Allan Waters
Encyclopedia
Allan Waters was a Canadian businessman and media icon. Waters was one of the founders of CHUM Limited
, a Canadian media
corporation
.
Waters worked in a drug company and quit in 1954 and with partner Jerry Grafstein
purchased a then money-losing station, 1050 CHUM
. From this small humble station, Waters built his media empire.
Getting ideas from a visit to Florida
, Waters returned to Toronto
and introduced the CHUM Chart
, CHUM Chicks and CHUM bugs to attract teenage listeners.
Waters expanded from radio into the television market by buying Barrie CBC affiliate CKVR
in 1969, four television stations in the Maritimes in 1972 which formed the CTV-affiliated Atlantic Television System (ATV
), and then Toronto's fledgling CITY
in 1978. Today CHUM consists of 33 radio stations, 12 television stations and 21 specialty channels, including MuchMusic, Bravo and Space.
Waters stepped down from the Board of Directors on October 29, 2005. Waters' sons James Waters
and Ron Waters serve on CHUM Limited's board of directors. His son James (Jim) took over as head of CHUM from the elder Waters.
Waters died on December 3, 2005 at the age of 84.
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
, a Canadian media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
.
Waters worked in a drug company and quit in 1954 and with partner Jerry Grafstein
Jerry Grafstein
Jerahmiel S. "Jerry" Grafstein is a former Canadian Senator and lawyer.He is married to Carole and has two children, Laurence Stephen and Michael Kevin....
purchased a then money-losing station, 1050 CHUM
CHUM (AM)
CHUM, branded as TSN Radio 1050, broadcasting at 1050 kHz in the AM band, is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned and operated by Bell Media....
. From this small humble station, Waters built his media empire.
Getting ideas from a visit to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Waters returned to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and introduced the CHUM Chart
CHUM Chart
The CHUM Chart was a ranking of top 30 songs on Toronto, Ontario radio station CHUM 1050 AM, from 1957 to 1986, and was the longest-running Top 40 chart in the world produced by an individual radio station...
, CHUM Chicks and CHUM bugs to attract teenage listeners.
Waters expanded from radio into the television market by buying Barrie CBC affiliate CKVR
CKVR-TV
CKVR-DT, is a television station in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, owned by Bell Media, it serves as the flagship station of Bell Media's secondary television service, CTV Two, with facilities located at 33 Beacon Road in Barrie...
in 1969, four television stations in the Maritimes in 1972 which formed the CTV-affiliated Atlantic Television System (ATV
CTV Atlantic
CTV Atlantic is a system of four television stations in the Canadian Maritimes, owned and operated by the CTV Television Network, a division of Bell Media...
), and then Toronto's fledgling CITY
CITY-TV
CITY-DT, Channel 57 , is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by Rogers Media...
in 1978. Today CHUM consists of 33 radio stations, 12 television stations and 21 specialty channels, including MuchMusic, Bravo and Space.
Waters stepped down from the Board of Directors on October 29, 2005. Waters' sons James Waters
James Waters
James A. Waters is Chairman of the Toronto-based media group CHUM Limited. He replaced his father, co-founder Allan Waters in late 2005. He was named Director in 1994 and Executive Vice President in 2000. His brother Ron Waters is also a member of the CHUM board of directors.-External links:*...
and Ron Waters serve on CHUM Limited's board of directors. His son James (Jim) took over as head of CHUM from the elder Waters.
Waters died on December 3, 2005 at the age of 84.