In This Report:

As the new head of CanWest Global, Peter Viner looks to expand the network’s media holdings. p. 23

Cover montage index p. 24

Mintz on Asper p. 27

Brinton on Asper p. 28

CanWest history: an overview p. 30

Asper in Alberta: a fitting adieu p. 31

1974: Asper wins licence to establish independent station cknd-tv in Winnipeg, rescues the near-bankrupt Global Television Network in Toronto.

1977: CanWest Capital Corporation acquires 40% interest in Global.

1982: Acquires another 20% interest in Global, and 63% of cknd.

1986: Wins licences for new tv stations in Regina and Saskatoon. Licences are quashed by the government. Asper challenges and wins back the licences.

1988: After five years of legal wrangling with competitive bidders, CanWest takes 100% of ckvu-tv Vancouver, renamed u.tv two years later.

1989: CanWest acquires the remaining 40% of Global.

1991: Initial public offering of CanWest shares, which are listed on the tse.

The first foray into the international market comes with the acquisition of a 20% interest in TV3 New Zealand, which is in receivership.

1992: CanWest buys into a 57.5% economic interest of Network Ten, Australia.

1993: Buys mitv, the regional Maritimes broadcast group.

Global expands its Ontario reach with rebroadcast licences in Sudbury, Sault St. Marie, Timmins, North Bay and Fort Erie.

1994: Acquires a 50% interest in La Red Network in Chile, which it sells two years later after an unsuccessful attempt to crack the Latin American market.

Acquires a 25% interest in Talk Radio UK Network, its first foray into the United Kingdom, which it sells next year.

Network Ten acquires a 50% interest in Capital Television with stations in Perth and Adelaide.

1995: CanWest stock split two-for-one.

The CanWest-led consortium submits the highest bid for u.k. Channel 5 but loses to the u.k.-centric competition.

Network Ten acquires a 15% interest in each of Telecasters Australia Limited and Southern Cross Broadcasting, and 10% of Television and Media Services Limited.

CanWest inks a deal with Tele-Metropole to buy controlling interest in ckmi-tv Quebec City.

It acquires 9.7% of WIC Western International Communications’ Class b shares and launches an unsuccessful bid for control.

1996: Network Ten acquires the remaining 50% of stations in Perth and Adelaide.

Bloody battle for Alberta licence ends, with Craig Broadcasting taking the prize over CanWest.

CanWest stock splits three-for-one and lists on the New York Stock Exchange.

It wins a licence to establish TV4, a second private network in New Zealand.

crtc approves a licence for Prime tv, a new specialty service targeting the seniors demo.

1997: CanWest buys another $30-million worth of WIC Western International Communications shares, reinforcing its role as wic’s largest non-voting stockholder. CanWest now owns 24% of wic’s outstanding shares.

The crtc blesses its bid to start an English-language station in Quebec.

CanWest buys Westpac Bank’s interest in TV3 New Zealand and increases its economic interest in Network Ten to 76%. The Australian regulator orders a return to 57.5%.

Asper is inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.

CanWest signs a long-term output deal with wic for Alberta. Audience penetration is at 88% of English-speaking Canada. ‘System’ is replaced by ‘Network’ as CanWest stations are rebranded Global Television Network.

Prime tv launches. CanWest files eight more specialty channel applications.

CanWest acquires 7.4% of Ulster tv, the itv television service provider in Northern Ireland.

Investors in original ipo reach 100% return in six years.

Asper steps aside to become executive chairman. Peter Viner, formerly president and ceo of Network Ten, becomes president and ceo of CanWest.

CanWest Global television reaches more than 40 million English-speaking people in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.