax, CJCB-TV Sydney, CKCW-TV Moncton/Charlottetown and CKLT-TV Saint John/Fredericton). ATV was a CTV affiliate. Baton also gets CHUM's Atlantic Satellite Network. On approval, Baton would have 57% of CTV. The next largest shareholder is Western International Communications with 28.6%.

The CRTC approved this application and the one involving Baton and Electrohome on August 28, 1997.

After eight years on the air, "Family Farmer" and host/producer Kevin Stewart were dropped by CKNX-TV.

1998
CHUM Ltd. took over management of both CFPL-TV and CKNX-TV. The CKNX-TV studios were re-designed and dedicated to providing news coverage of the area for broadcast in conjunction with its carriage of CFPL-TV's dinner-hour newscast.

2005
In March 2005 CHUM announced that in the Fall, CKNX-TV would be one of six CHUM owned stations to be re-branded as A-Channel stations, to facilitate cross-promotional opportunities.

On August 2, The New NX was re-branded as A Channel (Wingham).

Allan Waters, the founder of CHUM Limited, owner of A-Channel Wingham,  passed away at the age of 84, on December 3rd.

2006
On July 12 it was announced that Bell Globemedia would pay C$1.7 billion for CHUM Ltd., in a deal that would see the company become part of the BCE-owned media conglomerate, subject to CRTC approval.  On August 31, the two companies announced that BGM had been successful in its offer to acquire approximately 6.7 million common shares and approximately 19.2 million non-voting Class B shares of CHUM.  The shares were to be placed in the hands of an independent trustee pursuant to a voting trust agreement approved by the CRTC.

On November 22, the CRTC approved the transfer of effective control of CHUM Limited from Mr. Allan Waters to his estate, following his death in December 2005. The approval represented the preliminary step to enable the transfer of CHUM's shares to a trust, which received approval on July 12. This transfer was not related to the pending sale of CHUM to Bell Globemedia. Prior to his death, Mr. Waters was the sole shareholder of Allan Waters Ltd., which in turn, owned approximately 87% of CHUM's voting shares. The executors of the estate were James Allan Waters, Ronald Allan Waters, Sheryl Bourne and Robert Sutherland.

On December 12^th, it was announced that Bell Globemedia would henceforth be known as CTVglobemedia.

2007
A CRTC hearing on the CTVglobemedia application to acquire the assets of CHUM Limited was held on April 30^th 2007.  On June 8 the CRTC approved the acquisition of CHUM Ltd. by CTVglobemedia, on condition that CTV sell off its five City-TV stations, CITY-TV Toronto, CHMI-TV Portage La Prairie/Winnipeg, CKEM-TV Edmonton, CKAL-TV Calgary and CKVU-TV Vancouver.   Rogers Communications announced on June 25^th that a deal had been reached for them to buy these stations from CTV, subject to CRTC approval. Among the CHUM assets acquired by CTVglobemedia in the deal were seven television stations, including CKNX-TV,  21 specialty channels and some 33 radio stations.

2008
CTV decided to rebrand the "A Channel" stations as "A". The transition began in June with newscasts (ie: "A News"). The change to "A" officially took place at 6:00 p.m., August 11.

2009
On February 25, CTV Inc. announced that, given the ongoing structural problems facing the conventional television sector in Canada and the current global economic crisis, it would not be applying for renewal of the CKNX-TV Wingham and CHWI-TV Wheatley licences (and its rebroadcaster in Windsor). CTV said as a result of today's announcement, Wingham and Windsor would no longer be provided with their own distinctive local programming. News related to the broader Southwestern Ontario region would be provided through CFPL-TV London. The CKNX-TV and CHWI-TV licences would expire at the end of August.

On March 3, CTV confirmed further steps in its on-going efforts to address the grave financial reality facing its conventional 'A' stations by announcing the restructuring of its local program operations and significant staff layoffs. Effective immediately, 'A' Morning, the three-hour local morning show produced separately in Victoria, London and Barrie, would be cancelled. In Ottawa, the evening, late night and weekend newscasts would be cancelled. A total of 118 positions were eliminated at 'A' stations in Victoria, London, Barrie and Ottawa, representing approximately 28% of the 'A' stations' overall staff count.

On April 27th the CRTC began hearings to consider CTVglobemedia's applications for various OTA licence renewals, along with similar applications from several other major broadcasting entities. During the hearing, CTVglobemedia reaffirmed its wish not to renew the Wingham, Wheatley/Windsor and Brandon stations, and its willingness to sell them for a dollar apiece.

On April 30th, in a full-page ad in the Globe and Mail, Shaw Communications CEO and Vice Chair Jim Shaw announced that Shaw was prepared to buy the three CTV stations at $1 each. On the opposite page in the Globe and Mail, in a half page ad, CTVglobemedia announced its acceptance of Shaw's offer, and thanked the cable operator for 'stepping up'. The proposed transaction would of course be subject to CRTC approval.

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 CKNX-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."

On June 30th, CTVglobemedia announced that the deal for Shaw to buy CKNX Wingham had fallen through.

On July 6th, the CRTC announced one-year licence renewals, from September 1st 2009 to August 31st 2010, for all the private conventional television programming undertakings operated by CTVglobemedia Inc, including CKNX-TV. The decision included requirements for a minimum of 14 hours of local programming per broadcast week in certain designated major markets, and seven hours of local programming per week in certain markets specified as ‘non-metropolitan' which would include CKNX-TV.

In addition, despite CTVglobemedia not having applied to renew its licences for CKX-TV Brandon, Man, (which it planned to close down), and CKNX-TV Wingham and CHWI-TV Wheatley/Windsor (which it proposed to convert to rebroadcasters for CFPL-TV London), the CRTC gave one-year renewals to these stations "...in order to avoid jeopardizing any potential discussions, as well as to keep all options open and prevent any premature closing of the stations involved..".

In September, CKNX-TV, after 54 years of local service, ceased broadcasting local programming, and became a rebroadcaster of CFPL-TV London.

Audio:

Written by Bill Dulmage - Updated July, 2010