1974: Israel H. Asper works with a Winnipeg investment group to rescue the Global Television Network from near bankruptcy. He applies for a licence to launch CKND, a Canadian voice to replace U.S. border station KCND-TV.

1975: Asper buys and closes KCND and signs on CKND-TV Winnipeg, ‘without losing an eyeball or an advertiser.’

1977: Asper and Wall Street businessman Gerald Schwartz put together a merchant banking company. Launched July 7, it is named CanWest Capital Corporation. Asper acquires 40% interest in Global Television; establishes beachhead in young pay-TV market by incorporating Universal Subscription Television (USTV) and establishes operations in several markets licensed in U.S.

1979: Asper provides financing to majority shareholders of CKVU-TV Vancouver.

1982: CanWest acquires further 20% interest in Global Television; acquires 63% interest in CKND; sells USTV.

1984: Asper buys 94% of CanWest Capital and creates CanWest Communications Inc. as new parent company for communications group.

1986: CanWest receives licences from CRTC for new TV stations in Regina and Saskatoon.

1987: STV-Regina and STV-Saskatoon are on the air.

1988: CanWest wins 100% ownership of CKVU. Later renames station U.TV.

1989: Asper buys remaining 40% interest in Global for $150 million.

1991: Initial Public Offering and listing of CanWest Global shares on the then-TSE. Baby step into international TV business with purchase of 20% interest in TV3 New Zealand.

1992: CanWest acquires 57.5% economic interest in Network TEN Australia, just released from receivership.

1993: The company buys MITV, with stations in Halifax and Saint John, NB. Expands Global Television Network in Ontario when CRTC issues licences for additional rebroadcasters in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, North Bay and Fort Erie.

1994: Buys 50% interest in La Red Network in Chile. Acquisition by Network TEN of 50% interest in Capital Television, with stations in Perth and Adelaide.

1995: CanWest stock splits, two-for-one. Purchases controlling interest in CKMI-TV Quebec City from Tele-Metropole, and extends the station’s signal throughout the province. CanWest’s market cap hits $1 billion, five times higher than cap at time of 1991 IPO.

1996: Network TEN gains sole ownership of Perth and Adelaide stations. Following a three-to-one stock split in Canada, CanWest is listed on NYSE. Sells La Red in Chile.

1997: CanWest wins regulatory OK to launch province-wide network in English in Quebec through Global Television Network (Quebec). Does deal with Irish consortium to lead launch of TV3 Ireland, first private national TV service. Asper inducted into Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Company completes its ‘national TV system’ by signing a long-term program output deal with WIC Western International Communications covering Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, AB. Asper steps aside to become executive chairman. Peter Viner is named president and CEO. CanWest raises stake in TV3 New Zealand to 100%, and launches TV4 New Zealand. At home, launches first analog specialty, Prime TV.

1998: CanWest buys a 29.9% interest in Ireland’s Ulster Television. Purchases TV and film prodco and distributor Fireworks Entertainment of Toronto.

1999: Creates an interactive media division with the launch of globaltv.com. Leonard Asper takes the top job as president and CEO of CanWest, while Viner is named vice-chairman.

2000: The Global Television Network is complete after the CRTC approves CanWest’s purchase of the conventional TV assets of WIC. The company purchases Conrad Black’s Southam papers, including 14 major Canadian dailies, 18 smaller dailies and weeklies, various Web portals, including canada.com, plus 50% of the National Post. Digital channel assets proliferate when CRTC awards 30 digital specialty channel licences. The regulator approves CanWest’s purchase of Montreal multicultural station CJNT.

2001: U.K.-based Granada Media acquires 45% of TV3 Ireland. GTN enfolds the former WIC stations in Alberta, and BCTV Vancouver also joins the GTN fold, but as required by regulator, says goodbye to hard-won station CKVU Vancouver and its interest in CFCF-TV Montreal and 50% stake in ROB-TV. Global launches Global National and Global Sunday out of Calgary.

2002: Acquires the remaining 50% interest in the National Post.