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CanWest MediaWorks Limited Partnership
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History
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Milestones
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| The CanWest MediaWorks brand was launched in the fall of 2004 and represents over 65 leading television, radio, newspaper and online brands across Canada. CanWest MediaWorks is part of the CanWest Global Communications family, an international media company which owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. |
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1970's
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The CanWest Global story began in the early 1970's when I.H. Asper - a prominent Canadian tax and corporate lawyer, author, businessman and former political leader, founded the CanWest Capital Corporation (the forerunner to today's company) and responded to a call for applications for a new television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In 1974 the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the Company's license application and a year later the independent station CKND-TV signed on, becoming Winnipeg's third over-the-air television service.
With the first "building block" in place, the Company's attention soon turned towards Toronto, where the newly licensed Global television was in financial difficulty. Global was providing programming for CanWest's new Winnipeg station, so the Company had a significant interest in Global's survival. Mr. Asper led an emergency rescue operation to save the near-bankrupt Global and, through sound management and solid operating strategies, it soon became a financial success. |
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1980's
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 Throughout the 1980s, CanWest added a Vancouver station and secured new licenses for start-ups in Regina and Saskatoon. In the following years the cross-country expansion continued with the acquisition of a station in Halifax/Saint John and, in 1997, the addition of a Quebec station. By 1989, CanWest had acquired 100% of Global. |
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1990's
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In 1991, CanWest issued a successful initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company then turned its focus to international opportunities. CanWest had made its initial foray into European television in September 1998 with the launch of TV3 in the Republic of Ireland and the securing of a 29.9% stake in Ulster Television in Northern Ireland. In 1991 the Company acquired an initial investment in TV3 New Zealand and a year later purchased a stake in Australia's Network TEN. This was followed by an increased investment in TV3 New Zealand to 100% and the launch of TV4 New Zealand.
In June 1996, CanWest demonstrated its success and growth with the listing of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
The Company entered the radio business in June 1997 with the purchase of More FM, New Zealand's top-rated commercial radio network that operates stations in each of the country's major urban markets. In October 1997, CanWest made its initial foray into the world of specialty cable with the launch of Prime TV in Canada. |
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2000 - 2005
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CanWest Radio increased its foothold in New Zealand in May 2000, with a 70% investment in RadioWorks NZ, the second largest radio group on the. In January 2001 CanWest Radio increased its holdings in RadioWorks to 100%.
In July 2000, the Global Television System - which began in 1974 with the launch of CKND Winnipeg, and slowly expanded east and west - was completed with CRTC approval of CanWest's purchase of the conventional television assets of WIC Western International Communications. The addition of three Alberta stations completed a new national Global Television Network stretching from Halifax to Vancouver. Under the terms of the deal with WIC, CanWest also acquired stations in Hamilton, Victoria, and Montreal, which have been relaunched under the CH Brand. CanWest also owns the CBC affiliates CHBC Kelowna and CKRD Red Deer.
In October 2000, CanWest entered the out-of-home advertising business when Network TEN acquired a 60% interest in Eye Corp., Australia's second largest out-of-home advertising company. In August of 2002 Network TEN purchased the remaining interest in Eye Corp. Eye Corp has built one of the largest networks of outdoor signage, airport advertising, visual merchandising, and shopping centre advertising in that country. The investment in Eye Corp extends the market reach of Network Ten and CanWest into South East Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia.
Also in 2000, CanWest entered the newspaper business with the acquisition from Hollinger Inc. of daily and weekly newspapers across Canada, as well as the national paper the National Post, and the Internet sites canada.com, plus newspaper Internet portals. CanWest owns 11 major metro daily papers across Canada, as well as 20 paid or free weeklies in smaller communities across the country.
Canwest increased its specialty channel portfolio in fall 2001 with the launch of six new digital channels housed at a broadcast facility in Winnipeg. Prime TV's operations have also moved to this Winnipeg playout centre. The Company further expanded its Winnipeg operations with the creation of a Shared Services Unit, located in the city's downtown, to provide certain functions for CanWest's print, television and interactive operations across the country. The Shared Services Units consist of a Customer Contact Centre that serves the circulation requirements of its newspaper operations; a Business Services Centre that provides payroll and accounts payable functions for CanWest's television, newspaper and interactive operations; and an information technology and data group to manage IT systems across the company. CanWest has also made its first foray into the Canadian radio market when it won a license for a new jazz station in Winnipeg.
In October 2004, CanWest launched the CanWest MediaWorks brand to unify and represent all its Canadian operations. With the strongest portfolio of media assets in Canada, the new brand symbolized the integrated approach the Company was taking to delivering content to consumers across multiple platforms, as well as the opportunity for advertisers to leverage this strong portfolio. |
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2005 - Today
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In 2004, CanWest MediaWorks’ interactive division announces the launch of working.com, Canada’s fastest growing job site. Over the next 12 months, the company also launched or expanded their online classified sites as part of the canada.com network, including driving.ca and connecting.com, remembering.com.
In April of 2005, CanWest MediaWorks also entered into the free commuter daily newspaper arena with the launch of Dose, a new free daily magazine and interactive brand for young adult Canadians. The company also partnered with Torstar and Metro International to launch the free daily 'Metro Ottawa' and Metro Vancouver.
In October 2005, the company completed a successful IPO of the CanWest MediaWorks Income Fund, and in Canada, the company reorganized into 3 main legal entities under the CanWest MediaWorks brand; CanWest MediaWorks Inc., which is comprised of Television and Radio, the National Post and Sales and Marketing; CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc., which is comprised of the newspapers and interactive properties; and; CanWest MediaWorks Limited Partnership, which is comprised of the various corporate services that support our businesses.
In May 2007, CanWest MediaWorks Inc. has entered into a privatization agreement with CanWest MediaWorks Income Fund and CanWest MediaWorks Limited Partnership. |
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