Local TV funding

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Local TV stations across the country have been raising the alarm over declining revenues and their diminishing ability to provide their communities with quality news programs. The situation became dire enough that Canada’s Broadcast Regulator held hearings in January where independent TV stations showed up in Ottawa calling for action, begging for help and the CRTC has answered. A lifeline has been thrown to local broadcasters but stations won’t see any sort of funding until September 1st of next year.

A new Independent local news fund is being established to give independent stations access to about $23 million a year for local news programming. CHCH is one of 18 stations that will receive the support. It’s unclear how much money the channel will get until the fund comes into effect next year.

Cal Millar, President of Channel Zero which owns CHCH says he is encouraged by the CRTC decision today and that it’s clear local news is important to everyone. How the funding will be spent is still undetermined as the owners wait to see how the independent local news fund will be allocated among 18 stations.