The news outlet then became independent in 1961, making it the first independent television station in Canada. Pictured: CHCH headquarters. Photo Credit: CHCH TV.
CHCH TV, Hamilton’s only television news channel, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year with special broadcasts, merchandise, and even a branded beer can.
The station signed on the air on June 7, 1954 and was originally affiliated with the CBC under a consortium of Maple Leaf Broadcasting, Wentworth Broadcasting, and Southam Publishing.
The news outlet then became independent in 1961, making it the first independent television station in Canada.
CHCH also became Canada’s first superstation in 1982, with its broadcasts carried to multiple regions of the country beyond the Hamilton area.
The station even used to feature some Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres National Hockey League (NHL) games.
CHCH had their studios located at 163 Jackson Street West in downtown Hamilton before they moved to their new headquarters in 2022 at Clappison’s Corners on Innovation Drive in Waterdown.
CHCH has changed owners a number of times throughout its history with the most recent transaction the acquisition of the station by Toronto-based company Channel Zero from Canwest Global Communications in 2009 for just $11 amidst financial troubles.
Channel Zero is an independent Canadian media company that owns specialty channels Rewind, Silver Screen Classics, and Halla Bol Kids TV (Canada’s first South Asian HD TV channel) in addition to CHCH TV and also runs a digital marketing agency.
But, in 2015, the station’s news department filed for bankruptcy and CHCH’s news coverage was dramatically scaled back from 80 hours of weekly news to only 24 hours of original programming per week.
More than 100 jobs were cut as the station restructured.
Now, the station airs 1970s and 80s shows on weekdays in addition to limited television news programs and online content.
Nonetheless, the news outlet, which produces news broadcasts focussing on the Hamilton, Halton, and Niagara regions, has continued to survive.
Today, CHCH is reportedly available to 92 per cent of Ontario households and is still viewed by millions nationally each week.
As part of 70th anniversary celebrations, CHCH invited 70 guests to tour the station during their June 7th Morning Live broadcast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
They also brought back some of the station’s most prominent personalities such as Dan McLean, Connie Smith, and Alex Reynolds and will be airing other segments detailing their history.
CHCH has also partnered with Max Francis of the Hamilton-based apparel company True Hamiltonian to launch a retro apparel line with exclusive 70th anniversary merchandise.
The apparel can be viewed and purchased on the True Hamiltonian website.
The special partnerships do not stop there.
CHCH has also joined Lake of Bays Brewing Company to release a special CHCH 70th anniversary light lager that is available in stores.
However, amidst an ever-changing media landscape, it remains to be seen what the future will hold for Hamilton’s television news station.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
