Classicomm
Encyclopedia
Classicomm was a small cable provider in Canada
serving communities in southern York Region from its offices in Richmond Hill
, Ontario
.
Classicomm, or Classic Communications Ltd, was founded in the late 1960s by John O. Graham and Stewart H. Coxford, who were granted a cable television (CATV) licence by the CRTC for Richmond Hill and several other small communities north of Toronto
.
By the 1980s the cable system had acquired additional licences, and soon covered a geographic area taking in most of southern York Region. With Steeles Avenue
as its border with Toronto
the south, the cable system spanned the width of York Region from Markham
in the east to Woodbridge
in the west. Its coverage area stretched north to include the communities of Stouffville
, King City
, Kleinburg
, Gormley
and more.
Southern York Region experienced tremendous growth beginning around 1982, growth which continues to this day. During the period of 1986-1990 Classicomm was connecting up to 10,000 new subscribers each year, making it the fastest growing cable system of its day.
By the early 1990s cable television operators gradually came under increased pressure from satellite operators and local telephone companies, who sought to compete in the delivery of video and other data services. Cable TV operators, having a strategic advantage in network architecture, responded by beginning to invest heavily to make their systems two-way capable, in part through the use of fiber optic cables and optical transmission systems to allow the delivery of services such as video-on-demand, internet, and more.
But these significant changes away from traditional CATV services, and the requirement of heavy new investment, prompted the owners, who were approaching retirement age, to sell Classicomm to one of the multiple system operators (MSOs) in Canada. After much speculation, the business was sold in 1995 to Shaw Communications
of Calgary, Alberta.
A few years later, Rogers Cable
of Toronto and Shaw Cable rationalized their cable holdings in Canada, with Shaw consolidating in western Canada and Rogers in central and eastern Canada. This was facilitated by a multiple system 'swap', such that the Classicomm service area is now entirely part of Rogers Cable.
Volunteers
Classicomm, like most local cable TV providers, encouraged the community in which they were based in to join in. Community members could suggest new show ideas or get involved in shows currently on the air. Classicomm also offered free technical courses to all members of the community, allowing everyone from students to business executives a chance to learn how to operate television production equipment. After many hours of hands on training, these people were able to operate camera, audio and editing equipment, as well as being able to set up lighting for sets. This was a great opportunity for people to learn these skills, but also an excellent business decision for the cable company as they were able to fill hours of programming without having to spend more money on salaries.
Classicomm also had close relationships with high schools located in the Richmond Hill area. Schools such as Bayview Secondary School would put together variety and comedy shows, usually running live on Friday nights. These "Friday Night Live" shows ended up alternating weekly between schools like Thornlea Secondary School, creating a friendly on air battle between the schools.
The most innovative and popular of these was ESP-TV, created by John Evers and Craig Snow, who brought together an incredibly talented group to produce skits and spoof commercials. Many of these same people went on to create the legendary NOVA-TV, a comedy variety show that still has clips on YouTube.com today. Brilliantly talented producers, writers and actors, such as Steve Bevan, Arlene Probert, Dave Nickle, Kerry Service, Glenn Seymour, David Slonosky, Dave Thomas, Mark Tulloch and others joined Evers in 1980 to create this masterpiece.
Even within the schools, some students started creating their own comedy and variety shows. These shows were taped and shown during the week instead of live on Friday Nights. Several shows included BSTV, as show out of Bayview Secondary School with students John Horton, Russ Thompson, Dan Wright and many others.
As early as 1979/1980 Thornlea Secondary Schools students, such as Jeff Hohener, Albert Mastromartino, Todd and John Saunders were providing on camera and behind the scenes support to the Friday Night Live segments.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
serving communities in southern York Region from its offices in Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Classicomm, or Classic Communications Ltd, was founded in the late 1960s by John O. Graham and Stewart H. Coxford, who were granted a cable television (CATV) licence by the CRTC for Richmond Hill and several other small communities north of 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...
.
By the 1980s the cable system had acquired additional licences, and soon covered a geographic area taking in most of southern York Region. With Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue
Steeles Avenue is an east-west street that forms the northern city limit of Toronto and the southern limit of York Region, Ontario, Canada. It stretches across the western Greater Toronto Area from Milborough Townline in Halton Region east to the Scarborough-Pickering limit. It runs for within...
as its border with 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...
the south, the cable system spanned the width of York Region from Markham
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
in the east to Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Ontario
Woodbridge is a large suburban community in the City of Vaughan, just north of Toronto in Southern Ontario. It was once an independent town before being amalgamated with nearby communities to form the city in 1971. Its traditional downtown core is the Woodbridge Ave...
in the west. Its coverage area stretched north to include the communities of Stouffville
Stouffville, Ontario
Stouffville is the primary urban area within the Town of Whitchurch–Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. It is centred at the intersection of Main Street, Mill Street and Market Street.-History:...
, King City
King City, Ontario
King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:...
, Kleinburg
Kleinburg, Ontario
-External links:* * *...
, Gormley
Gormley, Ontario
Gormley is a hamlet in York Region, Ontario, Canada that overlaps parts of Richmond Hill, and Whitchurch–Stouffville, two municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area. It was divided into two parts due to the construction of Highway 404. A portion of Gormley situated within Richmond Hill's...
and more.
Southern York Region experienced tremendous growth beginning around 1982, growth which continues to this day. During the period of 1986-1990 Classicomm was connecting up to 10,000 new subscribers each year, making it the fastest growing cable system of its day.
By the early 1990s cable television operators gradually came under increased pressure from satellite operators and local telephone companies, who sought to compete in the delivery of video and other data services. Cable TV operators, having a strategic advantage in network architecture, responded by beginning to invest heavily to make their systems two-way capable, in part through the use of fiber optic cables and optical transmission systems to allow the delivery of services such as video-on-demand, internet, and more.
But these significant changes away from traditional CATV services, and the requirement of heavy new investment, prompted the owners, who were approaching retirement age, to sell Classicomm to one of the multiple system operators (MSOs) in Canada. After much speculation, the business was sold in 1995 to Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications is Canada's largest telecommunications company that provides telephone, Canada's fastest Internet and television services as well as broadcasting and soon Wifi. Shaw is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta...
of Calgary, Alberta.
A few years later, Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
of Toronto and Shaw Cable rationalized their cable holdings in Canada, with Shaw consolidating in western Canada and Rogers in central and eastern Canada. This was facilitated by a multiple system 'swap', such that the Classicomm service area is now entirely part of Rogers Cable.
Volunteers
Classicomm, like most local cable TV providers, encouraged the community in which they were based in to join in. Community members could suggest new show ideas or get involved in shows currently on the air. Classicomm also offered free technical courses to all members of the community, allowing everyone from students to business executives a chance to learn how to operate television production equipment. After many hours of hands on training, these people were able to operate camera, audio and editing equipment, as well as being able to set up lighting for sets. This was a great opportunity for people to learn these skills, but also an excellent business decision for the cable company as they were able to fill hours of programming without having to spend more money on salaries.
Classicomm also had close relationships with high schools located in the Richmond Hill area. Schools such as Bayview Secondary School would put together variety and comedy shows, usually running live on Friday nights. These "Friday Night Live" shows ended up alternating weekly between schools like Thornlea Secondary School, creating a friendly on air battle between the schools.
The most innovative and popular of these was ESP-TV, created by John Evers and Craig Snow, who brought together an incredibly talented group to produce skits and spoof commercials. Many of these same people went on to create the legendary NOVA-TV, a comedy variety show that still has clips on YouTube.com today. Brilliantly talented producers, writers and actors, such as Steve Bevan, Arlene Probert, Dave Nickle, Kerry Service, Glenn Seymour, David Slonosky, Dave Thomas, Mark Tulloch and others joined Evers in 1980 to create this masterpiece.
Even within the schools, some students started creating their own comedy and variety shows. These shows were taped and shown during the week instead of live on Friday Nights. Several shows included BSTV, as show out of Bayview Secondary School with students John Horton, Russ Thompson, Dan Wright and many others.
As early as 1979/1980 Thornlea Secondary Schools students, such as Jeff Hohener, Albert Mastromartino, Todd and John Saunders were providing on camera and behind the scenes support to the Friday Night Live segments.
See also
- Rogers TelevisionRogers TelevisionRogers TV, are community channels owned by Rogers Communications Inc. Many of these channels share common programs. Rogers TV broadcasts into the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario. Rogers TV is available only in communities served by Rogers' cable and...
- Shaw CommunicationsShaw CommunicationsShaw Communications is Canada's largest telecommunications company that provides telephone, Canada's fastest Internet and television services as well as broadcasting and soon Wifi. Shaw is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta...
- Maclean-HunterMaclean-HunterMaclean-Hunter was a Canadian communications company, which had diversified holdings in radio, television, magazines, newspapers and cable television distribution....
- Markham Economist and SunMarkham Economist and SunThe Markham Economist & Sun is a newspaper published two times per week serving all communities of Markham, Ont., a town of 261,573 in York Region. The Economist & Sun is one of six York Region Media Group newspapers, a division of Metroland Media Group.-Coverage:The Economist & Sun covers local...