The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 59

I lit" I'roviiu-c B3 Wednesday, June 11, 1997 uMIESEMJI Big battle for dominance has already started as television stations gird for the arrival of Baton Broadcasting's CIVT mm r- -rf ''1" ll ji i 3 iL if fe Won IZZY ASPER what of CanWest in all this? MOSES ZNAIMER said to be willing to buy mm There's a loud cry being heard in our land. It's a message more suited to the boxing ring than to the executive offices of Vancouver's television channels but its meaning is nonetheless just as clear. Leeeeet's Ruuummmble! No one is officially declaring the match has begun but its existence is being whispered throughout Vancouver's electronic world. Why the sudden action, rumors and innuendo? Four letters CIVT, the call letters of the new Journalists and personalities have updated their resumes in what appears to be a mass movement to the new station as they sense a changing of the guard. CIVT is owned by Baton Broadcasting System (BBS).

But Baton also owns 57 per cent of CTV, the network with which BCTV (owned by WIC International) is affiliated. Here's where it gets weird. Both BCTV and CanwestGlobal's U.TV can thank BBS for some of their most popular U.S. shows because BBS aggressively bought a long list of American programs. Those shows were then WMmmmmi a Depending on which rumor you believe, CTV will aggressively try to outbid BBS and CanwestGlobal for U.S.

programming or be sold off or And, lurking in the background, say industry people, is the ever-aggressive Moses Znaimer, the founder of Toronto's Citytv after a career with the CBC. Znaimer, go the rumors, is willing to buy either BCTV or U.TV now that efforts to open or buy stations in Alberta and Vancouver were turned down by the CRTC. A pioneer in interactive television, he is co-founder of MuchMusic, MusiquePlus and Bravo and he is determined to expand. Meanwhile, CIVT is treating the CBC like a farm team for talent development with radio's Vicki Gabereau and Double Exposure's Bob Robertson and Linda Cullen moving over from Mother Corp. to the new TV station.

Now comes word that BBS has signed on the big voice herself Rita MacNeil. TV station scheduled to liiitiitii mmmimm go on the air in September. Without even one minute of air-time, the station rented out to stations where BBS did not have an outlet cities like Vancouver. So, now that BBS is here in the form of CIVT, the others stations aren't sure of their financial base. Rumors that no one will is already causing upheaval.

It promises to last either deny or confirm have well beyond the U.TV changing its name to GlobalVancouver, reflecting its parent company, the CanwestGlobal network, owned When the singer's CBC-TV Linda Cullen and Bob Robertson of Double Exposure on CBC radio are moving their political satire show to CIVT television. show was cancelled even though it was one of the network best-watched shows TTFScrrrn by Izzy Asper of Winnipeg. U.TV is also expected to change its demographic target, moving from youth orientation to a more mature audience, trying to entice advertisers into tapping the she took her producer with her. The result will be two TV specials to be shot in Nova Scotia and XliUiTysV.UM I broadcast across the Am. country via Baton's 26 stations.

coming season and is redesigning the television reality of this city. "I've never seen this town running so scared in all the years that I've been here," said a veteran broadcaster who asked to remain anonymous. "Not in Toronto, not in Winnipeg, not anywhere. It's absolutely paranoid out there. People are frightened." This is just the opening round, with the first feeling-out jabs being flicked and nary a right hand has been thrown.

Even so, some of Vancouver's biggest and most-recognized TV names are looking for work, the demographic targets are shifting and there's even a rumored name change for one of Vancouver's channels. And, thousands of miles away, investors and power brokers are mapping out and implementing their battle plans. The objective? Throw a knockout punch that will give one of Vancouver's channels dominance. The battle is likely to be felt at even the most basic levels Including print and electronic newsrooms In the city. Word is that the budget put into MacNeil's variety show ($150,000 per) is being channelled to the new Peter Gzowski CBC-TV talk show raising eyebrows throughout the industry.

So, get set for massive change. Vancouver is now Canada's biggest television battleground, where you can expect more big-name casualties and movement of talent and programs. Whatever happens during the next couple of years, this is one rumble that won't be boring. wallets of high-end boomers. BCTV, which recently dumped some of its high-priced sports announcers (Bernie Pascal, John McKeachie and Barry Houlihan) is making itself lean and mean.

Scuttlebutt has as many as 14 more being let go as early as this week. While its programming next season most likely won't be affected, there's no guarantee what will happen in two years. How its relationship with the CTV network will evolve Is anyone's guess. Sportscasters John McKeachie (left), Bernie Pascal (right) and Barry Houlihan were dropped as BCTV gets lean and mean..