Source: netnewsledger.com

THUNDER BAY – On the heels of the move by Thunder Bay Electronics to shift from being a CTV affiliate to a Global Television affiliate, now comes a move to sever ties to the CBC.

In an application to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission, Thunder Bay Electronics states, in an application, “Thunder Bay Electronics Limited to amend the broadcasting licence for the television programming undertaking CKPR-TV Thunder Bay”.

“The licensee proposes to delete the condition of licence relating to its affiliation with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which reads:

The licensee shall operate this broadcasting undertaking as an affiliate of the English-language television network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

“The applicant states that it has been unable to negotiate a new program supply agreement with the CBC.

“The applicant noted that CKPR-TV would operate as an independent local station and intends to source its non-local programming.

“The applicant states that, if the proposed disaffiliation is approved, it will continue to commit to broadcast a minimum weekly average of 7 hours 40 minutes of original local news, will continue to broadcast in each broadcast week, averaged over the broadcast year, a minimum of 8 hours of priority programming, and will meet all other conditions of licence as stated in CKPR-TV Thunder Bay – Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2004-387, 30 August 2004”.

In a letter to Heather Boyce from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CKPR states, "Thunder Bay Electronics Limited – CKPR-TV (the “Affiliate”) entered into a CBC Affiliation Agreement with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (“CBC”) on September 1, 2003 (the “Affiliation Agreement”) and a formal letter amending the terms of the Agreement on November 7, 2009 as has been discussed between our respective representatives in October 2008.

"Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the formal letter amending the terms of the Agreement on November 7, 2007, the Affiliate hereby gives notice to the CBC of the Affiliate’s intent to disaffiliate from the CBC.  As has been discussed, the date of termination of the Affiliation Agreement will be effective as of August 31, 2010 (“Date of Disaffiliation”) in order to line up our disaffiliation with the start of the fall 2010 television season.

"Effective upon the Date of Disaffiliation, the Affiliate shall immediately cease transmitting CBC broadcast signals or recorded programming. Prior to the Date of Disaffiliation, each of CBC and the Affiliate will continue to abide by the terms and conditions of the Affiliation Agreement.

"The terms and conditions of the Affiliation Agreement shall remain in effect and binding on the parties until the Date of Disaffiliation, except as modified herein and unless modified by further agreement among the parties as has recently been discussed.

"Thunder Bay Electronics Limited will be seeking other options for the station’s future program supply, and because an attractive opportunity may arise at any time, Thunder Bay Electronics requires increased flexibility in the notice term for disaffiliation.  The current application for disaffiliation is to remove condition of license No. 1 only. It is Thunder Bay Electronics’ intention to work with CBC and to consider all options with CBC that may arise within the current program license term and any other changes that may occur during this period, such as extensions of current contract etc".

In a letter to the CRTC, Don Caron stated, "It is our expectation to align CKPR-TV with an existing program carrier.  By the removal of condition No. 1 CKPR-TV will be in a more flexible position to negotiate a new carriage agreement with an alternative carrier.

Under the terms of its current license agreement CBC has given notice that no further Affiliation Agreements will be offered beyond August 31, 2011.  In preparation for this deadline CKPR-TV is requesting that condition No. 1 be eliminated to provide total flexibility in negotiating alternative coverage with another carrier".

The move could open the way for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to open a Thunder Bay operation that would serve as a Northwestern Ontario bureau. Currently outside of Thunder Bay, the CBC service for Dryden and Kenora is from Winnipeg.

Right now, it appears that on September 1, 2010 it is likely that Thunder Bay will be without either CTV television or CBC television.

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