This could mean no more True FTA channel at 111.1W.
| FTA-N-More.Net http://www.fta-n-more.net/forum/ | |
| CRTC Approves Sale of SCN http://www.fta-n-more.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1595 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Prodigy [ Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | CRTC Approves Sale of SCN |
CRTC Approves Sale of SCN Dec 28, 2010 8:44 AM Oakville, ON-based Bluepoint Investment Corp. has received a go-ahead from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to buy SCN, Saskatchewan's public education and information TV channel. New content and program genres, as well as some commercial and advertising material, will be a part of the reconfigured educational outlet's on-air profile. "The Commission approves the application by Bluepoint Investments Inc. for authority to acquire the assets of the satellite-to-cable programming undertaking Saskatchewan Communications Network," the CRTC announced prior to the holidays, finalizing a deal that was first announced last June. The five-year, as opposed to seven-year, licence comes with CRTC permission to include advertising in its programming, although the daytime period of 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. is to remain commercial-free while mostly children's and educational programming is aired. When it broadcasts commercial programming, the CRTC ruled, "The licensee shall not broadcast more than 14 minutes of national or regional advertising material in any clock hour in a broadcast day or more than 882 minutes of advertising material in a broadcast week." Other time periods can have "educationally and culturally themed programming, as well as programming designed to attract advertising revenues." The CRTC noted that it expects the licensee to spend $1.75 million per year on independent production, and $1 million per year on digital production, in Saskatchewan over the next seven years. Under the deal, Bluepoint will pay $350,000 to the provincial government for SCN's physical assets as well as its film and video properties. Some 35 SCN employees are immediately affected by the decision. SCN was created in 1989 by the then Progressive Conservative government, headed by Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine. The station broadcast a variety of educational and entertainment programs, many produced within the province, using both TV and online platforms. The provincial government announced the decision to close SCN in its budget last March; it closed in May, 2010. Bluepoint, a holding company established last year to acquire some of Canada's struggling local TV stations, is headed by Chairman and CEO Bruce Claassen, a media industry veteran and recent chair at media management company Aegis Media Canada. Claassen has said the firm is interested in acquiring some Canadian stations, as well as US companies, having secured substantial financial investment from both Bay Street and Wall Street for its business plan. Heading up Bluepoint with Claassen is Colin Berrie, Bay Street veteran and former president of Avenue Financial Corp. In addition to Berrie, six other broadcast veterans at Bluepoint bring financial, management, legal, programming, marketing and sales experience to the company. It's a combination that Claassen has said is appealing to financial backers, as it is seen as being able to resuscitate some of the country's media operations. Claassen added, "We can see beyond all the doom and gloom and believe that now is the time to invest in media. Bluepoint has good solid funding and we are serious about our intention to acquire over-the-air broadcasters, and possibly cable and other media assets throughout North America." |
|
| Author: | Prodigy [ Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CRTC Approves Sale of SCN |
This could mean no more True FTA channel at 111.1W.
|
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group https://www.phpbb.com/ | |