CICT-DT (Global Network), Calgary

1953
Mayor Don H. MacKay announced he would head a group of city interests in seeking a license to operate at television station. MacKay, former manager of CJCJ Radio (CKXL), revealed that his group had made application to the Department of Transport in late February.

A joint application by radio stations CFAC, CFCN and CKXL was filed under the name Calgary Television Ltd. They proposed to use channel 2 with an effective radiated power of 10,900 watts video and 5,450 watts audio. Antenna height would be 287 feet above average terrain. The application was deferred by the CBC Board of Governors. The board wanted to allow additional applications from the city to be reviewed, applications which were almost complete. This included one on behalf of Calgary's mayor, Don MacKay. The Calgary applications were heard again later in the year and the CBC approved the Calgary Television Ltd. application. Bert Cairns, manager of CFAC, was likely to run the new TV station.

1954
Calgary Television Ltd. received approval to increase effective radiated power from 10,900 to 100,000 watts video and from 5,450 t0 50,000 watts audio.

CHCT-TV, Channel 2, signed on at 6:50 p.m. October 8 as a CBC affiliate. The studio, offices and antenna were located on a hill seven miles west of the city limits.

During construction of the transmission tower, the 70 foot, 5 ton antenna was being hoisted to the top of the 600 foot tower when the cable snapped and the antenna fell almost the full 600 feet to imbed itself almost 15 feet in the ground. No one was injured, and the antenna was able to be repaired causing a ten day delay in the opening of the station.

The first program broadcast on CHCT was a CBC News bulletin, followed at 7:00 p.m. with an educational film entitled How to Build an Igloo. This was followed by the film Jeannie at 7:30, and the September 20th WIFU football game between Regina and Winnipeg at 9:30. The Calgary Herald criticized the football telecast for not following the ball closely enough. CHCT signed off that night at 10:30.

1955
Manager Herb Stewart said filmed shows would be augmented by live local shows upon completion of the station's studios around July 15. A woman's show featuring fashions, design and household hints and a kitchen show would be two of the first local programs scheduled. CHCT would also present local news, weather and sports as well as a local disc jockey. Stewart said because CBC programs dropped off during the summer, those shows would be replaced with popular syndicated programs.

Ed Whalen joined the station.

CHCT moved its studios and offices from the transmitter site on the old Banff Coach Road to a renovated badminton club/sea cadet drill hall at 955 Rideau Road S. W. As a result, for the first time in almost a year, CHCT was now broadcasting live shows from its studios. Station manager Herb Stewart estimated there would be at least 22 hours of locally produced shows every week.

Bob Nystedt joined CHCT-TV as promotions manager. He had been employed by the Calgary Herald.

otable production successes at the original studio were: "Klara's Korner", a cooking show which was in national syndication for many years; "Yan Can Cook" with host Martin Yan; over 600 of these shows were produced and syndicated throughout North America; "Stampede Wrestling" was produced for over 20 years and found loyal audiences world wide; "It Figures" originated at CFAC-TV and was in continuous production for nearly 20 years.

By the time the station was a year old, CHCT signed on the air weekdays at 4:30 p.m., at 5:00 on Saturdays and 1:30 on Sundays, and signed off nightly after midnight. CHCT broadcast CBC national news Monday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m., followed by local news, weather and sports from 6:40 to 7:00.

John H. Battison was general manager.

Canadian Professional Football games, including the Grey Cup final, would be seen live from Vancouver on inter-connected Eastern stations. Delayed telecasts would be seen on all other stations on either the Sunday or Monday following the game. The 10 connected stations in the East were: CBLT, CBOT, CBMT, CHCH, CFPL, CKCO, CKLW, CKWS, CHEX, and CKVR. These stations would carry 20-26 games. Fourteen games would be seen on CKSO, CJIC and CFPA...stations not connected to the microwave. In the West, seven stations would carry kinescopes of the games to be played in Western Interprovincial Football: CBWT, CKX, CKCK, CFQC, CHCT, CFRN and CBUT.

1956
Ray Torgud, production manager of CKRD Red Deer, Stu Phillips, announcer with CHED Edmonton, and Ron Robison, production manager of CJOC Lethbridge, all joined CHCT as director-announcers.

1957
CKXL Ltd. sold its 11,500 shares of Calgary Television Ltd. to Frederick Shaw. Shaw had recently released control of CKXL-AM by selling his interest to Tel-Ray Ltd.

CHCT-TV channel 2 was operating with an effective radiated power of 100,000 watts video and 50,000 watts audio. It was a basic CBC affiliate and the President of Calgary Television Ltd. was Fred W. Shaw. Herb Stewart was general manager of CHCT-TV. Richard Carson was operations manager, Ed Whalen was news and sports director, and Barry Nicholls was promotions manager.

Ownership of Calgary Televison Limited: H. R. Carson 0.1%; St. Clair Balfour 0.1%; The Southam Co. Ltd. 19.8%; Taylor, Pearson & Carson 13.3%; CKXL Ltd. 33.1%; F. R. Shaw 0.1%; A. R. McKenzie 0.1%; H. G. Love 7.2%; Mrs. M. Love 3.8%; J. A. Love 5.8%; W. N. Love 6.4%; G. L. Carter 5.2%; Mrs. Flora Carter 0.6%; R. W. Lamb 2.9%; Mrs. Emma Bruce 1.5%.

1958
Barry Nicholls was a producer. Chuck Moore was a director.

Ad slogan: The live station - that gets results - CHCT-TV Channel 2 Calgary.

1960
Herbert S. Stewart left CHCT-TV as manager (since 1954) to become executive vice president of Chinook Communications Ltd. Chinook planned to apply for a second television station at Calgary.

Frederick Shaw was president of Calgary Television Ltd. A.M. "Bert" Cairns was appointed general manager. He had been with CFAC Radio. He started in broadcasting at CKUA in 1929, joined CFAC in 1942 as manager. CFAC sales manager Don Hartford took over as acting manager. He started at CFAC in 1944 as an announcer, moved to promotions in 1946 and sales in 1948, becoming sales manager in 1951. Reuben Hamm was farm service director.

CHCT-TV now had competition with the launch of CFCN-TV channel 4. The station ran a print ad to remind viewers and advertisers that CHCT was first in Calgary: When you think of Calgary you think of football and McMahon stadium, world's finest upland game, hockey at the Corral, world-famous chuck wagon races, skiing in the Rockies ... and CHCT-TV Channel 2 - First in Calgary.

Barry Nicholls left CHCT as promotion manager for the new CJAY-TV in Winnipeg. He was replaced at CHCT-TV by Ian Grant. A.M. Cairns, manager of CHCT-TV, appointed George A. Brown as retail sales manager (effective January 1, 1961). He had been production manager at CFAC Radio.

Ad: When you think of CALGARY you think of CHCT-TV channel 2. First in Calgary.

1965
By this time, CHCT-TV had a rebraodcast transmitter at Drumheller – CHCT-TV-1 – operating on channel 8.

1966
Frederick Shaw was still noted as President of Calgary Television Ltd.

1967
Approval was given for the transfer of 39,000 common shares of Calgary Television Ltd. to Selkirk Holdings Ltd.

George Brown was sales manager.

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.

1968
As of January 15, T. William (Bill) Townsend became marketing director. J.N. Inkster was general manager.

CHCT was purchased by Selkirk Broadcasting and the station became CFAC-TV to show its affiliation with Selkirk's CFAC-AM.

Dave Penn, manager of CFAC was named manager of CHCT-TV by Norm Botterill, vice president of Selkirk Holdings Ltd. Penn succeeded Norman Inkster who had become director of planning for Selkirk. John Ansell, formerly in charge of programming and production at CKWX Vancouver, was named CFAC's manager.

Ad: Eye Witness on Calgary. See it Happen. 2TV.

1969
CHCT-TV was known as Calgary's Eyewitness Station.

Vic Schafer left CHCT-TV to become manager of CFCN-TV Lethbridge.

1974
On July 29, Calgary Television Ltd. was given approval to disaffilate from the CBC Television network effective September, 1975, when the CBC was scheduled to launch its own station in the city.

1975
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. opened its own Calgary television station – CBRT – on September 1. As authorized, CFAC-TV discontinued its CBC affiliation on that date and became an independent station.

1978
When CFAC-TV had its licence renewed, it received CRTC commendations for its development of local live production, which includes 11 series and 350 hours syndicated to ten other Canadian stations.

1979
CFAC-TV began to market itself with sister station CFAC-TV-7 Lethbridge. They were known simply as "2&7" for channel 2 Calgary and channel 7 Lethbridge.

1981
CFAC-TV - Calgary's pioneer television station - moved to a new home. The $5 million Calgary Television Centre was located at 222-23rd Street N. E. The 53,000 square foot plant featured three studios (70' x 50', 50' x 50' and 30' x 20'). There were two cameras for each studio. Director of engineering Bill McCambly said the project was conceived in November of 1979. Construction began in June of 1980, and was completed in June of this year.

A seven camera mobile was added shortly after CFAC-TV acquired the rights to the then new Calgary Flames hockey franchise. The station has been the television outlet for the Flames since 1980.

Steve Legault was a reporter. Rick Copley was an ENG photographer. Ed Whalen was a sports anchor. Steve Abrams was a news anchor. Ted Arnold was news director.

1983
On July 21, approval was granted for the transfer of 200 Class B voting shares of Selkirk Communications Ltd. from Southam Inc. to John T. Ferguson, and subsequently, the transfer of these shares from Mr. Ferguson, together with 200 Class B shares from each of seven other individual shareholders, to the Canada Trust Co., pursuant to a voting trust agreement. Southam held 20% of the voting shares and approximately 28% of the non-voting shares of Selkirk Communications. Selkirk owned the following broadcast companies: Selkirk Broadcasting Ltd., Lethbridge Television Ltd., Calgary Television Ltd., and Niagara Television Ltd.  

1986
Ron MacLean replaced Dave Hodge on CBC's hockey broadcasts. For the past two seasons he had been host of the Calgary Flames' midweek games and worked for CFAC-TV.

1989
When CFAC-TV had its licence renewed on April 6, the CRTC noted that Calgary Television Ltd. was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Selkirk Communications Ltd. and that effective control of Selkirk resided with the Canada Trust Company pursuant to the provisions of a voting trust agreement respecting the 80% of the voting shares that were held by independent directors of Selkirk. The Commission had received applications for the transfer of effective control of Selkirk to Maclean Hunter Ltd. and for the subsequent transfer of Calgary Television to WIC Western International Communications. At the renewal hearing, the licensee told the commission: “We were Calgary's first television signal, but, with cable, there are now more than two dozen. With this dramatic change, we find we can still distinguish ourselves best by being Calgary's local station, responding to local conditions and local needs. We're proud of our community and proud to be part of it”. CFAC-TV saw itself as the "alternative" viewing choice in Calgary and, accordingly, scheduled its programming somewhat differently than other stations in its market. For example, CFAC-TV scheduled its early evening local newscast at 5:30 p.m. with entertainment programming commencing at 6:00 p.m.  In conjunction with other stations and production companies, CFAC-TV produced a number of children’s shows along with Canadian music/variety specials. CFAC-TV also developed an "encore channel" in co-operation with local cable companies which allowed the station to provide its local programming, including news, at different times throughout the day. 

On September 28, the CRTC approved the purchase of Selkirk Communications Ltd. by Maclean Hunter Ltd. and then the transfer of Calgary Television Ltd. (CFAC-TV and its transmitters CFAC-TV-1 Drumheller and CFAC-TV-2 Banff) and of Lethbridge Television Ltd. (CFAC-TV-7 Lethbridge and its transmitters CFAC-TV-6 Coleman, CFAC-TV-5 Brooks and CFAC-TV-4 Burmis) to Westcom TV Group Ltd. Maclean Hunter already owned CFCN-TV in Calgary and could not have two television stations in the same market. Westcom was a subsidiary of WIC Western International Communications Ltd. WIC already owned CHQR-AM in Calgary.
 
1990
In March, CFAC-TV became CKKX-TV.

Jim Bagshaw became General Manager. Over the years, the station had the following serve as GM: John Battison, Herb Stewart, Bert Cairns, Norm Inkster, Dave Penn, and Noel Wagner.

1991
Jim Bagshaw was named president of CKKX-TV, replacing Dave Penn who took early retirement.

1992
Growth in recent years was largely focused on News. To this end a satellite uplink truck was acquired and news mobile electronic news gathering micro-wave trucks were added to the fleet.

1993
On September 7, CKKX-TV became known as "Calgary 7", and the call letters were changed to CICT-TV. "Calgary 7" reflected the station's cable channel position, while the call sign represented "Independent Calgary Television".

1995
On January 23, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CICT-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.

CICT-TV had its licence renewed on August 24th. At the renewal hearing, Westcom told the Commission that CICT-TV reflects Calgary's diverse cultures through community programs, promotions and telethons. CICT-TV also broadcasts locally-produced children's programs such as "Kidstreet" and "Monty's Travelling Reptile Show".

Leslie Miller left CICT to co-anchor CFRN-TV's Eyewitness News team as of September 11.

1996
CICT-TV laid off 30 employees, reducing its full-time staff from 159 to 129. President Jim Bagshaw said the reductions were a result of a re-definition of the way the station did business and not the result of financial problems.

CICT-TV's vice president of engineering Bill Macambly retired. He joined CJLH-TV in Lethbridge in 1956 and moved to CHCT-TV in 1969 and saw the station through the CFAC-TV, CKXX-TV and CICT-TV years.

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.

1997
Westcom TV Group Ltd. became WIC Television Ltd.

Jim Bagshaw, who was in charge of CICT-TV, became president and CEO of WIC's Alberta television stations, splitting time between CICT and CITV. His promotion followed Art Reitmayer's move to president and CEO of BCTV.

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.

CFAC morning personality Jim Hughes also did weather at Calgary 7.

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.

1999
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.

Ed Whalen announced his retirement on his 51st anniversary in broadcasting. The 71 year old would continue with Calgary Flames hockey broadcasts until April 15 and his evening Calgary 7 sportscasts until the end of September.

Glen Young was Vice President of Sales for ITV Edmonton, RDTV Red Deer, Calgary 7 and CISA Lethbridge.

2000
Following an April hearing in Vancouver, in July, the CRTC announced the approval of the purchase of WIC Television by CanWest Television, which included CICT-TV.

On September 4, CICT-TV became part of the Global Television Network.

2007
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.

2009
On March 5, the CRTC approved an application by Canwest Television Limited Partnership to operate an English-language transitional digital television programming undertaking associated with CICT-TV Calgary. The applicant proposed that the station simulcast the current analog programming service of CICT-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 CICT-TV tower on channel 41C with an average effective radiated power of 3,200 watts. 

CICT-TV received approval to decrease effective radiated power from 100,000 watts video and 10,000 watts audio to 56,000 watts video and 5,600 watts audio, and decrease antenna height from 301.5 metres to 301 metres. The non-directional antenna pattern would be maintained. Canwest and Harvard Broadcasting entered into an agreement whereby Harvard would build a new tower on the existing CICT-TV tower site to accommodate their new FM antenna and to increase the amount of tower space available to other Calgary broadcasters. Once the Harvard tower was completed a new antenna for CICT-TV would be installed on the Harvard tower.

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.