Chilliwack may get CBC
  
Paul J. Henderson
The Times
Tuesday, March 04, 2008


Public radio may be coming to Chilliwack soon if the recent recommendations of a federal government committee are implemented.

Soon after the report, produced by the federal government's Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, was presented to the CBC, committee member and NDP heritage critic Bill Siksay called on the Conservative government to implement its recommendations. Among other things, this would include bringing local CBC/Radio Canada services to eight million more Canadians in 15 communities, including Chilliwack.

"CBC/Radio Canada local radio is one of the great success stories of our national public broadcasters," said Siksay. "CBC/Radio Canada local radio would make a significant difference to the people of Chilliwack."

The report issued by the committee on Feb. 28 entitled CBC/Radio Canada: Defining Distinctiveness in the Changing Media Landscape, included the recommendation to "increase the number of programs that reflect all regions of Canada."

A CBC proposal from last year had specifically suggested expanding local services to communities such as Barrie and Hamilton, Ont.; Lethbridge, Alta; Saskatoon, Sask.; and Chilliwack, among others.

The plan for a local station in Chilliwack would likely serve the whole eastern Fraser Valley, and would be a real benefit to the community, according to Siksay.

"I think there probably is a significant difference in the cultural life and the area that surrounds it," he told the Times.

"The same can be said for other cities on there that don't identify with other major cities. It is really interesting in the cultural life or for artists that would have access to local programming. It would be a huge boon for the cultural community."

© Chilliwack Times 2008

Quoted from SAM

"CBC/Radio Canada local radio is one of the great success stories of our national public broadcasters," said Siksay. "CBC/Radio Canada local radio would make a significant difference to the people of Chilliwack."

When I was at CHWK, we had to run a certain percentage of CBC content. That stopped when the CBC became available (I imagine via a repeater).

Isn't that good enough?

-OR60-

Now if someone were smart at one of the news leaders in Metro Vancouver (that would be News1130 & NW) they would have scored the AM frequencies out in the valley vacated by CHWK and CFVR and put repeaters there, to secure a foothold in a growing market.  Maybe have a future vision of having AM/PM drive live from the Valley, etc.  Trust me, it WILL BE a growing market for some time to come. Can't say I'm too excited about the prospect of CBC coming to the 'Wack.  

I'm not a big CBC guy but having a news station out in the valley would be a smart move.  I believe the old 850 frequency is still available, it might not do great ratings but you could easily do a Fraser Valley targeted show, go live mornings with a community newstalk, switch to syndicated programming for the mid-day or at least part. Afternoons could go live again, throw in the Bruins games at night, mixed in with other local/regional/national sports on non-game days and you have a station.

Targeting Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Hope, Langley, Mission, Maple Ridge, and then dabbling into large stories from the other side of the bridge that have high impact and I think you could have more than enough to talk about.  And when you look at the demographics of the valley these are pretty much CKNW/CBC listeners...an older population looking for something to complain about.

Wait a second, you mean we would have a station that serves Hope?   What a concept.

Then again, everyone needs a little Hope.