Real Talk!

It was the 60s... I think I might have mentioned that I spent a great deal of the 60s with a transistor radio up against my ear...

I was listening to "Hey Jude", "Sugar Pie Honeybunch", "Wooly Bully", "People Gotta Be Free", "The Sunshine Of Your Love", "Young Girl", "Dance To The Music" , "Kind Of A Drag" and "96 Tears" and other popular delights.

Bob Laine, Brian Skinner and Jay Nelson, among others, were highly entertaining djs on my favourite radio station... in Toronto, in the 60s, you had to be a CHUM-bug.

Being a CHUM-bug included a mandatory visit to your local music store, every week, to pick up your CHUM-chart... which, in my time, was a list of the Top 30, 3 top albums and and handful of hot new hits they called "Chum Chargers".

In 1967, I heard that CHUM was being publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and I approached my father about the matter. It was one of the few times that I can recall my father becoming engaged in a coversation with me.

Dad said that if I could save enough money to buy a share of CHUM that he would match it and purchase two for me. He explained that it was a good idea to buy stock in something that you believed would grow. In my nine-year-old-head, CHUM was going to do nothing but get bigger!

That year, two shares of CHUM stock did all sorts of interesting things... it seemed no time at all before the stocks were splitting, paying dividends, much to my father's amazement, it provided quite a learning experience... although Dad kept reminding me that it was a rather unusual, however delightful happening!

I still feel sorry for their bookkeeping department. I kept getting cheques for under a dollar and to this day, I occassionally stumble upon one, uncashed...

In 1967, CHUM acquired radio stations CFRA-AM (580 CFRA) and CFMO-FM in the Ottawa, Ontario market. While 1968 began the foray into television when CHUM became the majority owner of CKVR-TV, the largest privately owned CBC affiliate in Canada.

Then, in 1969 CHUM-FM Toronto relaunched as 'Progressive Rock' station and purchased The Associated Broadcasting Corporation (later CHUM Satellite Services), becoming Canadian franchise holder for Muzak.

In 1971 CHUM acquired CJCH-TV in Halifax, CJCB-TV in Sydney and CKCW-TV in Moncton and in 1972 acquired CFUN-AM (1410 C-FUN) in Vancouver, British Columbia. Then, in 1974, CFRW-AM (Oldies 1290) and CHIQ-FM (Q94 FM) in the Winnipeg, Manitoba market.

Come 1977, CHUM received the licences to launch new radio stations CKQM-FM (Country 105) in Peterborough, Ontario and C100-FM (C One Hundred FM) in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the CFL's Ottawa Football Club. (the team was sold in 1987)

In 1978 CHUM acquired the Toronto television station City TV and in 1984, launched Much Music- Canada's first 24-hour music station.

In 1985 CHUM acquired CKGM-AM (Team 990) and CHOM-FM in Montreal, Quebec, CKWW-AM (580 Memories CKWW) and CJOM-FM (later CIMX-FM 89X) in Windsor, Ontario.

CHUM had a 50% stake in 1988's Musique-Plus (a 24-hour French music station) launched that year, in Montreal. In 1990, CHUM acquired CHQM-FM (103.5 QM FM) in Vancouver, B.C.

CHUM acquired CKLW-AM (AM 800 CKLW) and CKLW-FM (later CIDR-FM and Lite Rock 93.9 FM,CKKW-AM (Oldies 1090)and CFCA-FM (105.3 KOOL-FM) in Kitchener, Ontario market- all in 1993.

By 1994, CHUM launched its Television Interactive and formed Bravo! channel in partnership with Cablevision. They also launched into international distribution and formed a development arm.

That same year, the Learning & Skills Television of Alberta (LTA, 60% held by CHUM) incorporated to purchase ACCESS Network, Alberta's privatized educational broadcaster.

In 1995 CHUM launched Bravo!, ACCESS - The Education Station (formerly ACCESS Network) and re-launched CKVR TV as the NEW VR.

1996 saw CFMO-FM become CKKL-FM (later 93.9 BOB-FM)and the acquisition of CKLC-AM (1380 CKLC All Time Favourites) and CFLY-FM (FLY-FM) in Kingston, Ontario, and CFJR-AM (104.9 JR FM Hometown Radio) and CHXL-FM (later CJPT-FM 103.7 BOB.FM) in Brockville, Ontario.

1997 was they year they launched Musi Max (50% held by CHUM) a French Canadian contemporary music station and SPACE: The Imagination Station. Also in 1997, CHUM acquired CTV's CFPL-TV (The New PL), CKNX-TV (The New NX), CHWI-TV (The New WI) and CHRO-TV (The New RO) in Ontario and Ottaw and sold CJCH-TV Halifax, CJCB-TV Sydney and CKCW-TV Moncton to CTV.

Cable Pulse24- a regional 24-hour English-language news and information channel and MUCHMORE MUSIC were launched by CHUM Television in 1998.

In 1999, CHUM Radio launched Canada's first commercial DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital radio stations in Toronto and Montreal, They acquired CFGO-AM (Team 1200) and CJMJ-FM (Majic 100) radio stations in the Ottawa, Ontario market and launched CLT (60% CHUM ownership), Canada's first national educational television service.

1999 also saw the launch of Star! The Entertainment Information Station.

Y2K, and CHUM launched the DAB stations in Vancouver and Windsor,a new radio station, CHST-FM (102.3 BOB-FM) in London, Ontario, sold a 50% stake in MuchMusic USA to Cablevision, obtained CRTC approval for a new tv station CIVI-TV (The New VI) in Victoria, British Columbia .

In 2001 CHUM acquired CKLY-FM (Y92) in Lindsay, Ontario, launched The Team Sports Radio Network, purhcased a 42% stake in The Learning Annex (a continuing education school), digital specialty channels FashionTelevisionChannel and BookTelevision: The Channel (60% ownership through LTA), CourtTV Canada (60% ownership through LTA), Drive-In Classics, SexTV: The Channel, MuchVibe and MuchLoud.

2001 also saw CHUM complete the purchase of Vancouver's CKVU-TV from CanWest Global Communications, obtain CRTC approval for acquisition of CFWM-FM (BOB-FM) in Winnipeg, Manitoba and licence the City TV format to Grupo Godó of Barcelona.

In 2002 CHUM relaunched CKVU-TV as CityTV Vancouver. In 2003 they obtained CRTC approval for the acquisition of CKST-AM (Team 1040) Vancouver, British Columbia, launched Canada's first digital over-the-air tv signal with Toronto station CityTV and MuchMore Retro and they also re-launched Brockville's CJPT-FM as 103.7 BOB-FM and moves CFJR-AM to the FM dial, re-launched as 104.9 JR FM

In 2004 CHUM Television & MuchMusic launch shop.muchmusic.com -"Canada's first third party wireless content store". CHUM and Milestone Media Broadcasting received CRTC approval for VIBE 91.7 FM in Edmonton and they purchased Craig Media Inc. (including three "A Channel" conventional television stations in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg; CBC-affiliate station CKX in Brandon; newly launched Toronto1 station and the MTV, MTV2 and TV Land digital specialty television channels)

That same year, CHUM Television released Going The Distance, a wholly owned and produced theatrical feature. They sold Toronto1 television station to Quebecor subsidiaries TVA Group and Sun Media for C$46m, and purchased a 30% stake in Toronto news station CP24. The obtained CRTC approval for purchase of radio assets of Seacoast Communications Group Inc. in Victoria, B.C (inc radio stations C-FAX AM and CHBE FM and music production operation, Seacoast Sound)and lunched Much Phone a joint venture with Rogers Wireless.

In 2005 CHUM bought the outstanding 40% of Learning and Skills Television of Alberta and launched 91.7 THE BOUNCE in partnership with Milestone Media. That year, CHUM and Astral Media were awarded licencing by the CRTC for their digital subscription radio service, CSRC. They also launched Razer- a youth lifestyle channel and PunchMuch, Canada's first fully-automated, all-request, music video station (previously MTV Canada and MTV 2 respectively. Y92 in Lindsay was reformated as BOB FM

In 2006 CHUM Television International became CHUM International and entered a licensing agreement with Much Czech a.s. for new MuchMusic channel format in Czech Republic.

In 2006 Bell Globemedia (later CTVglobemedia Inc.) made a bid of $1.4 billion for CHUM.

Oddly enough, I got an email today that was meant to put ONE BILLION into perspective...

I'll include it here, as it seems relevant:

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This is too true to be funny...
The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians'
Spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.

A..A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B.A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C.A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D.A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes,at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain... let's take a look at New Orleans .... It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

Louisiana Senator,Mary Landrieu (D)is presently asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans .. Interesting number... what does it mean?

A.Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, and child)you each get $516,528.

B.Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.

C..Or... if you are a family of four...your family gets $2,066,012.

Imagine, now $700 billion bailing out banks in the US. That's enough to fund complete medical care for every man, woman and child currently alive in the US for 11 years!!

50 billion to bail out the auto industry???

Washington , D.C.& Ottawa ON.

HELLO!!!

Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

CDL License Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax , Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel Permit Tax

Gasoline Tax

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inventory Tax

IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

Liquor Tax

Luxury Tax

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Propert y Tax

Real Estate Tax

Service charge taxes

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Tax (Truckers)

Sales Taxes

Recreational Vehicle Tax

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone Federal Excise Tax

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax upon Tax

Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax

Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax

Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax

Telephone State and Local Tax

Telephone Usage Charge Tax

Utility Tax

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft Registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Income Tax

Everything Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY???

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt...We had the largest middle class in the world..and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'

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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we
are here we might as well dance.