F. Baxter Ricard
Encyclopedia
F. Baxter Ricard was a pioneering Canadian
media proprietor
.
In 1947, Ricard obtained a radio licence to establish CHNO
in Sudbury, Ontario
, the first bilingual radio station in Canada outside of Quebec
. Ten years later, in 1957, he became the first commercial radio broadcaster in Canada licensed to operate two AM stations in the same city. CHNO became an all-English
station, and Ricard's new CFBR
became the new French
outlet. A third station, CJMX
, was established on FM in 1980.
In 1972, Baxter also launched Northern Cable
, a cable television
service for Northern Ontario
. In 1980, Northern Cable became the major shareholder in MCTV
, when Cambrian Broadcasting and J. Conrad Lavigne
's broadcast holdings were merged for financial reasons.
Due to the CRTC's rules at the time on concentration of media ownership
, Ricard's radio stations continued to operate as a separate corporation from Ricard's MCTV holdings, although they were later merged through Mid-Canada Radio in 1985. In 1990, Ricard's media holdings were sold off in a series of transactions: MCTV was acquired by Baton Broadcasting, Mid-Canada Radio was sold to Pelmorex
, becoming the Pelmorex Radio Network
, and Northern Cable was sold to CFCF
's cable television division.
In 1980, he received a public service award from the Central Canada Broadcasters' Association, and in 1987 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Laurentian University
. In 1990, he was named entrepreneur of the year by the Northern Ontario Business Awards.
Ricard died in Sudbury in 1993. In 1999, he was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame.
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...
media proprietor
Media proprietor
A media proprietor is a person who controls, either through personal ownership or a dominant position in any media enterprise. Those with significant control of a public company in the mass media may also be called "media moguls", "tycoons", "barons", or "bosses".The figure of the media proprietor...
.
In 1947, Ricard obtained a radio licence to establish CHNO
CHNO-FM
CHNO-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at 103.9 on the FM dial in Sudbury, Ontario. Airing a classic hits format, the station is branded as Rewind 103.9.-History of CHNO:The station began broadcasting on June 24, 1947 on AM 1440...
in Sudbury, 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....
, the first bilingual radio station in Canada outside of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Ten years later, in 1957, he became the first commercial radio broadcaster in Canada licensed to operate two AM stations in the same city. CHNO became an all-English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
station, and Ricard's new CFBR
CHYC-FM
CHYC-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts at FM 98.9 in Sudbury, Ontario. It broadcasts a francophone hot adult contemporary format for the city's franco-ontarian community. It is owned by Le5 Communications, and branded as Le Loup 98.9....
became the new French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
outlet. A third station, CJMX
CJMX-FM
CJMX-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts an adult contemporary format at 105.3 FM in Sudbury, Ontario. The station uses the on-air brand EZ Rock. The station is owned by Rogers Media.-History:...
, was established on FM in 1980.
In 1972, Baxter also launched Northern Cable
Northern Cable
Northern Cable was a Canadian cable television provider, which operated from 1972 to 1998.The company, based in Sudbury, Ontario, served most of the Northeastern Ontario region. Although CUC Broadcasting was the largest single shareholder, the company was structured to maintain corporate control...
, a cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
service for Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
. In 1980, Northern Cable became the major shareholder in MCTV
Mid-Canada Communications
Mid-Canada Communications was a Canadian media company, which operated from 1980 to 1990. The company, a division of Northern Cable, had television and radio holdings in Northeastern Ontario.-MCTV:...
, when Cambrian Broadcasting and J. Conrad Lavigne
J. Conrad Lavigne
J. Conrad Lavigne, CM, O.Ont was a pioneering Canadian media proprietor.Born in Chénéville, Quebec, Lavigne was raised in Cochrane, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Forces in 1942 and fought in World War II...
's broadcast holdings were merged for financial reasons.
Due to the CRTC's rules at the time on concentration of media ownership
Concentration of media ownership
Concentration of media ownership refers to a process whereby progressively fewer individuals or organizations control increasing shares of the mass media...
, Ricard's radio stations continued to operate as a separate corporation from Ricard's MCTV holdings, although they were later merged through Mid-Canada Radio in 1985. In 1990, Ricard's media holdings were sold off in a series of transactions: MCTV was acquired by Baton Broadcasting, Mid-Canada Radio was sold to Pelmorex
Pelmorex
Pelmorex Media Inc. is a Canadian broadcast group. The company operates the broadcasting licence for The Weather Network and its French sister station, MétéoMédia. The Weather Network and MétéoMédia are Canada’s only 24-hour national specialty television networks devoted to weather reporting...
, becoming the Pelmorex Radio Network
Pelmorex Radio Network
The Pelmorex Radio Network was a system of Canadian radio stations in Northern Ontario, owned and operated by Pelmorex.-History:In 1989, Pierre Morrissette founded his own communications company, Pelmorex Media Inc., and acquired several french and english-language radio stations that were serving...
, and Northern Cable was sold to CFCF
CFCF-TV
CFCF-DT is a CTV-owned and operated station located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada...
's cable television division.
In 1980, he received a public service award from the Central Canada Broadcasters' Association, and in 1987 was awarded an honorary doctorate by Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
. In 1990, he was named entrepreneur of the year by the Northern Ontario Business Awards.
Ricard died in Sudbury in 1993. In 1999, he was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
Hall of Fame.