Shaw to buy three CTV stations for $1 each

Shaw Communications offered CTV a buck apiece for three television stations and the offer was accepted, CTV announced.

The deal includes one station in Brandon, Man., and CTV’s A Channel stations in Wingham and Windsor, Ont.

In February, CTV said the Brandon station was up for sale and if no buyer emerged, it would be forced to shut it down.

Recently, CTV and other Canadian broadcasters have been battling for what’s called fee for carriage rights — the ability to charge cable companies for the right to carry their signals — from the CRTC.

The company then announced in early March that it would not renew the licences for the two stations in southwestern Ontario A Channel stations when they expire at the end of this summer.

On the deal with Shaw, CTVglobemedia president and CEO and CEO of CTV, Ivan Fecan, said in a statement:

“I think it’s great. We’ve accepted their offer of $1 per station. Cable is rolling in money and can obviously afford to underwrite the losses. Good for them. I’m sure they will live up to the existing conditions of licence placed on these stations which is wonderful news for the employees and for the people of Windsor, Wingham and Brandon.”