Selkirk Communications

Selkirk Communications was a Canadian broadcasting company active from 1959 to 1989. It developed from Taylor, Pearson & Carson, a Vancouver broadcaster established in 1934, and from the operations of its subsidiary All-Canada Radio Facilities, a national radio syndication service. Over time, Selkirk became a diversified broadcasting group with a substantial presence in Western Canada and additional holdings elsewhere in the country. The company’s principal activities were radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, radio syndication and cable television. At the time of its sale, Selkirk owned or partly owned 14 radio stations and six television stations, including three wholly owned television outlets and three in which it held partial interests. Its cable interests extended beyond Canada, giving the company a broader communications profile than a conventional local station operator. Selkirk’s radio portfolio covered communities and metropolitan markets in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Its holdings included stations in Vancouver, Victoria, Vernon, Squamish and Whistler, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Blairmore, Banff and Canmore, and Toronto. This network reflected the company’s longstanding emphasis on regional broadcasting, particularly in Western Canada, while its Toronto station CFNY provided a presence in the country’s largest radio market. In television, Selkirk operated stations that were ultimately transferred to Western International Communications. The company therefore occupied an important place in the consolidation of Canadian broadcasting ownership during the late twentieth century, when station groups and diversified media companies increasingly assembled regional networks and complementary cable assets. Maclean-Hunter acquired Selkirk in 1988, with the transaction completed in 1989. After the acquisition, Maclean-Hunter disposed of nearly all of Selkirk’s broadcasting properties. Western Canadian radio stations were sold to Rogers Communications, while CFNY in Toronto was retained by Maclean-Hunter. Selkirk’s television stations were sold to Western International Communications. Maclean-Hunter retained Selkirk’s cable holdings and CFNY for a period, but Maclean-Hunter itself was acquired by Rogers in 1994. These transactions ended Selkirk Communications as an independent broadcasting group and redistributed its assets among larger Canadian media companies.

Selkirk Communications operated as a Canadian radio and television broadcasting company from 1959 to 1989. Its origins lay in Taylor, Pearson & Carson, a Vancouver broadcasting business founded in 1934, together with All-Canada Radio Facilities, a subsidiary that provided national radio syndication services. The Selkirk organization grew from these roots into a multi-platform communications company. The company expanded its operations through ownership and investment in radio stations, television stations and cable television assets. Its radio holdings were concentrated in Western Canada but also included a significant Toronto property. By the time of the 1988 sale, the portfolio included 14 radio stations in markets such as Vancouver, Victoria, Vernon, Squamish and Whistler, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Blairmore, Banff and Canmore, as well as Toronto. The listed stations included CKWX and CKKS in Vancouver, CJVI in Victoria, CJIB in Vernon, CISQ in Squamish and Whistler, CFAC in Calgary, CJCA and CJCA-FM in Edmonton, CFGP in Grande Prairie, CJOC and CILA in Lethbridge, CJPR in Blairmore, CFHC in Banff and Canmore, and CFNY in Toronto. Selkirk also held six television stations, three wholly owned and three partly owned. In addition, it maintained cable television interests in Canada and other markets. This combination of terrestrial broadcasting and cable assets placed the company within the broader consolidation of the Canadian communications sector during the 1970s and 1980s. Maclean-Hunter acquired Selkirk Communications in 1988, and the transaction was completed the following year. Rather than operating the acquired group as a unified long-term broadcasting subsidiary, Maclean-Hunter reorganized and sold most of the assets. The Western Canadian radio stations were sold to Rogers Communications, while the television stations were sold to Western International Communications. Maclean-Hunter retained CFNY in Toronto and Selkirk's cable holdings. Maclean-Hunter was subsequently acquired by Rogers in 1994, further linking Selkirk's former assets to one of Canada's largest communications companies. The completion of these transactions marked the end of Selkirk Communications as an independent corporate broadcaster. Its legacy is therefore reflected less in a continuing consumer brand than in the stations, television properties and cable interests that were transferred to successor owners.

1. 1994Rogers acquires Maclean-Hunter

   Maclean-Hunter is acquired by Rogers Communications, the company that had already purchased most of Selkirk's Western Canadian radio stations.

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2. 1989Broadcasting assets are sold

   The sale is finalized; Rogers receives the Western Canadian radio stations, Western International Communications receives the television stations, and Maclean-Hunter retains CFNY and cable holdings.

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3. 1988Maclean-Hunter agrees to acquire Selkirk Communications

   Maclean-Hunter acquires Selkirk, beginning the breakup and redistribution of its broadcasting portfolio.

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4. 1959Selkirk Communications begins operations

   Selkirk Communications emerges from the Taylor, Pearson & Carson and All-Canada Radio Facilities broadcasting businesses.

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5. 1934Taylor, Pearson & Carson is founded in Vancouver

   The Vancouver broadcaster that later formed part of Selkirk Communications' corporate heritage begins operations.

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A regional Canadian broadcasting and communications group built around radio, television and cable holdings, with particular strength in Western Canada.

• Radio stationsRadio broadcasting

  Selkirk's radio portfolio comprised 14 stations serving communities across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The holdings included local and regional outlets in Vancouver, Victoria, Vernon, Squamish and Whistler, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Blairmore, Banff and Canmore, and Toronto. The portfolio was the company's most geographically extensive broadcasting activity.

• Television stationsTelevision broadcasting

  Selkirk owned or partly owned six television stations, including three wholly owned stations and three stations held through partial interests. These properties formed the television component of the company's Canadian broadcasting group and were sold to Western International Communications after Maclean-Hunter acquired Selkirk.

• Cable television holdingsCable television

  In addition to terrestrial radio and television, Selkirk held cable television assets in Canada and international markets. Maclean-Hunter retained these holdings after selling most of Selkirk's broadcast properties, so they were among the last assets associated with the Selkirk organization.

• All-Canada Radio FacilitiesRadio syndication

  All-Canada Radio Facilities was Selkirk's national radio syndication subsidiary and part of the corporate structure from which the company developed. It supported the distribution of radio programming and connected Selkirk's local broadcasting interests to a broader Canadian market.

• 1989Break up the acquired broadcasting portfolioStrategy

  After completing the acquisition, Maclean-Hunter reorganized its Selkirk assets rather than maintaining the former company as an integrated broadcaster.

  What changed. Maclean-Hunter sold the Western Canadian radio stations to Rogers Communications, transferred all of Selkirk's television stations to Western International Communications, and retained CFNY in Toronto and the cable holdings.

  Aftermath. Selkirk ceased to exist as an independent broadcasting company, while its former assets became part of larger Canadian media portfolios.

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• 1988Accept Maclean-Hunter acquisitionM&A

  Selkirk had grown into a diversified broadcasting group with radio, television and cable holdings. Maclean-Hunter acquired the company during a period of consolidation in Canadian media ownership.

  What changed. Maclean-Hunter acquired Selkirk Communications, with the transaction completed in 1989.

  Aftermath. Maclean-Hunter sold almost all of Selkirk's broadcast properties to other communications companies, ending Selkirk's independent operation.

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• 1994Rogers acquires Maclean-Hunter

  Rogers Communications acquired Maclean-Hunter, the company that had acquired Selkirk and retained some of its assets after the 1988–1989 transaction.

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• 1989Selkirk broadcasting properties are distributed among new owners

  Following completion of the sale, Maclean-Hunter sold almost all of Selkirk's broadcasting properties. Western Canadian radio stations went to Rogers Communications, television stations went to Western International Communications, and Maclean-Hunter retained CFNY in Toronto and Selkirk's cable holdings.

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• 1988Maclean-Hunter acquires Selkirk Communications

  Maclean-Hunter acquired Selkirk Communications, initiating the transition of Selkirk's radio, television and cable assets into the ownership of larger Canadian communications companies.

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1. Selkirk Communications