CHWI-DT

In May 1992, Baton Broadcasting agreed to purchase two television stations in southwestern Ontario: CFPL-TV in London and CKNX-TV in Wingham from The Blackburn Group. For Baton, the transaction gave the company additional regional muscle as it sought to compete with the Global Television Network.{{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 }} 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 to serve Windsor and 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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 (channel 9), located in Windsor proper, was affected by the blackout rules.{{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 }}

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 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}

The CRTC approved the construction of CHWI-TV on January 26, 1993, days after the Wheatley transmitter site was approved by 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.{{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 }}{{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 }} In spite of the 1994 projections, Baton was able to speed construction,{{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 }} Transmitter testing began September 1, providing Windsor with a similar picture quality to the Global repeater at Stevenson, and a Grade-A contour in areas such as Chatham and Leamington.{{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 }}

Image:CHWI-TV logo 1990s.png 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} In its first ratings survey, CHWI's News Now came in third, just behind CBET with the news from CKCO in Kitchener.{{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 }} 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;{{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 }} in late 1995, the news bureau was closed altogether.{{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 }} By late 1994, CHWI was second at 6 p.m. to the CBC Toronto early evening news,{{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 }} and by early 1997 it had almost as many viewers as CBET's 5:30 p.m. Windsor Evening News.{{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 }}

File:Windsor, Ontario (21782203991).jpg (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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} Later, in 2000, the Windsor transmitter was authorized to increase its power tenfold to 5,800 watts.{{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 }}

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.{{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 }}

File:Thenewwi.svg

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 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 and Ottawa. It expected the stations to fit well with CKVR-TV "The New VR" in Barrie{{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 }} as well as with all four private radio stations in Windsor, which it owned.{{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 }} 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 Citytv's news.{{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 }} Newscasts were a particular point of emphasis for improvement in the reformatting of the stations.{{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}} }} 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.{{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 }}

File:WindsorAChannel61Ouelettestreet.JPG

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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}{{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 }} New Day debuted to an average audience of 500 but grew that to 2,800 within a year.{{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 }}

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.{{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 }} Even though CBET moved its local news to 6 p.m. in October 2000 when Canada Now debuted,{{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 }} by 2005 CHWI had twice as many viewers in the same time slot.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}{{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 }}

As a result of CHUM's acquisition of Craig Media (and its rebranding of a 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.{{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 }}

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.{{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 }} Speculation of a rebrand for the A-Channel group followed the purchase, and in 2008, the system was renamed A.{{cite news |title=CTV chummy with sked |work=Variety |date=June 9, 2008 |id={{ProQuest|236376290}}|pages=19–20|first=Jennie|last=Punter }}

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 2007–2008 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}{{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 }}

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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }}

File:Bell Building (2231807032).jpg

In 2011, Bell Canada acquired full control of CTVglobemedia and restructured the company as Bell Media.{{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 }} One month later, Bell revealed that the A system, including CHWI, would be relaunched as CTV Two beginning with the 2011–12 television season.{{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 }} Alongside the relaunch came the rebranding of CHWI's newscasts as CTV News Windsor and the establishment of a high-definition feed for its new digital signal.

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.{{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 }}{{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 }} After relocating, CHWI began producing local 6 p.m. weekend newscasts in January 2014, replacing regional newscasts produced by CFPL.{{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 }} These were scrapped in February 2024 as part of a nearly network-wide discontinuation of weekend newscasts.{{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 }}

• Jacqueline Milczarek — reporter{{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 }}
• Catherine Herridge — reporter, 1993–1995{{r|Wind931112}}{{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 }}

{{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
16 (UHF)
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
17 (UHF)
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 and a rebroadcaster in downtown Windsor.

On August 31, 2011, when Canadian television stations in CRTC-designated mandatory markets transitioned from analogue to digital broadcasts, CHWI-TV flash cut its digital signal into operation, using its former UHF analog channels 16 and 26.{{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 }} The Windsor transmitter had just been switched from channel 60 the previous January in order to clear the upper UHF band.{{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 }}{{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 }}

As part of the 600 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.{{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 }}{{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 }}

{{reflist|2}}

• [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

HWI-DT

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993

HWI-DT