The CTV network started out as a group of independent, locally owned television stations - much like ITV at its early days. Its first year of operation was in 1961, with eight television stations making up CTV. In 1966, CTV was on the brink of bankruptcy. CTV affiliates decided to buy out the network under hostile terms.
Over the years, the CTV service expanded into Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario, and other remote parts of Canada.
In 1994, the merger of Baton Broadcasting and Electrohome Broadcasting (the two largest shareholders of CTV) sparked Baton's takeover of CTV and most of the large-city affiliates.
In 2000, CTV Inc. (formerly Baton Broadcasting) was bought out by BCE Inc. - owner of Canada's largest telephone company, Bell.
Today, CTV owns and operates 17 stations, and supplies programming to 3 private affiliates to cover 95% of English Canada.
Much of CTV's national programming is produced out of its Toronto (Agincourt facilities), including CTV News, W5, and Canada AM. Agincourt also houses the main transmission centres of CFTO-TV Toronto, CKCO-TV Kitchener, CJOH-TV Ottawa, CFCF-TV Montreal, and all of its specialty channels. Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Sudbury, and Halifax are also home to CTV transmission facilities - some housing multiple stations.