WINNIPEG – While CHBC TV Kelowna will live on – rebranded from E! to part of the Global TV network – CHEK-TV Victoria and CHCA-TV Red Deer will be shuttered at the end of business on August 31, 2009, said the stations’ owner Canwest Global Communications.
As reported by Cartt.ca, the other two stations in the E! chain CHCH-TV in Hamilton and CJNT-TV in Montreal have been conditionally sold to independent broadcaster Channel Zero.
“When we began this process about six months ago to determine if there was any way to keep these local stations on the air in the current regulatory environment, we said that we would examine every avenue,” Canwest Broadcasting President Peter Viner said in a statement. “From the outset, we said that closing stations would only be considered as a last resort. We recognize that the decision to close CHCA and CHEK will negatively impact the employees of those stations and the communities that those stations have served so well.”
About 80 people at the two western stations will lose their jobs.
In a memo to staff today, Viner said of the Kelowna station: “After reviewing this distinct market’s relatively strong economy, the audience share of its local news product and recent changes to the regulatory regime we have determined that CHBC can be viable as a part of the Global network. This also means that we will no longer be winding up the station’s pension plans and employee benefits will continue to accrue.”
CHBC is the lone TV station in Kelowna and while it currently produces 14.5 hours of local content per week, staff there have already been told it’s evening news slots will have to change so as not to compete with the main Global Vancouver news show and Global National. Plus, the CRTC’s recent policy release on local conventional television will allow it to take advantage of the $100 million Local Programming Improvement Fund – and the Commission’s new, harmonized local content requirements mean that stations in markets the size of Kelowna’s can cut their weekly local content to a minimum of seven hours per week.
However, station management have not told staff what programming changes will take place.
As for the two stations being closed, “(t)his has not been an easy decision but the on-going losses that these stations have accumulated have continued to mount,” Viner added.
“I’m pleased to say… we have been able to find creative solutions for three of the five stations, which will sustain more than three-quarters of the jobs impacted by the review,” added Viner.
On February 5, 2009, Canwest announced a strategic review of CHCH, CJNT, CHCA, CHBC and CHEK. During this process, a number of parties expressed an interest in certain of the stations, but “none of them came forward with a concrete plan or the funding that provided any level of certainty for the stations, the employees or the communities that they serve,” says the Canwest release. The process was extended a number of times to allow parties to obtain financing or develop their business plans, noted the press release.
“Canwest will continue to vigorously pursue regulatory change that will ensure the long term viability of conventional television in Canada and that recognizes its role in creating jobs, local news and other Canadian content. The Company looks forward to making its case at September’s comprehensive policy review,” added Viner.
– Greg O’Brien
