E! (Canadian TV system)
CH is a system of six local television stations across Canada, all but one owned by the Global Television unit of CanWest Global.
The system was first formed in early 2001 after Global bought out the stations owned by Western International Communications. In several markets, namely the B.C. Lower Mainland, Alberta, and Montreal, WIC had already effectively secured twinsticks in some form, the second stations being, respectively, CHEK, CKRD and CJNT. However, as an ownership group and not a network, it was not able to co-ordinate the activities of the first-string stations, much less the second-string outlets.
Despite strong opposition from competitors, CanWest was allowed to keep all of the WIC stations save CFCF in Montreal. By promising to continue to support the "underserved" communities these stations were originally intended to serve, it was able to maintain the B.C. and Alberta twinsticks, revise the Montreal twinstick by aligning CJNT with CKMI, and most importantly secure a new twinstick in the major market of Ontario with both its own CIII and WIC's CHCH.
CHCH was the first to adopt the CH brand in February 2001, followed by CHEK and CJNT that September. CKRD, now CHCA, joined in 2005. All four now cross-promote heavily with the local Global stations.
CH airs several hit U.S. programs, but often Global, which is carried in more cities nationwide than CH, cherry-picks some of CH's hits and airs them on the main network. Conversely, Global programs are sometimes sent "down" to CH if two programs aired by Global begin to air simultaneously on separate U.S. networks, so CanWest can maximize its simulcasting opportunities. This notwithstanding, CH generally targets an older audience than the Global network.
While CH briefly used the slogan "Closer to Home" when it launched, it is considered more likely that the letters "CH" were derived from the call sign of flagship CHCH, often colloquially abbreviated to "CH" prior to that station's "ONtv" era. The CJNT station in Montreal refers to the initials as Canal Horizon, or the Horizon Channel.
Published reports (Toronto Star, February 13, 2006) suggest that the CH brand may soon be discontinued, at least on-air, and replaced with individual station brands (as CHBC is already doing). Presumably this would not affect these stations' sharing of common programming.
CH stations
- CHEK - CH Vancouver Island (Victoria, British Columbia)
- CHCH - CH Hamilton (Hamilton, Ontario)
- CJNT - CH Montreal (Montreal, Quebec)
- CHCA - CH Red Deer (Red Deer, Alberta)
- CHBC - CH Okanagan (Kelowna, British Columbia)
Affiliate station (not owned by CanWest)
- CFJC - Kamloops, British Columbia (owned by Jim Pattison Group)
On February 28, 2005, the CRTC approved the disaffiliation of CHBC in Kelowna, British Columbia from the CBC; it became the fifth CH station. Independently-owned CFJC in Kamloops, British Columbia, which airs nearly all of CHBC's non-local programming and has a joint sales agreement with the Kelowna station, is also expected to disaffiliate on that date and will likely adopt the CH schedule as well, but not necessarily the CH name. Both stations expected to disaffiliate effective January 2, 2006, however was delayed (to late February) as CFJC's disaffiliation was not formally approved until well after that date.
Many Global stations in non-CH markets, plus other stations not owned by CanWest Global, also broadcast programs usually seen on the CH system, mainly CJON, private CBC affiliates such as CHEX and CKWS, and the Thunder Bay Television twinstick of CKPR and CHFD.
Slogans
- 2001-2005: CH Has It All!
- 2005-present: Closer to You!