View source for CHWI-DT

{{Short description|Television station in Wheatley, Ontario}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox television station dual
| name1 = CHWI-DT
| city1 = [[Wheatley, Ontario]]
| name2 = CHWI-DT-60
| city2 = [[Windsor, Ontario]]
| logo = CTV 2 2018.svg
| logo_alt = The CTV 2 network logo: a red circle containing a C, a blue square containing a T, and a green triangle containing a V. A red 2 in matching semi-geometric style sits to the right.
| branding = {{ubl|CTV 2 Windsor|''[[CTV News]] Windsor''}}
| digital1 = 16 ([[UHF]])
| virtual1 = 16
| digital2 = 17 (UHF)
| virtual2 = 26
| affiliations = [[CTV 2]]
| owner = [[Bell Media Inc.]]
| country = CA
| airdate1 = {{start date and age|1993|10|18|p=y}}
| airdate2 = {{start date and age|1995|7|26|p=y}}
| callsign_meaning = [[Chatham-Kent|Chatham]] and Windsor
| sister_stations = [[CKLW]], [[CIMX-FM]], [[CIDR-FM]]
| former_channel_numbers1 = {{ubl|'''Analogue:''' 16 (UHF, 1993–2011)}}
| former_channel_numbers2 = {{ubl|'''Analogue:''' 60 (UHF, 1993–January 2011), 26 (UHF, January–August 2011)|'''Digital:''' 26 (UHF, August 2011–2019)}}
| former_affiliations = [[Independent station|Independent]] (1993–1998)
| erp1 = 3.4 [[kW]]
| haat1 = {{convert|168.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| coordinates1 = {{coord|42|8|30|N|82|26|48|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=CHWI-DT}}
| erp2 = 0.161 kW
| haat2 = {{convert|94|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| coordinates2 = {{coord|42|18|58|N|83|2|24|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=CHWI-DT-60}}
| licensing_authority = [[CRTC]]
| website = {{URL|https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/|CTV 2 Windsor}}
}}

'''CHWI-DT''' (channel 16) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Wheatley, Ontario]], Canada, broadcasting [[CTV 2]] programming to the [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] area. [[Owned and operated]] by [[Bell Media]], the station has studios at the [[Bell Canada]] Building in downtown Windsor with a secondary office in [[Chatham-Kent|Chatham]]; its primary transmitter is located on Zion Road (between Concession Line Roads 4 and 5) in Chatham, with a rebroadcaster atop [[Victoria Park Place]] in downtown Windsor.

CHWI was built by [[Baton Broadcasting]] in 1993 following its purchase of [[CFPL-TV]] in [[London, Ontario|London]]. Signing on October 18, 1993, it provided Windsor its first dedicated local TV newscasts since 1990, though the newscasts were presented from London. The main transmitter, sited near Wheatley to avoid programming restrictions related to Windsor's proximity with Detroit, was supplemented with a rebroadcaster in downtown Windsor in 1995. As Baton sought to control the [[CTV Television Network]], it traded CHWI-TV and other stations to [[CHUM Limited]] in 1997. Beginning the next year, the station was branded ''The New WI'' as part of CHUM's NewNet regional system, which mostly consisted of secondary stations in Ontario. Its local newscasts came to dominate the ratings in Windsor, particularly after a 1999 strike at [[CBC Television|CBC]] station [[CBET-DT|CBET]].

NewNet was renamed A-Channel in 2005 and then A in 2008 after its purchase by CTVglobemedia, predecessor to Bell Media. Citing a difficult economic environment and federal refusal to let TV stations [[fee-for-carriage|charge cable systems for carriage]], CTV declared its intention to shut CHWI-TV down in 2009 but reversed its decision in light of increased federal support and lobbying by local politicians. A was renamed CTV Two in 2011, with its local newscasts coming under the ''[[CTV News]]'' banner. The station offers weeknight newscasts covering Windsor and Chatham.

==The Baton years==
In May 1992, [[Baton Broadcast System|Baton Broadcasting]] agreed to purchase two television stations in southwestern Ontario: [[CFPL-TV]] in [[London, Ontario|London]] and [[CKNX-TV]] in [[Wingham, Ontario|Wingham]] from [[Blackburn Radio|The Blackburn Group]]. For Baton, the transaction gave the company additional regional muscle as it sought to compete with the [[CIII-DT|Global Television Network]].<ref name="Wind920512">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-baton-strikes-deal-to-b/158736356/ |date=May 12, 1992 |page=C6 |title=Baton strikes deal to buy two struggling TV stations |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> Three months later, Baton applied to the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) to build a third television station, primarily a rebroadcaster of CFPL-TV, near [[Wheatley, Ontario|Wheatley]] to serve [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]] and [[Chatham, Ontario|Chatham]]. The new Wheatley transmitter, on channel 16, would air up to {{frac|6|1|2}} hours of locally-oriented programming a week, including a local newscast, produced from London for the Windsor–Chatham area.<ref name="Wind920812">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-another-local-tv-news-p/158736395/ |date=August 12, 1992 |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-local-tv-news/158736407/ A4] |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Another local TV news program? |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> The new station, given the call sign CHWI-TV, would be an affiliate of Baton's regional [[Ontario Network Television]] system and carry [[Toronto Blue Jays]] baseball.<ref name="Wind920822">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-james-woods-convincing/50265790/ |date=August 22, 1992 |page=64 |title=James Woods convincing as communist witchhunter |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> This influenced the decision to set up the main transmitter at Wheatley, which was outside the {{convert|80|km|mi|adj=on}} protection radius from Detroit where the [[Detroit Tigers]] had blackout rights; [[CBET-DT|CBET]] (channel 9), located in Windsor proper, was affected by the blackout rules.<ref name="Wind970329">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-blackout-may-disappoint/158737114/ |date=March 29, 1997 |page=A4 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Blackout may disappoint ball fans: Toronto supporters could balk at Tigers if they refuse to allow |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>

The news component was the portion that attracted the most interest. Windsor had been without a local television newscast since December 1990, when the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC) discontinued the local news on CBET. In a letter to the CRTC, Windsor mayor [[Mike Hurst (politician)|Mike Hurst]] supported the Baton bid; though he expressed concern over the signal strength that CHWI-TV would provide Windsor from Wheatley, he called it a starting point for the restoration of local television news service.<ref name="Wind921007">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-batons-tv-plan-backed/158736464/ |date=October 7, 1992 |page=C9 |first=Paul |last=McKeague |title=Baton's TV plan backed by Hurst |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070554/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-batons-tv-plan-backed/158736464/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The local programming proposed by Baton included a 6 p.m. newscast on weeknights; a half-hour news and community affairs program in midday; and two weekly public affairs shows.<ref name="Wind921008">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-baton-sees-joint-effort/158736485/ |date=October 8, 1992 |page=C7 |first=Paul |last=McKeague |title=Baton sees joint effort with CBC |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>

The CRTC approved the construction of CHWI-TV on January 26, 1993, days after the Wheatley transmitter site was approved by [[Romney Township, Ontario|Romney Township]] officials; Baton promised to have the station operational by January 1994. For the company, it was a return to Windsor; Baton had been forced to sell channel 9, previously private commercial station CKLW-TV, to the CBC in 1975, but held on to the CKLW radio stations until 1985.<ref name="Wind930127">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-baton-promises-local-tv/158736532/ |date=January 27, 1993 |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-baton-promises/158736551/ A4] |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Baton promises local TV news within a year |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="Wind850330">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-crtc-gives-its-nod-to-o/158758627/ |date=March 30, 1985 |page=A3 |title=CRTC gives its nod to old rocker's sale |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070553/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-crtc-gives-its-nod-to-o/158758627/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In spite of the 1994 projections, Baton was able to speed construction,<ref name="Wind930710">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-ahead-of-schedule/50265800/ |date=July 10, 1993 |page=F3 |title=CHWI ahead of schedule |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070607/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-ahead-of-schedule/50265800/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Transmitter testing began September 1, providing Windsor with a similar picture quality to the Global repeater at [[Stevenson, Ontario|Stevenson]], and a Grade-A contour in areas such as Chatham and [[Leamington, Ontario|Leamington]].<ref name="Wind930909">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-new-tv-station-debuts-o/50265856/ |date=September 9, 1993 |page=C6 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=New TV station debuts Oct. 18 |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070609/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-new-tv-station-debuts-o/50265856/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Image:CHWI-TV logo 1990s.png|thumb|left|150px|CHWI-TV logo from 1993 to 1994. The [[trillium]] symbol was also rolled out at CFPL-TV and CKNX-TV and symbolized the three stations.{{r|Wind931015}}]]
CHWI-TV began broadcasting on October 18, 1993.<ref name="Wind931019">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-glitches-aside-news-no/50265924/ |date=October 19, 1993 |page=C6 |title=Glitches aside, News Now shows promise |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-glitches-aside-news-no/50265924/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The local newscasts at 6 and 11 p.m., originally titled ''News Now'' like that of CFPL-TV, debuted the same day from a separate studio in London. In Windsor, the station had offices at Goyeau Street and Riverside Drive, housing a studio for inserts into the newscasts, and 14 people in the newsroom, plus two more in Chatham.<ref name="Wind931015">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-jumping-in-with-both-fe/50265867/ |date=October 15, 1993 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-jumping-in-with/50265886/ C3] |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Jumping in with both feet |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070811/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-jumping-in-with-both-fe/50265867/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In its first ratings survey, CHWI's ''News Now'' came in third, just behind CBET with the news from [[CKCO-DT|CKCO]] in [[Kitchener, Ontario|Kitchener]].<ref name="Wind931223">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-canadian-channels-gain/155195749/ |date=December 23, 1993 |page=C7 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Canadian channels gain viewers |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> CKCO, which had been the main source of television news coverage about Windsor after the 1990 CBET cuts and maintained a news bureau there, soon cut back its presence in light of the entrance of CHWI, the 1994 relaunch of local news by CBET, and a cooperative ad sales relationship between Baton and the CBC;<ref name="Wind941215">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-ckco-cutting-back-winds/158736953/ |date=December 15, 1994 |page=B11 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CKCO cutting back Windsor bureau |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> in late 1995, the news bureau was closed altogether.<ref name="Wind951102">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-ckco-closing-news-opera/158760582/ |date=November 2, 1995 |page=A3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CKCO closing news operation |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> By late 1994, CHWI was second at 6 p.m. to the [[CBLT-DT|CBC Toronto]] early evening news,<ref name="Wind950110">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-channel-9-newscasts-mak/131535040/ |date=January 10, 1995 |page=B5 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Channel 9 newscasts make big comeback |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> and by early 1997 it had almost as many viewers as CBET's 5:30 p.m. ''Windsor Evening News''.<ref name="Wind970301">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-local-news-shows-winnin/158737136/ |date=March 1, 1997 |page=B4 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Local news shows winning battles |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070833/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-local-news-shows-winnin/158737136/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Windsor, Ontario (21782203991).jpg|right|thumb|alt=A street scene in downtown Windsor. At left is a tall, 34-story condominium building with various communications antennas on top|[[Victoria Park Place]] ''(left)'' has housed CHWI's Windsor retransmitter since 1995.]]
Reception from the Wheatley transmitter site proved to be an issue in the Windsor city centre, and many television antennas in this area were aimed northwest toward [[Southfield, Michigan]], where most Detroit TV stations have their towers. In August 1994, Baton applied to the CRTC for authority to build a rebroadcaster on channel 6 atop the [[Victoria Park Place]] condominium, which already housed the [[microwave transmission]] link between Windsor and London. The proposed service was directional toward the southeast to avoid signal coverage in Detroit.<ref name="Wind940812">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-reaching-out-to-it/158736904/ |date=August 12, 1994 |page=C6 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CHWI reaching out to its viewers |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070836/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-reaching-out-to-it/158736904/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The new transmitter went on—using channel 60 instead of 6—on July 26, 1995, providing the core Windsor area with coverage despite an [[effective radiated power]] of 580 watts.<ref name="Wind950815">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-tv-aims-to-improve/51793806/ |date=August 15, 1995 |page=B6 |title=CHWI-TV aims to improve image downtown |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> Later, in 2000, the Windsor transmitter was authorized to increase its power tenfold to 5,800 watts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/db2000-390.htm |date=September 15, 2000 |title=Decision CRTC 2000-390 |publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919130101/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-390.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1997, Baton conducted a round of layoffs at its Ontario stations. Three employees were dismissed at CHWI-TV, while the station lost its shared midday show with CFPL.<ref name="Wind970212">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-jobs-cut-as-baton/158760464/ |date=February 12, 1997 |page=A9 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CHWI jobs cut as Baton streamlines network |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>

==CHUM ownership: The New WI and A-Channel==
[[File:Thenewwi.svg|thumb|right|150px|CHWI's logo as "The New WI", used from 1997 to 2005|alt=A very small and thin "The" next to a thick, black, angled "new" in a condensed sans serif above angled, bold letters W and I, the W in red and the I in blue]]
Through the mid-1990s, Baton Broadcasting worked to consolidate its control of the [[CTV Television Network]]. On February 25, 1997, it exchanged television stations with [[CHUM Limited]]. With its acquisition of [[CTV Atlantic|ATV]], it gained majority control of CTV. In exchange, CHUM received a series of secondary stations in Ontario that were redundant to the CTV network: CFPL-TV, CKNX-TV, CHWI-TV, and [[CHRO-TV]] serving [[Pembroke, Ontario|Pembroke]] and [[Ottawa]]. It expected the stations to fit well with [[CKVR-TV]] "The New VR" in [[Barrie]]<ref name="Toro970226">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-batons-power-play-tv/149663238/ |date=February 26, 1997 |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-tv-station-swap-settles/149663270/ C12] |title=Baton's power play: TV station swap settles CTV control and even rivals applaud |first=Robert |last=Brehl |newspaper=The Toronto Star |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> as well as with all four private radio stations in Windsor, which it owned.<ref name="Wind970227">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chum-wants-chwi-in-the/158760549/ |date=February 27, 1997 |page=E6 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CHUM wants CHWI in the picture |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> The makeover of CHWI-TV began in September 1997, when CFPL, CKNX, and CHWI adopted CHUM's primetime schedule and began gradually altering their local programming over a two-month period. The 6 p.m. ''News Now'' was joined by a new regional 5:30 newscast, ''First Look'', while late night sportscasts were reformatted in a style reminiscent of CHUM-owned [[CITY-DT|Citytv]]'s news.<ref name="Wind970905">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-a-first-look-at-first-l/158737194/ |date=September 5, 1997 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=A first look at First Look |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070543/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-a-first-look-at-first-l/158737194/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Newscasts were a particular point of emphasis for improvement in the reformatting of the stations.<ref>{{cite news |page=20 |first=Krista |last=Lennox |title=TV takes a turn for the younger |work=Marketing Magazine |date=March 2, 1998 |id={{ProQuest|227185395}} }}</ref> In September 1998, the three stations were rebranded, with CHWI becoming "The New WI" and CHUM promising that someday its newscast would originate from Windsor, not London.<ref name="Wind980605">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-canadian-stations-in-fo/158737314/ |date=June 5, 1998 |page=B3 |title=Canadian stations in for some changes |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>
[[File:WindsorAChannel61Ouelettestreet.JPG|thumb|right|alt=A three-story downtown building with large signage featuring the mid-2000s A-Channel logo|CHWI's downtown studio at Ouellette Avenue (seen here in 2007, after the rebrand to A-Channel) was used from 1999 to 2013.]]
On September 1, 1999, CHWI relocated from its original studios at Riverside and Goyeau to a higher-visibility downtown location at 300 [[Ouellette Avenue]], occupying a former [[Laurentian Bank]].<ref name="Wind990416">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-gretzky-floating-his-pl/158737373/ |date=April 16, 1999 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Gretzky floating his plan as trial balloon |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> A month later, it and CFPL debuted a shared morning show, ''New Day'', with roughly half the program originating from Windsor and the other half from London.<ref name="Wind991001">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-local-new-day-host-at-h/158737454/ |date=October 1, 1999 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Local New Day host at home in Windsor |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="Wind991008">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-new-wi-orders-up-tv-for/158737406/ |date=October 8, 1999 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=New WI orders up TV for breakfast |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> ''New Day'' debuted to an average audience of 500 but grew that to 2,800 within a year.<ref name="Wind010202">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-new-day-host-will-head/158737748/ |date=February 2, 2001 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=New Day host will head to West Coast |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070825/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-new-day-host-will-head/158737748/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

CBET endured a technician's strike in February and March 1999 and did not have local news for two months; channel 9's audience fell by nearly 40 percent, and CHWI made significant ratings inroads, particularly in Windsor itself, to become southwestern Ontario's most-watched local newscast.<ref name="Wind000204">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-viewers-liked-what-they/158737509/ |date=February 4, 2000 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Viewers liked what they saw on New WI |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> Even though CBET moved its local news to 6 p.m. in October 2000 when ''[[Canada Now]]'' debuted,<ref name="Wind001006">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-same-old-only-less/158737707/ |date=October 6, 2000 |page=B3 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Same old, only less |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> by 2005 CHWI had twice as many viewers in the same time slot.<ref name="Wind050122">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-rates-highest-with/158737839/ |date=January 22, 2005 |page=B4 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CHWI rates highest with local TV news |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> In June 2003, the news portion of CHWI's newscasts began to originate from Windsor, though weather and sports continued to be presented from London.<ref name="Wind030225">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-tv-moves-news-to-w/158761282/ |date=February 25, 2003 |page=B6 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=CHWI-TV moves news to Windsor |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070905/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-chwi-tv-moves-news-to-w/158761282/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Wind030502">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-symphony-offers-program/158761325/ |date=May 2, 2003 |page=C5 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Symphony offers program for children: News anchor narrates Peter & Wolf |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>

As a result of CHUM's acquisition of [[Craig Media]] (and its rebranding of a [[A-Channel|series of stations in Western Canada]] as [[Citytv]] stations on the same day), the NewNet stations (including CHWI-TV) were rebranded as A-Channel in August 2005. This allowed for increased cross-promotion and brand sharing.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Canadian Press |title=Windsor's New WI is a CHUM |date=March 16, 2005 |page=5 |id={{ProQuest|353528880}}|work=Chatham Daily News }}</ref>

== CTV ownership ==
On July 12, 2006, Bell Globemedia (later known as CTVglobemedia and now [[Bell Media]]) announced plans to take over CHUM Limited for {{CAD|1.7 billion|link=yes}}. On June 8, 2007, the CRTC announced its approval of CTVglobemedia's purchase of CHUM Limited, but the commission added a condition that CTVglobemedia must sell off CHUM's Citytv stations to another buyer while allowing it to retain the A-Channel stations.<ref name="Nati070609">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-city-up-for-grabs-as-ctv-l/135633245/ |date=June 9, 2007 |pages=FP1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-rogers-a-leading-contender/135633232/ FP2] |first=Paul |last=Vieira |title=City up for grabs as CTV loses out: Must sell five stations |newspaper=National Post |location=Toronto, Ontario |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-date=November 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123201343/https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-city-up-for-grabs-as-ctv-l/135633245/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Speculation of a rebrand for the A-Channel group followed the purchase, and in 2008, the system was renamed A.<ref>{{cite news |title=CTV chummy with sked |work=Variety |date=June 9, 2008 |id={{ProQuest|236376290}}|pages=19–20|first=Jennie|last=Punter }}</ref>

=== Closure threat ===
Less than a year after the rebrand, CTV announced its intention to shut down CHWI-TV and CKNX-TV when their licence terms expired at the end of August 2009. Calling them the two smallest A stations, CTVglobemedia leadership cited the impacts of the [[2008 financial crisis]] and the CRTC's decision not to allow a [[fee-for-carriage]] policy by which local stations could charge cable systems for the right to provide their signals.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/25/c3691.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226205021/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2009/25/c3691.html |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |title='A' Television Stations in Wingham and Windsor to be Shut Down |via=CNW Group |publisher=CTVglobemedia |date=February 25, 2009 }}</ref> Even though both stations were losing money for CTV—in the case of CHWI-TV, it had run deficits for ten years—CTV had been reluctant to shutter the Windsor station because of its strong local news ratings.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ted |last=Shaw |url=https://windsorstar.com/Entertainment/Channel+closing+Windsor+operation/1328198/story.html |title=A Channel closing Windsor operation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227063631/http://www.windsorstar.com/Entertainment/Channel+closing+Windsor+operation/1328198/story.html |archive-date=February 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |work=[[The Windsor Star]] |date=February 25, 2009 }}</ref> The news was very poorly received by Windsor viewers; Bruce Demara of ''[[The Toronto Star]]'' called the decision "puzzling", citing CHWI's news ratings dominance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/598086 |title=Throwing salt on Windsor's wounds |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415125008/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2009/03/08/throwing_salt_on_windsors_wounds.html |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |first=Bruce |last=Demara |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=March 8, 2009 |access-date=April 14, 2018 }}</ref> Local, provincial, and federal politicians representing Windsor, from the [[Windsor City Council]] and provincial MPs [[Sandra Pupatello]] and [[Dwight Duncan]] to federal MPs [[Brian Masse]] and [[Joe Comartin]], lobbied CTVglobemedia to keep CHWI on the air, citing the unique circumstances in Windsor television and the predominance of American media in the market.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://windsorstar.com/News/More+local+politicians+lobby+Channel+survival/1349776/story.html |title=More local politicians lobby for A Channel's survival |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309133601/http://www.windsorstar.com/News/More+local+politicians+lobby+Channel+survival/1349776/story.html |archive-date=March 9, 2009 |work=The Windsor Star |date=March 3, 2009 |first=Sonja |last=Puzic }}</ref><ref name="Wind090316">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-our-fight-to-win/158762090/ |date=March 16, 2009 |page=A3 |first=Doug |last=Schmidt |title='Our fight ... to win': Fans, dignitaries rally to protest demise of A-Channel |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110074625/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-our-fight-to-win/158762090/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

It appeared for a time that a sale would keep the station on the air. [[Shaw Communications]] agreed on April 30, 2009, to buy CHWI-TV, CKNX-TV, and [[CKX-TV]] in [[Brandon, Manitoba]], for one dollar each, pending CRTC approval.<ref name="Nati090501">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-shaw-buys-three-ctv-tv-sta/158762196/ |date=May 1, 2009 |page=FP2 |title=Shaw buys three CTV TV stations set for closure |newspaper=National Post |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> However, Shaw backed out of the transaction on June 30, 2009—reportedly after reviewing the financial details of the properties to be acquired—once again putting the stations' futures in doubt.<ref>{{cite news |first=Grant |last=Robertson |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/shaw-cancels-deal-for-3-ctv-stations/article1202528/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703061726/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/shaw-cancels-deal-for-3-ctv-stations/article1202528/ |archive-date=July 3, 2009 |title=Shaw cancels deal for 3 CTV stations |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=June 30, 2009 }}</ref> On July 6, 2009, the CRTC announced decisions to bolster the availability of local program funding and consider a fee-for-carriage model, prompting CTVglobemedia to "review" its plans for CHWI.<ref name="cp-july6">{{Cite news |last=Kristine |first=Owen |title=Conventional TV broadcasters praise CRTC move to charge for carriage |id={{ProQuest|360053959}}|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|date=July 6, 2009 }}</ref> Two days later, CTV announced the station would remain on the air for at least another year, making CHWI-TV the only station to fully survive the cuts as CKNX-TV was converted to rebroadcast CFPL-TV.<ref name="windsor-reprieve">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/08/c4869.html |url-status=dead |title=/A\ Windsor Station to Remain Open |publisher=CTVglobemedia |date=July 8, 2009 |via=CNW |id={{ProQuest|453083623}}|access-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610000116/http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/08/c4869.html }}</ref>

=== Bell Media era ===
[[File:Bell Building (2231807032).jpg|alt=A five-story Art Deco 1920s building with buff brick and stone facing|right|thumb|The Bell Canada Building has housed CHWI-DT and its sister radio stations since 2014.]]
In 2011, [[Bell Canada]] acquired full control of CTVglobemedia and restructured the company as [[Bell Media]].<ref name="CRTC-approval">{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/crtc-approves-bce-s-purchase-of-ctvglobemedia-1.615461 |title=CRTC approves BCE's purchase of CTVglobemedia |author=Canadian Press |work=[[CTV News]] |date=March 7, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818135504/http://www.ctvnews.ca/crtc-approves-bce-s-purchase-of-ctvglobemedia-1.615461 |url-status=live }}</ref> One month later, Bell revealed that the A system, including CHWI, would be relaunched as [[CTV Two]] beginning with the 2011–12 television season.<ref name=CTVTwo>{{Cite press release |url=http://ctvmedia.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13828&yyyy=2011 |publisher=Bell Media |title=Bell Media's /A\ Network to Become "CTV Two" This Fall |date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727124349/http://ctvmedia.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13828&yyyy=2011 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref> Alongside the relaunch came the rebranding of CHWI's newscasts as ''[[CTV News|CTV News Windsor]]'' and the establishment of a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] feed for its new digital signal.<ref name=CTVTwo/>

In April 2013, Bell Media announced that the station would move to newly constructed facilities at the Bell Canada Building on Goyeau Street; the move came shortly after the ''[[Windsor Star]]'' newspaper moved into offices elsewhere in the Ouellette Street structure and increased utilization of the 1923-vintage structure, which had two empty floors.<ref name=ctvwindsornewstudio>{{cite web |url=https://windsorstar.com/news/ctv-moving-its-windsor-newsroom-to-bell-owned-building |title=Updated: CTV moving its Windsor newsroom to Bell-owned building |last=Cross |first=Brian |work=[[Windsor Star]] |date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=November 18, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="Wind130502">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-revitalization-efforts/158762315/ |date=May 2, 2013 |page=A3 |first=Dave |last=Hall |title=Revitalization efforts lure credit union to downtown |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref> After relocating, CHWI began producing local 6 p.m. weekend newscasts in January 2014, replacing regional newscasts produced by CFPL.<ref name=cklw-weekendnews>{{cite web |url=http://www.am800cklw.com/News/Headlines/CTV-Windsor-announces-changes |title=CTV Windsor announces changes |work=AM800 CKLW |publisher=Bell Media |access-date=January 14, 2014 |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116072415/http://www.am800cklw.com/News/Headlines/CTV-Windsor-announces-changes |url-status=live }}</ref> These were scrapped in February 2024 as part of a nearly network-wide discontinuation of weekend newscasts.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://broadcastdialogue.com/most-noon-local-ctv-newscasts-cancelled-as-part-of-cuts-at-bell-media/ |work=Broadcast Dialogue |first=Connie |last=Thiessen |date=February 8, 2024 |title=Most noon, weekend CTV newscasts cancelled as part of cuts at Bell Media |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=September 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930222204/https://broadcastdialogue.com/most-noon-local-ctv-newscasts-cancelled-as-part-of-cuts-at-bell-media/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Notable on-air staff ==
* [[Jacqueline Milczarek]] — reporter<ref name="Wind931112">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-meet-the-chwi-team/158760669/ |date=November 12, 1993 |page=B8 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=Meet the CHWI team |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 }}</ref>
* [[Catherine Herridge]] — reporter, 1993–1995{{r|Wind931112}}<ref name="Wind950225">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-he-points-a-searchlight/158737007/ |date=February 25, 1995 |page=F4 |first=Ted |last=Shaw |title=He points a searchlight on dark issue of racism |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110070837/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-he-points-a-searchlight/158737007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Technical information ==
{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=400|frame-align=right|frame-height=300|text={{ubl|Transmitter locations for CHWI-DT and rebroadcaster CHWI-DT-60.|{{legend-col |{{legend|#ff0000|CHWI-DT 16.1 Wheatley, ON (originating station)}} |{{legend|#000080|CHWI-DT-60 26.1 Windsor, ON (rebroadcaster)}} }}}}|type=point|coord={{coord|42|8|33|N|82|26|51|W|type:landmark|name=CHWI-DT}}|title=CHWI-DT|description=16.1<br>16 (UHF)<br>Wheatley, ON|marker=communications-tower|marker-color=#ff0000|type2=point|coord2={{coord|42|18|58|N|83|2|24|W|type:landmark|name=CHWI-DT-60}}|title2=CHWI-DT-60|description2=26.1<br>17 (UHF)<br>Windsor, ON|marker2=communications-tower|marker-color2=#000080

|zoom=8}}
CHWI-DT is broadcast from two transmitters: a primary transmitter near [[Wheatley, Ontario]], that covers [[Chatham-Kent]] and most of rural [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex County]] and a rebroadcaster in downtown Windsor.

On August 31, 2011, when Canadian television stations in CRTC-designated mandatory [[media market|markets]] [[Digital television in Canada|transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasts]], CHWI-TV [[flash cut]] its digital signal into operation, using its former UHF analog channels 16 and 26.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |url=http://digitaltv.gc.ca/eng/1298734909857/1298734909954 |title=Windsor (Ont.) |website=Canada's Transition to Digital Television |publisher=Office of Consumer Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120000117/http://digitaltv.gc.ca/eng/1298734909857/1298734909954 |archive-date=November 20, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Windsor transmitter had just been switched from channel 60 the previous January in order to clear the upper UHF band.<ref name="Wind110112">{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-a-message-for-tv-antenn/158762472/ |date=January 12, 2011 |page=A8 |type=Advertisement |title=A Message for TV Antenna Users |newspaper=The Windsor Star |location=Windsor, Ontario, Canada |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110082729/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-a-message-for-tv-antenn/158762472/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-795.htm |title=ARCHIVED – CHWI-TV-60 Windsor – Technical change |publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission |date=October 27, 2010 |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718043301/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-795.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

As part of the 600&nbsp;MHz [[spectrum auction]] mandated by the U.S. [[Federal Communications Commission]] and [[Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada]], on April 29, 2019, CHWI-DT-60 moved from channel 26 to channel 17.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctv.ca/HELP/Over-The-Air-Transmitter-Channel-Changes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421181317/https://www.ctv.ca/HELP/Over-The-Air-Transmitter-Channel-Changes |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |title=Over-The-Air transmitter channel changes |publisher=CTV Television Network |access-date=April 21, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/over-the-air-transmitter-channel-change-planned-for-ctv-windsor-1.4389781 |title=Over-the-air transmitter channel change planned for CTV Windsor |website=CTV News |date=April 22, 2019 |access-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808120619/https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/over-the-air-transmitter-channel-change-planned-for-ctv-windsor-1.4389781 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannel of CHWI-DT and CHWI-DT-60<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=CHWI#station |title=RabbitEars TV Query for CHWI |website=[[RabbitEars.info]] |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415124815/https://rabbitears.info//market.php?request=station_search&callsign=CHWI#station |url-status=live }}</ref>
! [[Digital subchannel#Canada|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | {{ubl|16.1|26.1}}
| [[1080i]] || [[16:9]] || CHWI || [[CTV 2]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/ CTV 2 Windsor]
* [https://broadcasting-history.ca/television/television-stations/ontario/ontario-western/chwi-tv/ CHWI-DT] at The History of Canadian Broadcasting by the [[Canadian Communications Foundation]]
* {{RecnetCanada|CHWI-DT}}

{{Detroit TV}}
{{CTV 2 Stations}}
{{Bell Media}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chwi-Dt}}
[[Category:1993 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:CTV 2 stations|HWI-DT]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:Television stations in Windsor, Ontario|HWI-DT]]