Global Television Network : The Global Television Network, based in Toronto and owned by Global Communications Ltd., went on the air on January 6, 1974, with six transmitters serving viewers in the province of Ontario. Within months, Global Communications Limited had sold the network because of heavy financial losses, to Global Ventures Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of Global Ventures Western Ltd., IWC Communications and Seymour Epstein. As a condition of its license, Global had promised to use programs by independent Canadian producers but American programming became a staple of its schedule. By the late 1970s, Global Ventures owned most of the network. By 1985, Israel "Izzy" Asper was the principal shareholder and in 1989 he became the full owner through his Winnipeg-based company Canwest Communications Enterprises Inc. (forerunner of Canwest Global Communications Corporation). The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the deal in 1990. Asper's ambition was to create a third national television network to compete with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and CTV. CanWest Global also expanded internationally in the 1990s, investing in television networks in Chile and Australia and in a New Zealand radio network. By 1995, Canwest Global had television stations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia and wanted to acquire more television stations in order to become a truly national network. In 2000, the CRTC approved the takeover by Canwest Global of Western International Communications (WIC), giving Canwest Global eight new television stations, including CHEK-TV in Victoria and CHCH (OnTV) in Hamilton. On September 3, 2001 Canwest Global began broadcasting a national newscast based in Vancouver, replacing separate newscasts that served the east and the west. Canwest Global also expanded into other media, buying 220 newspapers, magazines and internet properties from Hollinger Inc. in 2000. It also bought 50 percent of the National Postmnewspaper, gaining full ownership the next year. In 2001 Izzy Asper was executive chairperson of Canwest Global and his son Leonard was chief executive. Jack, Ian. Old-line broadcasters in tough fight for market share. The Canadian Press, printed in The Ottawa Citizen, November 21, 1995, p. C4.
Marotte, Bertrand. CanWest TV system going ahead, Asper says. The Ottawa Citizen, January 19, 1995, p. B10.
