Biography.guide
Home › People › Businessperson › Spence Caldwell
Portrait of Spence Caldwell

Spence Caldwell

1909 – 1983

Canadian television executive

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Spence Caldwell

Lived 1909 – 1983 (aged 73–74). Spence Caldwell was a Canadian businessperson, known for CTV Television Network.

Spencer Wood Caldwell (1909 – December 10, 1983) was a Canadian broadcasting pioneer and the founder of CTV.

Amongst his notable achievements are as manager of the Dominion Network, S.W. Caldwell Ltd. (a TV and radio programme and equipment distributor), an advertising agency created to air Canadian advertisements into the broadcasting of CBS TV show Westinghouse Playhouse. Caldwell was one of the first to apply for a television station licence to the Board of Broadcast Governors, but was turned down. After being turned down for a television station, Caldwell applied for a licence to create Canada's first private television network. With the licence approved, Caldwell created CTV, Canada's first commercial TV network. Caldwell was the first President of CTV and was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Caldwell was killed in a road accident with a transport truck near his home in Caledon, Ontario.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1909, Regina
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Known for
CTV Television Network
Also known as
Spencer Wood Caldwell

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Spence Caldwell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Spence Caldwell?

Canadian television executive

When was Spence Caldwell born?

Spence Caldwell was born in 1909 in Regina.

When did Spence Caldwell die?

Spence Caldwell died on 10 December 1983 in Caledon, Ontario.

What was Spence Caldwell's occupation?

Spence Caldwell was a businessperson.

What was Spence Caldwell known for?

Spence Caldwell was known for CTV Television Network.

What nationality was Spence Caldwell?

Spence Caldwell was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Spence Caldwell

· Wikidata: Q7575946

· DBpedia: Spence Caldwell

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Spence Caldwell. https://biography.guide/spence-caldwell/

MLA: "Spence Caldwell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/spence-caldwell/.

Chicago: "Spence Caldwell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/spence-caldwell/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:15 UTC