A Channel

The Craig family, until 1997, operated two television stations – MTN (Manitoba Television Network) served Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba; and CKX-TV Brandon, Manitoba. CKX is the oldest television station under the Craig brand. In the late 90's, Canwest Global and Craig Broadcasting applied for two new television licences in Alberta (Edmonton & Calgary). Craig won the bid and launched A-Channel Edmonton (CKEM-TV) on September 18, 1997. A-Channel Calgary (CKAL-TV) launched the next day. At the time of the launch, both A-Channel stations were the most advanced television facilities in all of Canada. Both stations are also high-definition ready. In 1999, the Craig family relaunched MTN as "A-Channel Manitoba", giving Winnipeg a state-of-the-art television newsroom. In the same year, Craig also applied for a new licence for Victoria, BC. Craig lost to CHUM. A-Channel models itself similarly to CHUM – orienting itself as a local alternative to the national networks. In 2002, in a surprise move the CRTC awarded Craig a television licence in Toronto – the first television station in 30 years. In 2003, A-Channel Edmonton staff went on strike, accusing the company of poor wages and working conditions. Two days later, Toronto 1 (CKXT-TV) began broadcasting. Craig's mandate is for each station to be self-sufficient – meaning amongst other things each station would operate its own transmission centre. Each station also produces its own news and local programming. However because of the strike in Edmonton, Calgary is now producing most of the regional programming for Alberta, and Edmonton may lose its transmission centre to Calgary. In late 2003/early 2004, Craig Media put up for sale all of its television assets – A-Channel Edmonton, A-Channel Calgary, A-Channel Manitoba, CKX-TV Brandon, Toronto-1; and specialty cable/satellite channels MTV Canada, MTV 2, and TV Land. The poor performance of Toronto-1 and the pulling out of a major financial backer were both to blame for the Craigs to pull out of broadcasting. In March 2004, the CRTC approved the sale of all Craig broadcast assets except Toronto-1 to CHUM Limited – owners of CityTV Toronto. In January 2005, CHUM announced it will rebrand the A-Channel stations to "CityTV" in September 2005. Toronto-1 was sold to Quebecor, the owners of the Sun Newspaper Chain. A-Channel is now owned by CTV GlobeMedia. In 2007,CTV GlobeMedia bought CHUM Limited,the parent of Citytv,A-Channel and CP24.. While the deal was approved, CTV GlobeMedia has to shed itsself of some assets, and sold Citytv to Rogers Communications.

A Channel