Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 35

I i 'p 1 EST OCPY AVAILABLE rrrrmTTTtrr. i i The critic I TelevisionD2 fill reviews The Critic EDITOR: Bob Remington, 429-5346 Greg Kennedy SI A AC J.I 11 J. 11 1 11 11 VW 111 jf J) i The stakes are high in a battle for a new TV licence, but existing stations say 'Keep I'. J--CTL. JL L.

Gajl Echlin The 1 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT The CRTC hearing on the new Alberta TV stations is scheduled to last until Friday. Thirty-six parties will appear in person to intervene. The CRTC's decision is expected in the spring. It could take another year before the stations are up and running. "We've seen what over-licensing has done to radio.

We've just lost a radio station," he said, referring to CJCA's recent closure. Other observers beg to differ. They say the Alberta stations' healthy profits have all been shoring up their parent companies. Kitchener, Electrohome owns CF RN and Toronto-based Maclean Hunter owns CFCN. Vancouver's Western International Communications (WIC) owns ITV and CICT.

The existing TV stations' joint intervention is just one of 900 that have been filed with the CRTC. That's a lot compared to similar hearings, said Bill Allen, director of public affairs for the commission. It underscores the keen interest in these hearings. Interventions (letters or personal appearances in support or opposed to the application) can be positive or negative. As of last week, the CRTC didn't have a breakdown of the content in these 900.

However, no matter which applicant has the most cheerleaders, the commission is under no obligation to license anyone. It refused to grant a TV license in Ottawa after holding hearings there in 1989 because it didn't believe the need had been demonstrated. "One of the major questions that will addressed at the hearing is. Can Alberta support another TV said Allen. "Is there a market demand, do Albertans want another TV service, does it add diversity to the market, is it at all different from what already exists and is it financially viable?" Naturally, the two applicants think the answers are all spelled and have put considerable money on the line to prove it.

AltaWest has already spent $325,000 on the market surveys, promotion, technical and programming research that go into an application. The Alberta Channel figures its outlay is closer to $500,000. reasons to celebrate if a fourth TV service is licensed. And they all have dollar signs attached to them. Every million dollars a new applicant ear marks for production translates into $5 million, said Andy Thomson, president of Edmonton's Great North Productions, whose series.

Destiny Ridge was funded in part by Can-West Global, owners of AltaWest. The money grows because when a broadcaster antes up 20 per cent of a budget. Telefilm will kic in the other 80 per cent, he explained. With AltaWest promising to fund independent producers to the tune of $7 million over its seven year license period and the Alberta Channel promising $16.6 million. 'T think it's going to the most important thing that's ever happened to the industry in this province." said Thomson, who is also president of the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Associa- ion.

ive million dollars is the equivalent of 10. one hour documentaries, a seven-part series or two movies of the week, he said. That's whv 75 per cent of AM PI As membership say they'd welcome a fourth sen ice, according to a recent poll by the association. Kirk and his consortium of existing Alberta TV stations say the production industry is being wooed by an illusion of more money. In fact, the present TV sta tions already contribute annu- Brian Gavnloff The Journal sion and Telecommunications Commission doesn't have to issue a licence if it becomes convinced there are too manv TV stations alreadv.

Edmonton's ITV and CFRN and Calgary's CTCT and CFCN say it would devastate their businesses if new TV stations were suddenly opened in Edmonton and Calgary, with repeaters in such cities as Red Deer, I-tlibridge and Drumheller. There's simply too little advertising money available to cut the pie in Alberta again, they say, and the new stations would dilute their audiences, to boot. They predict adding a fourth television broadcasting company to Alberta would would siphon $'Mi million a year from the other three and cause inevitable job losses at their stations. "It's not like the market is under-served," said Wally Kirk, vice president and general manager of ITV. "There's no innovative programming being presented by either applicant.

I can't believe people don't get enough access to movies. I can't believe people go to bed at night sav ing. need another TV But Alberta's independent film and televsion producers see plenty of ITVs Wally Kirk: "stay away" 1 -j jc: L. Larry Wong The Journal Andy Thomson: favors new stations HELEN METELLA Entertainment Writer Edmonton It's hardly Court TV. But while it's short on sex and scandal, a hear OK ing scheduled to start in Calgary's Delta Bow Valley hotel on Tuesday will be a high-stakes, knock dow drag em out fight, all the same.

The winner will emerge as the province's fourth, over the air. independent television service, a broad fasting bounty that media moguls have been salivating over for years. Unless a winner isn't declared at all. that is. In an unprecedented move, four Alberta TV stations have united to repel their common enemies The Alberta Channel and AltaWest Television the two Manitoba based companies who are vying for the license.

Although compelled to hold a hearing when there is a viable application, the Canadian Radio-televi Who are these of new TV are i ally to new production, based on a CRTC formula that takes into account their profits. If the TV stations' profits decline. Alberta producers will feel the domino effect. The money the TV stations subsequently cut back won't be equal to what the new stations add to the pot. says Kirk, so less new production will ultimately take place.

"The community service, funds to independent producers, all those things that are unprofitable, will go first," he said. However, sources sav that collectively. CFRN. CFCN, CITV and CICT spend $1.6 million annually on Canadian production. Exactly how much of that money goes strictly to Alberta isn't known.

Kirk says the Alberta TV market is healthy now, but there's not enough business to share. He foresees dire consequences if another TV broadcaster enters Alberta. WHY ALBERTA IS BEING TARGETTED FOR NEW TV STATIONS high-rollers and what breed they selling Albertans? ALTAWEST TELEVISION AltaWest Television is a subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications of Winnipeg. CanWest also owns Ontario's Global Television Network, television stations CKXD in Winnipeg, CFRE in Regina. CFSK in Saskatchewan and CKVU in Vancouver.

It also has shares in New Zealand's TV3 and Australia's Channel 10 Network. As part of hat ill effectively become a national TV network. AltaWest will share the Global TV Network's material and can offer Alberta productions air-time on its other stations in both Canada and Australia. AltaWest's emphasis will be on news and sports at different times of the day than is now offered by existing stations The highlights of its application are: One main station in Calgary with a news and small production department in Edmonton. The Calgary station will send programming to Edmonton, Red Deer and Leth-bridge.

In the future, AltaWest hopes to expand to two other Alberta cities. Week night news programs starting at the non-traditional times of 5 and 7 p.m. $7 million over seven years to fund independent Alberta producers, ith 50 per cent of that going to drama $14 million over seven years to fund two dramas per year by new producers THE ALBERTA CHANNEL The Alberta Channel's majority partner is Craig Broadcast Systems of Manitoba, a Craig family company which operates the independent three-station Manitoba Television Network (MTN) broadcasting from Winnipeg. Brandon and Dauphin. The other partners are Edmonton venture capitalist David W.G.

MacKenzie and Mid-West Television of Lloydminster. Like MTN, the Alberta Channel's slogan is More Movies More Often. It will also emphasize children's programs and local news and won't be part of a major netw ork. Among its promises: Two new stations in both Edmonton and Calgary with 125 employees each. They'll share some equipment and news, but will operate autont mously.

Repeater stations will send Edmonton's signal to Red Deer and Calgary's to Leth-bridge and Drumheller Major Hollywood and Canadian movies, running in prime time every week night, ith very few American or syndicated TV shows Considerable new local production, including a 90 minute morning news show, a 90 minute evening news show beginning at 5:30 tn. and special programs devoted to entertainment, children aboriginal themes $16.6 million to fund prouu.tions by independent Alberta producers over seven yea-s marily by First City Financial Corporation and Vencap Equities, applied to start The Alberta Television Network, which would have created stations in Calgary and Edmonton. Instead of calling a hearing, the CRTC commissioned a study to see if the Alberta market could handle a new service and decided it couldn't By 1991, Wilks was still insisting that his application be But by August of that year, he lost his major investor, First City. Wilks tried to find new investors, but failed. The application's background information was sold to David W.

G. MacKenzie. who was one of ATN's original investors. Last February, AltaWest filed an application and the CRTC called for more applicants. In November.

MacKenzie joined forces with The Alberta Channel, which became the second Both The Alberta Channel and AltaWest Television have studies saying that Alberta's economy is one of the strongest in the country and that national advertisers haven't enough places to park their TV commercials. As a small entity in an industry dominated by network giants, the Alberta Channel parent company wants to diversify. For CanWest Global, getting into Alberta will make it a truly national network. It can then amortize the cost of buying American programs over more stations and charge national rates to advertisers. But the idea to get a new Alberta TV license originated with a player who's no longer in the game.

In 1989. former ITV executive Wendell Wilks and a group of Edmonton businessmen funded pri 4k iAi iMfc li lift ffi li ift ii mlmfik fa tf ri i iA ri ft tj.