Thunder Bay's TV station CHFD-TV has told the CRTC that it plans to drop its affiliation with CTV to become an independent station aligned with CTV rival Canwest Global. After more than 37 years as a CTV affiliate, CHFD-TV said in its application that is unable to negotiate a new program supply agreement with the national network after its previous one expired last August.
At issue is a new agreement on national commercial inventory. In documents filed with the CRTC in November, CHFD-TV said that CTV's new proposed agreement would reduce its revenue by approximately 45% "therefore rendering CHFD-TV and (parent company) Thunder Bay Electronics Ltd. financially non-viable." Interventions or comments are due by February 16, 2010.
Source: Cartt, 01/11/2010