Source: Vancouver Sun

The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission has approved a seven-year licence for CHEK Media Group.

The broadcaster, acquired early last month from Canwest Global Communications with private and employee investment, called the licence transfer today a "historic" move in both expediency and the term of the deal.

"A licence transfer like this usually takes months," John Pollard, president and general manager of CHEK News, said in a statement.

"They have reviewed our application and approved it in less than a month. We are excited by the confidence the CRTC has put into our organization. Now we can move forward with the plans we have to provide Vancouver Islanders with a stable, reliable news source and to ensure Islanders will continue to enjoy the news they have come to rely on."

CHEK news director Rob Germain said the station is already exceeding the amount of local content required under the new agreement. "Our license only requires us to produce seven hours of local content a week ... we are generating more than seven hours of local news and information programming per day."

Local CEP President Richard Konwick said the union is excited to be a part of this new model. "I'm sure in an environment where most of the traditional electronic media is owned by large corporations, an employee-owned, independent station stands out," he said.

CHEK, western Canada's oldest private broadcaster established in 1956, was slated for closure in late August after Canwest Global said the station had been losing money for years.

But employees and 10 private investors rallied to salvage the station and keep it on the air.

Among the largest of private investors is Graham Barnes, a consultant from North Saanich, and Levi Sampson, the president of the company running Harmac in Nanaimo, where a similar employee-led bid led to the survival of that pulp mill.

© Vancouver Sun