I need to voice my concern and my disappointment about the potential demise of our local television station in Red Deer, CHCA.
I lay the blame at the feet of the CRTC for allowing so few people to own so much of our media, both print and electronic. But blame isn’t the purpose of this letter.
Not that many years ago CKRD television was an award-winning local small-market operation and from all signs, it was fairly successful.
The Toon Crew and Makin’ 8 are two award-winning shows that come to mind.
The staff that have graced this station over the years have gone on to be very successful in other provincial and national markets. What a better way to really learn your industry than at a small market station!
I understand the creation of the E television network has not been as successful as it might have been and personally I am not surprised.
Red Deer and Central Alberta deserve the local people, local news and local productions that we once had.
CKRD has a proud history and if a buyer isn’t found, that is all Red Deer will have for a television station: memories of a proud history that was mistreated by a media empire that didn’t and doesn’t recognize the needs of our smaller cities and communities.
Maybe Canwest CEO Leonard Asper should consider spending a little less money on the proposed human rights museum (although I do recognize its importance) and more on what made his family successful and very rich in the first place.
I urge Asper either to rethink his plans for Red Deer or find a buyer that cares.
Phil Hyde
Red Deer