The radio broadcasting station CHNS was founded in 1925 by Major William C. Borrett and fellow members of the Halifax Radio Listeners' Club, Cecil Landry, Lionel Shatford and John Redmond. The group launched its first broadcast from the Carleton Hotel on 12 May 1926, with technical support from the Northern Electric Co. In the same year, the station came under the ownership of Halifax Herald Ltd.; in 1936 ownership was transferred to the Maritime Broadcasting Co. Borrett served as CHNS managing director from 1926 until his retirement in 1951. The station produced news, education, and entertainment programs. Popular among its early programs were "Uncle Mel" a children's comedy show by broadcaster Hugh Mills, "Atlantic Nocturne", a program featuring readings to organ accompaniment by J. Frank Willis, and "Tales Told Under the Old Town Clock", Borrett's own program on Nova Scotia history. CHNS also acted as the outlet for CBC programs to the network until the CBC established its own station in Halifax in 1940. In November of the same year, CHNS moved its studios from the Lord Nelson Hotel to its own building, Broadcasting House on Tobin Street. In 1947, CHNS launched CHNS-FM to simulcast the programming of CHNS-AM.