CHEK News joins Local TV Matters campaign

VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - CHEK NEWS, Vancouver Island's employee-owned television station, is the latest broadcaster to stand with local viewers and join the Local TV Matters campaign with CTV, /A\, CBC and Global TV.

"CHEK News was saved from the brink of oblivion by the overwhelming support of our viewers," says John Pollard , Chief Executive Officer of CHEK News. "Our viewers have made it clear they believe local television makes a valuable return to our community, and we stand with our viewers in support of fair billing practices by cable and satellite providers, including the end to double billing for local television."

The Local TV Matters campaign is an unprecedented campaign that includes most local television stations across the country. One of the campaign's concerns is that cable and satellite providers continue to charge viewers for - and profit from - services provided by broadcasters, yet they pay nothing to local television stations. The campaign members believe local stations deserve fairness and want to ensure viewers can continue to enjoy local television programming now and in the years to come, so they are standing up for local television and the right to a fair negotiation of its value. The interactive campaign includes an official website - www.localtvmatters.ca - and national advertising that informs Canadians on the need to be heard and get active on the issues facing local television.

"Unless the broken broadcasting model is fixed immediately, consumers will lose local television choices because of regulatory failure, not market failure. Consumers are demanding local television," says Mr. Pollard .

Viewers are encouraged to participate in the upcoming public consultations on consumer demands for fair billing practices by cable and satellite providers. Visit www.localtvmatters.ca to learn more.

About CHEK News

CHEK News is a local Vancouver Island, employee-owned company, CHEK Media Group. CHEK is western Canada's oldest private broadcaster established in 1956.

About Local TV Matters:

Local TV Matters is a campaign launched by local Canadian television broadcasters with a focus on the protection and preservation of local television for viewers across Canada . Local TV Matters' members include CTV, /A\, Global, CBC, and CHEK NEWS, with thousands of supporters located across the country. The campaign encourages all Canadians to share their voice and support local television by joining the conversation at www.localtvmatters.ca.

For further information: Name: Bonnie Brownlee, CTVglobemedia Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Name: John Douglas, Canwest Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Name: Jeff Keay, Head of Media Relations, CBC, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Name: John Pollard, CEO of CHEK Media Group, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected]