Star Ray TV

November,17 Press Release

Community TV Station Attacked by Corporate Interests
Star Ray TV CRTC application causes CITY, CTV, and Rogers to attempt suppression of grassroots initiative

A David and Goliath media battle is brewing between Star Ray TV, a proposed local east Toronto television station, and the big corporations dominating the Toronto television scene.

On December 6, 1999 the Canadian Radio-television Commission (CRTC) will hear the application by Jan Pachul for a licence to broadcast to the neighbourhhoods of East Toronto. Programming will focus on live local events as well as independent productions. Mr. Pachul has spent the last five years building the technical infrastructure for the station and inspiring volunteers and groups to help out

Community members and local non-profit agencies have rallied around the proposal and its public access and inclusive policies. But on the closing day for interventions CHUM (owner of CITY-TV), CTV, Rogers, and the cable and broadcast business coalitions filed negative letters requesting the CRTC to deny the licence application. The Commission will rule on the application after the December meeting.

"I am surprised that even with all the money they have to hire lawyers to write interventions, the opposing submissions completely misunderstood our application and how it fits into the Broadcast Act and the CRTC procedures", said Pachul on Monday, assuring community members he'd have no problem rebutting their points. "I guess if your only motivation is greed, our Prime Time for Canadians policy does not make sense, but in fact we are going to give our community programming that the CRTC has been desperately trying to get on the air for years-local, live, relevant, community-driven, and fun!"

Prime Time for Canadians refers to Star Ray TV's commitment to run only 100% Canadian content between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Pachul also refuses to air any violent, adult-oriented shows before 11 p.m.

Oliver Zielke, has been a community activist in East Toronto for over a decade. "The community wants this station to go ahead," he stated, "not only to support and reflect our work and activities, but as an affirmation that local, average folks and neighbourhood issues matter."

For more information:
Visit the web site: srtv.ca
Or email Jan Pachul: srtv at srtv.ca