Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CHEK mate

Excellent news, perhaps unprecedented in Canadian broadcasting, is the successful acquisition of CHEK-TV in Victoria by its employees.  Supported by private investors, the CHEK group saved the station, and their jobs, from dissolution by CanWest Media, its financially beleaguered former owner.  Now, to add one more triumph, CHEK has been granted a seven-year renewal of license by the CRTC.

This is in sharp contrast to the fate of CKX Brandon, which has fallen into the black hole of broadcasting.  And CKCK Regina, which went to dead air some years ago.  

As a longtime toiler in broadcasting, I found it incomprehensible that a radio or television station could drop out of existence.  My business naivete, I suppose, and lack of attention to the winds of change. 

But for now, congratulations and huzzahs to John Pollard and his crew at CHEK-TV for having won the day in the always tough arena of broadcasting.  I'm tuning in Channel 6.  
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1 comment:

  1. tozanNovember 10, 2009 at 2:38 PM

    And huzzahs from me too! CHEK-TV won't have an easy time making ends meet, but they do enjoy a huge advantage over their former owner, CanWest.

    They live in Victoria. Their news and public affairs programming will focus on Victoria and environs. Viewers will be able to phone the station and talk to a living Victoria person. A rare and wonderful thing in today's broadcasting industry.

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