Star Ray TV

May 20, 2000 Press Release

Low Power Television Presents Solution to Current CBC Regional News Cutbacks

An important fact is missing from the current debate over CBC news cutbacks:  local low power television stations could more than fill the gap of an absent CBC news hour.

Most people do not realize that at least three more TV channels could be broadcast in the Toronto area, so that huge amounts of neighbourhood news and grassroots, independent production would be made available to viewers.  The low power television movement is strong in the U.S., with over 2,200 stations now on the air, and fast developing in Europe, particularly in former communist countries.  

Star Ray TV is a community-based low power television initiative based in the Toronto Beaches that submitted an application to the CRTC in December 1998.  If approved, it would present programming profiling local neighbourhood issues, including "Prime Time for Canadians"-100% Canadian content during prime time. Most stations currently fill prime time hours with American shows.

"Local content is where it's at", says Jan Pachul, the force behind Star Ray.  "We've had support from community centres, immigrant populations, local councillors, ecology groups, and churches. They all tell me that their stories never get in the mainstream media.  I am going to provide the pipeline for these homegrown stories".  Mr. Pachul has built a complete broadcast and production studio facility at Main and Gerrard Street. "I am just waiting for the green light from the CRTC and I will flip the switch and be on the air," says Pachul from his highly computerized location. Industry Canada has already told him Channel 15 is available for Star Ray and that his facility is acceptable.

The Star Ray TV model, supported by advertising from local small and medium businesses is a concrete way of increasing the diversity of viewpoints so often seen as lacking by media critics such as Rick Salutin and Noam Chomsky.  "The monopoly of the press really bothers me," says lawyer Clayton Ruby in a recent speech. Pachul is committed to giving independent producers a platform for their documentaries, and has already lined up a full schedule of public affairs, sports, children and dramatic programming, some from those who have had their shows cancelled by cable companies, which no longer are required to have community channels.

"This is about media democracy", Pachul states flatly, as he tweaks the vast array of monitors and other equipment at his control panel. With the CBC changing the focus of its programming, community-based television initiatives like Star Ray and others across Canada are poised to make television a whole lot more democratic-and interesting.

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