A news story on February 19 indicated that CTV was looking to sell its CKX station in Brandon, Manitoba. The CBC agreement to broadcast its signal over CKX's tower ends in the summer.
The advent of digital programming and the costs associated with it means that CKX is not needed by the CBC to get it signal to the Brandon area. CTV appears to have no interest in the market for its own use despite the fact that it serves over 125,000 people at present.
CKX was founded in 1955 and employs about 40 people.
One wonders how WDAZ can operate in Grand Forks in North Dakota and broadcast in digital no less.
Smaller market stations are threatened all over Canada at the moment as debt laden companies look to cut costs. Winnipeg has already played the part of pawn with stations like Joytv and CityTV changing hands repeatedly.
We already know that Joytv constributes next to nothing to local content and Citytv got rid of its evening newscast.
Now it looks like Brandon will have to get its TV news from Winnipeg. That is, if we don't lose our local news ourselves.
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As I commented at Endless Spin - the demise of yet another 'local' station is not only sad - it is yet another strike against preserving an informed public. If this keeps up, soon all 'local' news we see will only be generated and prepackaged directly from Toronto!
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