Hamilton council supports CHCH

Hamilton city councillors have unanimously backed a motion supporting CHCH-TV and the Local Programming Improvement Fund.

At the weekly city council meeting councillor Terry Whitehead brought forward the motion, asking mayor Bratina to send a letter of support to the CRTC regarding the review of the Local Programming Improvement Fund.

“Be it resolved, that the mayor correspond on behalf of the city of Hamilton to the CRTC to support the continuum of the Local Programmming Improvement Fund and be that, in light of the time sensitivity in respect of this matter that the correspondence be sent on behalf of council to the CRTC no later than February 14, 2012.”

After the meeting both members talked about the importance of council’s support, and the station.

Councillor Whitehead: “I believe that by this council taking the position that they did today, and the mayor providing his support, through a letter to the CRTC, it’s a reflection of the commitment and the fact that this community believes that local television in Hamilton is alive and well and we want to keep it that way.”

Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina says CHCH has always played “a vital role in helping to inform the public, along with the other media. So it’s no difficulty at all for all of us on council to support the request by CHCH to ensure that there is sufficient funding that local programming coverage can continue.”

The Local Programming Improvement Fund takes money from cable and satellite subscribers and distributes it to television stations that broadcast locally-produced programming. The CRTC is reviewing the fund and if it disappears, it will impact CHCH’s ability to broadcast news all through the day.

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