Videon Cablesystems

Videon Cablesystems
Company type	Private
Industry	Cable television
Founded	1962
Founder	Randy Moffat, Ralph Misener, Claude Boucher, Famous Players theatres
Defunct	2002
Fate	Acquired by Shaw Communications
Headquarters	Winnipeg, Canada
Area served	Manitoba, Alberta, northwest Ontario
Key people	Randall L. Moffat (president)
Products	Cable television services
Owner	Moffat Communications Ltd. (until 2001)
Parent	Shaw Communications (from 2001)

Videon Cablesystems—also known as Videon Cable-TV or Metro Videon Community Antenna Television Inc.—was a Canadian cable television operator serving regions in Manitoba, Alberta, and for a short period, northwest Ontario. The company was owned by Moffat Communications Ltd., led by president Randall L. Moffat, and provided service to Winnipeg's west side from August 14, 1968, until 2002.

In 2001, the Moffat family divested Videon Cable-TV Inc., selling it to SHAW Cable based in Calgary, Alberta.

History

The foundation of Videon dates back to October 1959 when General Manager Claude Boucher submitted an application to offer cable television services in Port Arthur, Ontario (currently Thunder Bay), under the name Lakehead Videon.

Metro Videon Community Antenna Television Inc. was quietly established in 1962 following the introduction of additional television signals in 1960. The initial group of partners included Randy Moffat (owner of CKY radio), Ralph Misener (owner of CJAY Channel 7), Famous Players theatres—which held ownership of multiple cable systems including Thunder Bay—and Claude Boucher. The company expanded its service area to Pinawa, Manitoba before applying for a federal license to operate in Winnipeg.

Although new cable-TV licenses were on hold due to a freeze imposed by the Department of Transport pending regulatory decisions, Videon proceeded with underground coaxial cable installations in selected neighborhoods such as Tuxedo, Fort Garry, and Assiniboia. They leased lines from Manitoba Telephone System (MTS) under advantageous terms. Negotiations with MTS for access to telephone poles and underground rights-of-way extended from 1963 through 1967. Construction of the headend and related infrastructure commenced later in 1967. While Videon intended to cover suburbs east of the Red River, this market was ultimately claimed by Greater Winnipeg Cablevision.

At launch, Videon charged customers a $10 connection fee plus a monthly subscription rate of $5—fees that remained unchanged until the advent of Canadian pay television in 1983.

Due to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ownership regulations mandating at least 80% Canadian control, Maclean-Hunter acquired the cable system in July 1970 because Famous Players’ substantial ownership stake conflicted with these rules.

Around January 1976, Videon's administrative headquarters relocated from 2 Donald Street South to 651 Stafford Street.

In 1976, Videon briefly transmitted FM radio audio via cable channels; however, this practice was discontinued after the CRTC prohibited it. Similarly, a closed-circuit programming connection between two hospitals was terminated following regulatory objections concerning "point-to-point undertakings."

In 1978, Videon requested its first rate increase—a modest rise of fifty cents—since beginning operations in Winnipeg.

Following an extensive system upgrade completed in 1987, Videon introduced the Assiniboia Downs Racing Network in January 1988, which facilitated Canada's inaugural "off track" betting experience.

Throughout the 1990s, Videon grew by acquiring multiple local cable providers, elevating its status to Canada's fifth largest cable operator. Its service area expanded to include Headingley as well as acquisitions across northwest Ontario and Alberta—including Edmonton and twenty-four additional communities.

In 2001, ownership transferred as the Moffat family sold Videon Cable-TV Inc. to Shaw Communications headquartered in Calgary.

Coverage area

Videon provided cable services to various Winnipeg districts such as Assiniboia, St. James, Brooklands, West and Old Kildonan, Fort Garry, Charleswood, and Tuxedo, along with areas in West and North Edmonton, Alberta.

The initial cable television service began operations in St. Norbert in August 1968. The company’s headend and administrative offices were originally situated at 651 Stafford St., a building formerly used as an A&P supermarket, before moving in 1995 to 22 Scurfield Blvd. in the Fort Garry area. Meanwhile, Edmonton’s headend was located within the West Edmonton Shaw Cable facility at 10450-178 St.

Distant signals

Between August 1968 and March 1986, Videon distributed two stations from Fargo, North Dakota: KTHI-TV channel 11 (initially ABC, later NBC) and KXJB-TV channel 4 (CBS). To enhance long-distance signal reception, a microwave relay was installed at Tolstoi in 1974; however, this system experienced signal degradation during periods of high temperatures. Subsequently, KXJB was received through a translator station based in Glasston, North Dakota.

In July 1975, after testing to ensure minimal interference, Videon incorporated KGFE—a PBS station from Grand Forks—into its lineup. Persistent complaints regarding signal quality led Videon in 1986 to replace the Fargo channels with Detroit affiliates WDIV and WJBK delivered via the Anik satellite. By 1993, due to concerns about crime coverage content, Videon transitioned away from Detroit stations towards affiliates located in Toledo and later Minneapolis.

Community programming

From 1968 through 1976, Videon utilized a simple black-and-white camera setup to broadcast weather updates on channel 13 before upgrading to an electronic text display system that remains in use.

Following the Broadcasting Act of 1968 and CRTC directives encouraging local content creation, Videon was required to dedicate a community channel funded by ten percent of its revenues for community programming purposes. In 1972, the company appointed a program manager tasked with collaborating with local organizations to develop relevant content.

Videon operated two community channels: Public Access, which facilitated user-generated programming along with training opportunities; and Informational Programming that showcased National Film Board productions alongside locally produced material. The introduction of mobile production units later enabled live coverage of community events suggested by viewers.

VPW originally aired on channel 9 before shifting to channels 13 and then 11 due to frequency adjustments by other broadcasters. Videon partnered with Greater Winnipeg Cablevision to distribute programming more widely.

Beginning in June 1977, monthly Community Committee meetings were broadcast on Videon’s cable system to foster civic participation. The company also televised CBC licence renewal hearings in October 1978—among the earliest instances of CRTC hearings being transmitted via cable within Canada.

Between 1996 and 2001, Videon produced Insight, a weekly public affairs call-in program primarily hosted by Kelly Parker that addressed urban topics such as downtown redevelopment and crime issues. This show concluded following Shaw’s acquisition of Videon in 2001.

During the 1980s, promotional materials often featured music by The Alan Parsons Project and themes from the film Benji. However, early in the 1990s, with CRTC approval, Videon significantly reduced its community programming staff which led to a decline in local programming quality and staff morale.

In 1979, after receiving CRTC authorization for Canadian companies to utilize TVRO equipment, Winnipeg became the first city to broadcast House of Commons sessions via the Anik-B satellite on channel VSP-7.

On October 30, 1982, Videon launched a secondary community access channel (VSP-7) dedicated to city council and committee meetings. The channel also aired Manitoba Educational Television’s Genesis Storytime, consumer affairs programs, legal education segments produced by the Public Legal Education Association (1982), and Health and Wellness series (1983). When not broadcasting video content, VSP-7 functioned as a Community Bulletin board channel.

Live event broadcasts

Videon delivered live transmissions of City Council sessions, Community Committee meetings, Manitoba Legislature Question Period, House of Commons debates, and Canada Day festivities. Prior to 1991, Videon would rebroadcast City Council meetings on Saturday mornings; however, this practice ended after entering into a multi-year agreement with the City Hall Clerk's Department. Additionally, live broadcasts of Community Committee gatherings were discontinued in the early 1990s.

Channel tier structure

Following the CRTC's 1989 authorization permitting MuchMusic and TSN to be included in basic cable packages, Videon introduced the Variety Pak tier at a monthly fee of $5.95. This Tier 1 bundle featured channels such as TSN, CNN, WTVS Detroit, A&E, TNN, TV5 Québec Canada, and MuchMusic.

By January 1, 1995, new Canadian specialty channels like Bravo!, Discovery Channel Canada, NCN, Life Network, and WTN were launched as Tier 2 options; meanwhile, Réseau de l'information (RDI) remained accessible on basic cable. Increasing cable fees in large metropolitan areas including Toronto and Vancouver prompted some subscribers to explore grey-market satellite services such as DirecTV.

Between September 1997 and October 1998, Tier 3 was introduced with channels including CTV News1, MuchMoreMusic, ROBtv (Business News Network), Star!, and TalkTv.

Subscription television

In 1983, Videon allocated one of its two pay-TV channels to broadcast the national First Choice service on channel 22 but refrained from adding a second pay-TV channel due to potential co-channel interference issues.

A lengthy dispute with MTS concerning wiring infrastructure and poles delayed Videon's channel expansion compared to other Winnipeg cable providers. It was only after a comprehensive cable system overhaul during the summer of 1987 that Videon could broaden its pay-TV offerings.

To safeguard pay-TV transmissions against unauthorized access, Videon utilized the Zenith Z-Tac addressable scrambling technology.

Beginning June 28, 1991, Videon incorporated three American Superstations into its pay-TV lineup: WTBS Atlanta (cable channel 33), WGN Chicago (cable channel 34), and WSBK Boston (cable channel 35).

Internet services

During the mid-1990s rise of affordable home Internet access, Videon contributed to the development of a high-speed cable modem service named Wave. In March 1999, Videon transitioned its Internet service platform to @Home Network.

For corporate customers, Videon provided FiberLink, a SONET-based solution delivering voice and data communications capable of linking LANs and PBX systems.

CRTC licence-related links

External links