INDEPTH: ISRAEL ASPER
Israel Harold 'Izzy' Asper
CBC News Online | October 7, 2003
Israel Asper, known to most Canadians as Izzy Asper, the founder of one of the country's media empires, died in Winnipeg on October 7, 2003. He was 71.
Canwest Global Communications said Asper was taken to St. Boniface Hospital early that day and died a short time later. His family was by his side.
Israel Asper was born in 1932 in Minnedosa, Man. He received a BA from the University of Manitoba in 1953 and then went on to law school there, earning his LLB in 1957. He founded the law firm of Asper, Freedman and Company in 1959 and returned to the University of Manitoba that year to take an LLM.
In the year 2000, the university would dedicate the I. H. Asper School of Business. Asper had donated $10 million to the school.
Asper first came to national attention as a respected expert on taxation and wrote a column on taxes for The Globe and Mail from 1966 until 1977.
Asper was also prominent in the political life of Manitoba. In 1970, he became leader of the provincial Liberal party. In the 1973 provincial election, the Liberals captured just three seats, one of them Asper's. He left active politics and resigned his seat two years later, turning his priorities to the media.
In 1974, Asper bought a failing television station, KCND in Pembina, N.D., just across the U.S. border and moved all the equipment to Winnipeg, where the station became CKND, then one of the few independent television stations in Canada.
A couple of years later, Asper bought out another failing enterprise, the Global television network, which then became the core of his media empire, CanWest Global Communications. The company soon spread beyond Canada with holdings in New Zealand and Australia.
By 2003, Asper's net worth was estimated at $600 million.
Asper often faced criticism for the emphasis on profits at his companies. He is reported to have told the news staff of one of his TV stations in New Zealand, "You're in the business of selling soap." One analyst for CIBC Wood Gundy said Asper's TV network had just 16 per cent of the viewing audience in Canada but 30 per cent of the profits in private television.
To his critics, Asper replied in an interview with the Globe, "You must be profitable, that is non-negotiable."
Although Asper often expressed his support for more TV public affairs and news programs, television critics would reply that Asper's fortune depended largely on buying the most popular American entertainment shows for Global. Asper liked to point out that CanWest Global spends millions of dollars a year on Canadian programming.
In 2000, Asper and his son Leonard expanded his empire by buying a half interest in Conrad Black's flagship newspaper, the National Post, and taking over the rest of the Black empire – 13 major daily newspapers and 136 smaller ones – in a $3.5-billion deal. A year later, the Aspers bought up the remaining 50 per cent of the National Post.
That takeover again sparked criticism of Asper, after he began to centralize operations at CanWest Global headquarters in Winnipeg. In May 2003, the Asper family shook up the editorial and financial management of the National Post, while also saying the company had a three-year commitment to the paper, which has lost money since it was founded by Black.
Asper was also known for his outspoken views on many political and social issues, especially his support of Israel. He often used his media outlets to call on the Canadian government to strengthen its support of Israel.
Asper retired from active management of the company in January 2003, handing the reins to his son Leonard, while remaining chairman of the board. He then began to concentrate on creating a jazz radio station in Winnipeg, and on his philanthropic pursuits, including the creation of the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg.
His other philanthropic effort was the Asper Foundation, which he began in 1983. It supported projects both in Manitoba and in Israel.
He is survived by his wife Babs, sons David and Leonard, and daughter Gail.
IZZY ASPER
- Born August 11, 1932 in Minnedosa, Manitoba
- Married Ruth Miriam in 1956. Has three children: David,
Leonard, and Gail
- Law graduate of University of Manitoba. Called to Manitoba bar
in 1964
- Established expert on tax law, wrote nationally-syndicated
newspaper column on taxation from 1966-1977
- Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1975
- Leader of Liberal Party in Manitoba from 1970-1975
- With partner Paul Morton, set up Winnipeg independent station
CKND in early 1970s before buying struggling Toronto station Global in
1974
- Became head of CanWest Global Communications Corporation and
CanWest Capital Group Inc. in 1989
- Established charitable organization, the Asper Foundation, in
1993
- Inducted into Canadian Association of Broadcasters Broadcast
Hall of Fame in 1995
- Became Officer of Order of Canada in 1995
- Member of Canadian Business Hall of Fame
- Received Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by the University of
Manitoba in 1998
- Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem in 1999
- Inducted into the Order of Manitoba in 2000
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Just Part of the CanWest Global Empire
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Newspapers:
The Vancouver Sun
The Province, Vancouver
Times-Colonist, Victoria
Global Network TV Stations:
CHEK* Victoria
CHBC** Kelowna
ALBERTA
Newspapers:
Calgary Herald
The Edmonton Journal
Global Network TV Stations:
Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge
CKRD** Red Deer
SASKATCHEWAN
Newspapers:
The Leader Post, Regina
The StarPhoenix, Saskatoon
Global Network TV Stations:
Saskatoon and Regina
MANITOBA
CanWest Global corporate headquarters
Global Winnipeg TV
ONTARIO
Newspapers:
Ottawa Citizen
National Post (50%), Toronto
The Windsor Star
Global Network TV Stations:
Global Ontario (based in Toronto)
CHCH* Hamilton
QUEBEC
Newspapers:
The Gazette, Montreal
Global Network TV Stations:
Global Quebec (based in Montreal)
NOVA SCOTIA
Newspapers:
The Daily News, Halifax
Global Network TV Stations:
Global Atlantic (based in Halifax)
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Newspapers:
The Guardian, Charlottetown
NEWFOUNDLAND
Newspapers:
The Telegram, St. John's
INTERNET
Canada.com
Careerclick.com
Carclick.com
Faceoff.com (80%)
SPECIALTY CHANNELS
Globe Prime
Men TV
Mystery
DejaView
Lonestar
Fox Sportsworld Canada
Xtreme Sports
COOL TV
OUTSIDE OF CANADA
Network 10, Australia
TV3 New Zealand
TV4 New Zealand
TV3, Republic of Ireland
UTV, Northern Ireland
* Independent stations owned by Global
** CBC affiliates owned by Global
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 CBC TV's Ioanna Roumeliotis on the life of Izzy Asper (Runs 4:37)
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