The Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) has denied Torstar Corporation’s application to launch three community television stations.
Torstar had hoped to start three stations, one each in Toronto, Hamilton, and Kitchener. The CRTC made its decision on April 8.
“As you might expect, we are very disappointed,” said J. Robert Prichard, president, Torstar Media Group, and chief operating officer, on www.hometown.tv . “We will carefully review the Commission’s decision and consider our options.”
Torstar had labelled their television experiment Hometown Television. Their web site would have had a minimum of 85 per cent Canadian content with a focus on local and regional programming. Torstar had said the creation of the television stations would have led to 300 new jobs and $87 million in spending on Canadian independent television producers.