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CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
John Best, the former VP of News at CHCH, looks back at Channel 11's storied history, and - while reminding how incredible a station it once was - laments about what it's become.
CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
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Re: CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
I will agree with Best on one thing - CHCH stands unique not only in Canada, but perhaps in all of North America, as a local independent station that produced more TV programming than almost any other.
Channel 11, in its early days after its disaffiliation with the CBC, made more shows on its own than any station I can think of. There was "AM" & "PM," a morning and afternoon talk show, "John Michael's Street Talk," "Tom Cherington" and another featuring the great Al Boliska. Not to mention the long running Pierre Berton show.
Some may recall "Jane Grey's Hobby Time," starring the craftsperson who could make just about anything and usually did. It seemed to run forever. There were also game shows, like "It's Match" hosted by the disgraced Jack Barry, who fled to Canada after the quiz show scandals in the U.S., and "Party Game."
And then there were the kids' shows, some of them legendary. "Hilarious House of Frightenstein" came out of those studios. So did "Randy Dandy," "Captain Andy" and "Albert J. Steed" with Bill Lawrence. The latter was also the host of the original Tiny Talent Time.
They were big on sports, with OHL and even Leaf games at one time, not to mention Dick Beddoes, with his crazy hats and Don Cherry starting out growing his Grapevine.
Not to mention lots of local news that Toronto stations would never cover. And the "Movies 11" that often featured exclusive first run films no other station in North America ever showed.
I'm pretty sure I've left out a ton of them, including The Red Green Show. Channel 11 is a shadow of what it once was. But back in its heyday, even on the cheap, there was no station anywhere quite like it, or with such a prodigious output.
I know WBEN-TV did some local shows, as did other Buffalo TV outlets. But I don't think any of them could match the sheer volume that came out of Channel 11. Those days are over now. But for those who grew up in the area, they are far from forgotten. 
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Thread Starter- paterson1
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Re: CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
CHCH is in a much better situation now than 10-25 years ago. Their new facilities are a big improvement from Jackson Street.
- Glen Warren
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Re: CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
paterson1 wrote:
CHCH is in a much better situation now than 10-25 years ago. Their new facilities are a big improvement from Jackson Street.
How so?
- paterson1
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Re: CHCH approaching 70, plucky survivor of shifting fortunes
CHCH is in a much better situation now than 10-25 years ago. Their new facilities are a big improvement from Jackson Street.
How so?
CHCH seems to have more stability now. Years ago the station was bouncing around owners and formats. With ONtv, and CH the station was trying to focus on Toronto, at the expense of Hamilton/Niagara. ONtv even attempted to be an Ontario focused station, and later an E! entertainment outlet. CHCH in this time period was always either for sale, changing their image, and flirting with bankruptcy.
Now they have settled on focusing on the Hamilton/Niagara area, seem to have many well produced local commercials with varied advertisers, a better financial situation after selling their outdated facility, and a brand new building with new equipment, with studio space to rent out.
CHCH is not the station of 40 years ago when it seemed everyone was flush with cash. But to me at least they are in a better position for growth than they have been for many years.