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30 April 2008
CRTV Welcomes Shaw Competition

(Campbell River, BC) April 30, 2008 - What better way to show off the value of CRTV than by a little healthy competition! Facing recent news that Shaw will be attempting to enter the Campbell River market, CEO Jim Forsyth is confident in the 50-plus year track record of CRTV. CRTV is well-positioned on product, price, quality of service and unique local programming. It is a gem in the world of media and a company that members can be proud of.

CRTV is a not-for-profit, membership-owned co-operative. This means that CRTV has a vested interest in the community it serves. This Association is all about Campbell River and its citizens - not about shareholders reports and dividends. Because of this mandate, CRTV has remained steadfast in providing excellent product, at the lowest possible price, supported by outstanding local service. In addition, the local content channels are unique to Campbell River and are for the benefit of Campbell River residents. While Shaw is a larger company, they have a totally different mandate. As a publicly traded company, they are entirely profit-driven. At their 2008 AGM they stated “We continue to believe that returning the majority of free cash flow to our shareholders is the most appropriate use of our capital.” It will be interesting to see how these differing ideologies fare in the competition arena.

CEO, Jim Forsyth says, “We constantly watch what is happening in the industry. We are very much aware that consumer demands are changing and we are well-positioned to deliver all of the services that our client-base demands. We have a healthy cable system and we are constantly improving it to keep up with technology.”

All one has to do is look to the Comox Valley to do a value comparison - CRTV delivers more!:

• CRTV Basic Cable rate is $26.33 versus $29.95. This appears to be a small difference until you compare apples to apples...
• CRTV Basic Cable provides 19 more channels than Shaw’s Basic.
• Many premium channels in CRTV Basic are only available in Shaw tiered services (CMT, HGTV, W, Much More Music, Showcase, Discovery Channel, Bravo, Slice, Space, The Comedy Network, Teletoon, History Television, TVtropolis, The Food Network). This means that to get all of your favourite programs, you would have to purchase the more costly “Classic Cable” package.
• CRTV offers 61 channels in Full-Tier cable for $33.93 instead of Shaw’s 61 channels for $55.95.
• CRTV includes unlimited outlets with Basic Cable instead of one with Shaw Basic.
• CRTV has three dedicated Campbell River Channels (Cable 10, The Wheel and the NIEFS employment channel) instead of the multi-community channel of Shaw.
• CRTV is quite consistent in offering Digital Services at lower prices.
• CRTV HD Essentials includes 15 no-cost HD channels as opposed to 9 via Shaw, again including premium channels like National Geographic, Showcase, HDNet and A&E.
• CRTV has a legacy of providing community production opportunities for Campbell River residents.

Shaw has a few services such as digital phone that have been available in other marketplaces but they have not yet expanded past Nanaimo. It is extremely unlikely that such a service would be viable during a time that they will be trying to woo customers over to their traditionally more expensive cable services.

CRTV has faced several years of competition from satellite, including the Shaw-owned Star Choice. In most cases, their national campaigns have only reinforced the local strengths of CRTV. CRTV management is confident that value, excellent product and true local service will prevail. CRTV is proud to be a part of Campbell River and looks forward to the opportunity to shine even more!

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12 March 2008
CRTV - Extreme Business Makeover

New CEO announces management changes and job openings

On February 4, 2008, the CRTV Board of Directors appointed long-time General Manager, Jim Forsyth, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This appointment allows for a revised management structure similar to other companies in the industry. With the growing number of available services, technical innovations, regulatory changes, and competitive threats, CRTV requires an expanded management team to face the future head-on.

The key to meeting the membership goal of keeping CRTV competitive is to build a stronger company supported by innovative management. Three key areas have been identified as requiring department heads. Effective March 31, 2008 the following management positions will take effect:

Janice Feeney has accepted the position of General Manager responsible for overseeing the day-to-day business including General Office operations and Community Programming. Feeney has used her accounting and management training to serve CRTV for eight years as the Office Supervisor and Controller and is extremely detail-oriented. She has an intimate knowledge of the business end of CRTV from all perspectives. Prior to her employment at CRTV, Feeney spent eleven years at the North Island Co-op progressing from Controller and Office Manager to the role of General Manager. All together, Feeney has nearly 20 years of management experience in member-based organizations. Feeney is an active Director of the Daybreak Rotary Club and proud supporter of the Campbell River Storm.

Colin Taberner has accepted the position of Technology Manager, responsible for all technical operations. Managing the technical evolution of a cable company requires someone who can solve problems, manage change and provide innovative solutions. Luckily for CRTV, Taberner thrives on change. Although a fairly recent addition to the CRTV team, he has utilized his IT-specific training to implement a number of needed network and system improvements. Prior to CRTV, Taberner was the Data Processing Supervisor and all around “IT Evangelist” at the City of Campbell River. Taberner was highly involved in Campbell River Search and Rescue in the past but has refocused his spare time on his growing family and career development to best face technological challenges.

Vivian Martin has accepted the position of Marketing Manager, responsible for marketing, corporate communications, and corporate image. Martin has worked directly with CRTV for the last four years and indirectly since 1998 when CRTV partnered with Digital Ark to offer Internet services. She worked with Digital Ark through a series of mergers, ultimately managing three regional offices. She has a thorough knowledge of the cable and internet businesses. Martin admits to being a technology geek but loves the challenge of translating “geek-speak” into English. Martin believes strongly in community conscience and is currently a serving Rotary president and Rotarian of nine years, and has served as director on a number of community and national organizations.

As CRTV positions itself to meet the industry challenges, labour and management need to be on the same page for the good of the entire organization. Success in moving forward will require a team effort and this team is about to grow! The restructuring of CRTV management will result in three job openings and lay the path for more in the future. CRTV will immediately be looking for an Office Foreman with an accounting designation and supervisory experience, an IT Technician with a strong internet background and a Sales Professional to assist with the marketing of CRTV products. These positions will be posted mid-month.

This restructure will allow CRTV to better serve its membership. It’s an exciting time for CRTV, a time of growth and rejuvenation and a time when CRTV gets to show that it is more than just Basic Cable… much more!

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CRTV FORGES AHEAD WITH DIGITAL UPGRADES

At the November 19th Annual General Meeting, there was a groundswell of support to upgrade services at CRTV to keep pace with technology. One of the biggest projects CRTV faces is to duplicate the Basic Cable lineup in digital format. CRTV technicians have been extremely busy helping people cross the “digital divide”. Thanks to consumer education, people realize that even without changing their television, they can enjoy improved picture and sound quality by simply adding a digital box. Beyond picture quality, going digital also opens viewing options to the ever-expanding array of specialty digital channels. Movies and sports top the priority list of viewer and CRTV has plenty of both!

South of the border, there is a congressional bill mandating a digital TV transition. In 1996, the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analogue broadcast channel. Later, Congress mandated that February 17, 2009 would be the last day for full-power television stations to broadcast in analog. Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. After February 17, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only.

As new channels become available, they are inevitably in digital format. While Canada has not followed suit to regulate analogue to digital conversion, the broadcast and electronics industries are phasing out the analogue focus. Very much like DVD replaced VHS, you will see a constant progression to all things digital.

CRTV has recently added a new service package called "Basic Digital". This package includes a powerful interactive program guide (i-Guide), access to 30 channels of commercial-free digital music, access to Canucks TV Pay-Per-View games, and many channels from Basic Cable in digital format. Basic Digital now includes the following channels: 27 - The Discovery Channel, 32 - The Shopping Channel, 34 - TSN, 38 - Vision, 43 - CTV News, 49 - Outdoor Living Network, 54 - Treehouse, 56 – CPAC. This means that CRTV is approaching 40% of digital duplication of Basic Cable!

CRTV digital subscribers to Basic Digital will now receive GameTV on channel 225. For Canadians who love to play and watch games, GameTV is the only television network that gives viewers a chance to win great prizes every day, simply by tuning in! Led by its signature programs “Watch n’ Win” and “Bingo and a Movie”, GameTV provides viewers with a wide range of winning programming options including classic game shows, reality programming, non-sports gaming, gaming, and game-related movies and documentaries. Do you have what it takes to be Canada’s ultimate winner? GameTV: Winners wanted. For more information see www.igametv.com.

Channel 221 – RDI (Le Reseau de L’information de Radio-Canada), has been relocated from the en Français specialty package to Basic Digital as well. RDI provides live coverage of major events, newscasts every half-hour, sports and financial news, as well as information programs on a wide range of topics.

Finally, a new channel has been added to the Digital Timeshift package is channel 281 – YTV East. YTV, now in its 20th year, is a leading entertainment brand for kids in Canada. The network is seen in over eight million homes. With time-shifting, you have the option of watching the current programming or literally “time-shifting” to a different time zone meaning more viewing choice for the youngsters in the house.

CRTV subscribers can look forward to more digital and HD service additions. Customers are always amazed with the range of services available here in a community-owned cable company. It is a relief for them to know that they can have great HD and digital services and get support from a local company too! For more information about HD and digital programming at CRTV, explore this web site or call 923-8899.

 

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19 November 2007
Campbell River TV Association President's Report

Campbell River TV Association (CRTV) is a community owned resource and has been in operation since June 7, 1957. That's fifty (50) years of offering Cable TV services to Society members in the Campbell River area. As a Cable TV Subscriber you are one of 13,780 owners of our Association.

Over the past year CRTV has continued to carry out the plan that was begun over ten years ago. As well as maintaining our core business of cable television, our organization has continued to develop the digital component of our business which includes cable internet and digital television services, to the point where it now contributes a significant portion of our total revenues. In addition, the management and employees of CRTV continue to direct their efforts toward making CRTV more efficient, competitive, and responsive to our members' needs.

CLICK HERE to read the full report

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 4, 2007
CRTV Announces Director Election Results

In accordance with the procedure set out in the agenda at the AGM, the election of Directors took place at CRTV on Monday December 3, 2007.

An advance poll was held on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. The ballot count was presided by board member and election officer, Susan Sinnott. The incumbents - Ken Croft, Ron Kerr, and Layne Marshal garnered the majority of votes and have been declared winners of the election. The Board of Directors would like to thank Russ Wagg and Thor Peterson for running for the board positions as well.

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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available. CRTV – It’s your TV… and MORE Campbell River!

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Election for Director Positions
November 28, 2007 and December 3, 2007

There are three Board positions open this year and all three incumbent Board members are running for re-election. The incumbent members are Layne Marshall, Ron Kerr and Ken Croft. In addition, there were two nominations from the floor for Russ Wagg and Thor Peterson. All of the candidates will be given the opportunity to showcase their skills and ideals on Cable 10. We will update the front page of the website and include air times on The Wheel.

In accordance with the procedure set out in the agenda, the election of Directors will take place at CRTV at 500 Robron Road on Monday December 3, 2007 between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 8:00p.m. An advance poll will be held at 500 Robron Road on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 between 8:30a.m. and 4:00p.m. Results of the election will be communicated by press release, on the CRTV website at www.crtv.net, and on Cable 10.

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LOCAL MATTERS!
CRTV members packed The Tidemark

The CRTV Board of Directors wanted feedback from the membership and boy, did they get it! Thank you to the huge number of people who braved the chilly evening to have their voices heard.

A record number of members showed up at the Campbell River TV (CRTV) Annual General Meeting on Monday, November 19 at the Tidemark Theatre. The theatre was full to capacity with 443 registered members. Due to the high number of attendees, the start time of the meeting had to be postponed to register the voters that were lined up. Members unable to attend were able to tune in live on Cable 10.

The meeting was chaired by President, John Kerr and all seven board members were in attendance. Contrary to repeated ads and letters from Shaw “welcoming the opportunity to meet members in person,” they were neither outside the theatre nor did they make any attempt to enter the theatre. The business portion of the meeting proceeded smoothly with reports from the Directors. This was followed by a review of the Strategic Analysis presented by General Manager, Jim Forsyth.

CRTV Board and Staff furnished each member with a package (Strategic Analysis, Constitution and Bylaws, Shaw offer documents, and AGM reports) ensuring that each member was well-armed with information.  What followed could only be described as validation that CRTV is an important part of the community.

The open mike session began with a clear message in the form of a motion “that the offer from Shaw be received and filed with no further action taken”. This motion was immediately seconded and received a nearly unanimous vote. The following parade of speakers spoke strongly to the benefits of keeping CRTV local even if the price of basic cable had to increase. There was a very clear message from the floor… “We are not for sale!”

Just as politicians represent their constituents, so too does the Board represent the membership. It is their obligation to act in the best interest of the membership. Prior to the AGM, the Board maintained that it was seeking feedback on what the members wanted in the future. In doing so, they had to remain “impartial and transparent”. Because of this, the time leading up to the AGM was very trying. President, John Kerr would like to thank the Board Members for their huge investment of time and energy to fulfill their Board duties. Of course, the challenges of running a public association will always remain.

There are three Board positions open this year and all three incumbent Board members are running for re-election. The incumbent members are Layne Marshall, Ron Kerr and Ken Croft. In addition, there were two nominations from the floor for Russ Wagg and Thor Peterson.  All of the candidates will be given the opportunity to showcase their skills and ideals on Cable 10.  We will update the front page of the website and include air times on The Wheel.
In accordance with the procedure set out in the agenda, the election of Directors will take place at CRTV at 500 Robron Road on Monday December 3, 2007 between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 8:00p.m. An advance poll will be held at 500 Robron Road on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 between 8:30a.m. and 4:00p.m. Results of the election will be communicated by press release, on the CRTV website at www.crtv.net, and on Cable 10.

The Board of Directors would especially like to acknowledge the staff of CRTV. This has been a very challenging time for them. In particular, the Customer Service Reps have been on the front line, enduring an endless barrage of questions and speculation. To their utmost credit, they have carried themselves with professionalism and dignity during this very public forum. The ladies also worked tirelessly to register voters for the AGM. Thank you!

Fifty years ago, CRTV started as an idea of how to get better television reception in Campbell River. It is a compliment to Campbell River to have a locally owned, money-saving venture that still has a strong value. The vote of confidence at the AGM was the best anniversary gift ever! Thank you, Campbell River!

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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV – It’s your TV… and MORE Campbell River

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CRTV President, John Kerr,
answering some members' more pointed questions

Jim Forsyth, General Manager at CRTV tells us we have 3 options for CRTV’s future:
a) we can do nothing (in which case the value of CRTV will diminish drastically over 3-5 years)

b) we can attempt to compete with the big players such as Shaw or Telus (in which case there is no guarantee of success and it may be a big waste of money)

c) we  can sell CRTV.

The three options  described are the ones  outlined in the Strategic Business Analysis. This document has been available on our web site since early June 2007.

While the Board focuses on option“a”, “b” or “c”, the questions from the members are getting more pointed:
 
If the Board is “neutral” why would the Board of Directors already approve a substantial increase in fees for January 08?   It seems clear that option b has already been chosen.

Yes, this decision does support option b); but, if the members choose not to go with this option at the AGM then the rate increase can be cancelled. The basic reasons we have moved forward on the notification are as follows:

1) The required notification period for any rate increase is 2 months and if we had to wait till after the AGM the process of potentially introducing VOD could be delayed well into the new year if the members decide to go ahead with option b).

2) In negotiations with our bankers over the last few months CRTV has been able to secure financing to be able to move forward with option b) conditional on an increased cash flow. It took just over two months to negotiate and finalize our agreement with the bank. The loan restructuring also included a mortgage guarantee with the bank which added to the time factor. If our projected cash flow changes due to not implementing the rate increase, we will have to revisit terms of the loan.

3) The Board has a responsibility of maintaining CRTV’s equity as best it can. Being prepared to move forward and compete in the market place, if that is the choice the members make, is key to maintaining the value of our assets.

Who initiated Shaw’s offer to purchase CRTV?
The offer from Shaw was not solicited by CRTV and the timing of the offer was subsequent to the Board's decision to raise rates. The rate increase flowed from information provided by the Strategic Plan and the decision to raise rates was made on July 30th.  The offer from Shaw was received on September 24th.

If CRTV is so small, (as referenced in Jim Forsyth’s Rotary presentation) why is Shaw so eager to acquire it?
-   It is potentially embarrassing to have a little co-operative with a rate structure half of Shaw’s being able to offer as much programming as CRTV does.

-  Shaw also owns Star Choice which competes directly in our marketplace for customers. Their penetration has not been as successful here as in other communities.

-   CRTV is also the gateway to the North Island.

-   Two other remaining small systems (Access & Westman Media) have received similar offers over the last six months.

-  CRTV is a relatively easy target being a “public company” …. Shaw knows as much about CRTV as CRTV does about itself. They are also known to be aggressive when in pursuit of business. Based on their mail drop and ads, one can only believe that CRTV is a definite target.

Why would Shaw make this offer at the same time the Board announces the largest rate increase in its history?  
-  There is no tie between the rate increase and the Shaw offer from CRTV’s perspective. It is not the intention of the Board to sway members to any one option. We will discuss all three options for the future of CRTV at the AGM, only one of which is to sell CRTV to a suitable buyer.  At this point whether CRTV is for sale or if Shaw is a suitable buyer remains to be seen.  The Board could recommend the sale of CRTV to Shaw, and we might based on member input, but not at the AGM.

If Telus TV is actually here in 18 months, is there a chance that they will not impact the business?
A member argues: "A few years back, CRTV’s subscriber base shrank drastically when people moved away in large numbers to find work in Alberta and elsewhere. Schools closed and many businesses laid off workers. CRTV can and already has withstood cutbacks in subscribers and revenues.  The advent of Satellite TV and Telus internet has not stopped CRTV from gaining its largest membership ever."

To which the Board responds:
Pages 26 & 28 of the Strategic Business Analysis prepared for the CRTV Board state that Telus TV will be rolled out in our market within the next two to three years. This plan was completed and submitted to the Board on the 31 January 2007… 10 months ago. By our calculations we are looking anywhere from 15 months to 26 months before Telus TV is rolled out. We don’t believe Telus will confirm or deny a launch date. We do know that Telus has already made an agreement with at least one developer in Campbell River to wire a new subdivision for bundled services.

Also, in the past we have not been in competition with another company that offers telephone, internet, cell phone service and TV in a bundled package with significant discounts. Telus has proven their ability to capture market share with high speed internet when they offer a $400 credit to a customer for the purchase of a PC. Over the past year CRTV’s growth in Internet has not maintained market share in the face of this competition.

CRTV rates have to increase if we are going to compete in the Market Place with the products and services customers are demanding. We can always go with option a) (Status Quo) and attempt to maintain a Market Share with a low priced Basic Cable package. We have been successful with that package in the past when the economic downturn impacted the community.

BUT... Our last two customer surveys have shown that customers view CRTV primarily as a utility. Their main concerns are price, product, and quality of service. The survey results indicate that Community ownership is not a significant factor in most members’ decision to stay with CRTV. Customers today want it all and if we don’t have the products they will go somewhere else.

MTS (Manitoba Telecom) took 30% of Shaw’s customers in Winnipeg with a bundled offer.  Shaw is now fighting back with their bundled offer which includes telephone service. CRTV does not have a bundled package that could compete with Shaw or Telus.

CRTV’s General Manager says we MUST initiate a host of new services at great cost. At the same time the chief technician says we have a state of the art system. Does this sound a little off? 
General Manager, Jim Forsyth agrees to the extent that CRTV is a state of the art Cable TV system ready to start implementing new services; but, to add new services, we are going to have to spend some money which means we are going to have to raise the rates. The cost alone of becoming a Primary Line telephone supplier is considerable, offering VOD, adding more HDTV channels, decreasing our dependence on Shaw with alternate signal feeds, duplicating our analog signals in digital and increasing the reliability of our infrastructure are all factors that Joe has not included in the current assessment. Also, our Cost of Sale for programming is considerably more than the competition and the spread is growing. Because this is a "“Volume Based Business", the big guys have much better pricing.

We are facing an acceleration in convergence and technological advances.  While Joe did a good job of highlighting the work CRTV has done to establish high-quality TV and Internet services, we will be required to include telephone and Video on Demand to compete.  Doing so would require substantial investments to expand what CRTV provides.  Furthermore, there is the question of maintaining what we have achieved as technology evolves. 

What is happening in the cable broadband industry is very similar to what has happened in the personal computer industry.  Changes happen quickly,  leaving CRTV with the choice to make more investments to remain current, postpone investments and services until costs come down, or completely forego services as simply too costly given our small number of subscribers.

It is said that to compete we must offer a range of new services including high definition , Pay Per View and Video On Demand. It has also been quoted that only a small portion of members access these services. Is there sufficient demand for these "enhanced services"?
The present penetration of HD Digital cable is 4% and at the present growth these numbers could triple over the next year. The existing overall penetration of all digital customers is presently 12%. These customers are demanding digital programming and as more and more HDTV choice in channels & programming becomes available CRTV will be under the gun to supply these products. There are no price advantages over the competition for CRTV in the Digital world. In our robust economy, demand for HDTV television sets and its programming is not going to slow down. All new television sets today are HDTV sets that are designed for HDTV programming NOT analogue. CRTV’s growth in digital has been slower than the industry average because of our Big Basic 62 channel offering….Larger systems already have up to 25% or more customers connected to digital products.

Not offering Pay Per View is a bit of a problem for us with digital customers. We were recently successful in our application for a VOD license and hope to offer this service if the members choose option b). In most US cable systems if you don’t have a VOD product and the competition has it, you lose the customer.
I should mention that Digital Cable has never made money for CRTV which is a problem for most small Cable TV systems. Basic Cable & high speed internet have helped to subsidize this product.

It is also important to understand that the U.S. will be moving completely to digital broadcasting in February 2009, and Canada will be following shortly thereafter.

There are many questions surrounding management, governance and operations at CRTV. Can the Directors be more forthcoming with those who pay the bills?
I assure you that CRTV’s Board of Directors has been vigilant in fulfilling its fiduciary duties with regard to CRTV and its members.  Over the years the Board has been transparent in its dealings with our members.  Information has been made available through newspaper ads, programs on Cable 10, the CRTV website, each AGM, and whenever questions have been asked they have been answered to the best of our ability.

In the final analysis it’s all about  money. Members need a more complete picture of the dollars involved here. Could CRTV place at least some of CRTV’s financial reports on its website?
The Audited Financial statement will be available at the AGM for the members' approval. This information will establish CRTV’s health at a point in time.  Putting this information on the website opens what little privacy that CRTV still has.

The manager is also preparing an overview of the Pros & Cons of the three options available to CRTV for presentation at the AGM.

In addition, members will be provided with a package of correspondence between Shaw and CRTV.  Finally, I will restate the fact that we have three options, which the members will discuss at the AGM.  We should have clear direction from this discussion and can proceed from that point.

Thank you for all of your feedback leading up to the AGM. We look forward to seeing you on Monday, November 19, 7:00 pm (registration) for 8:00 pm (meeting) at The Tidemark!

John Kerr,
President, CRTV Board of Directors

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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV – It’s your TV… and MORE Campbell River!

 

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Shaw offer documentation now public

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 8, 2007

Click to review documents

The upcoming AGM on Monday, November 19 is likely to be an arena of heated debate. The Board of Directors has been wrestling with many issues, first and foremost of which is to decide the future direction of CRTV. During a Strategic Analysis done earlier in the year, it was clearly identified that CRTV has three basic options:

a)  Maintaining the status quo with low Basic Cable TV and maintaining existing Digital Services and existing High Speed Internet Services.

b)  Following a planned strategy of investment to keep up with changes in technology
c)  Selling CRTV to the highest bidder

Each of these options has a host of pros and cons and none is without risk. Hence, the present dilemma. The AGM will be a great forum for the members to learn more about the options and voice their will. The opinion of professionals in the industry is that this is a pivotal point for the cable industry. This is further supported by the sobering fact that CRTV is the tenth-largest independent cable operator in Canada. That’s right… tenth. One of the larger companies, Shaw Communications has put forth a formal offer to purchase CRTV. This has pushed the agenda of having the Annual General Meeting focus on option C more than would have otherwise be entertained. Many members have asked for details of the offer but due to conflicting information, the Board required legal input before they were able to share such details. There is also the not-so-minor issue that the Board is not even authorized to sell CRTV. As such, the offer has been acknowledged but cannot be responded to in any other form until a clear process (defined by the Bylaws of CRTV) is followed. The Board has exercised due diligence and has now received clarification of the offer. It is now appropriate to disclose the entire flow of communication. A full chronology of correspondence between Shaw and the Board and related press releases is now available at 500 Robron and will be made available at the AGM on the 19th. It is important to remember that the sale of CRTV is only one of the options being considered and discussed at the AGM. CRTV is currently an extremely viable organization and other options should not be discounted just because of the offer on the table.

CRTV AGM answers to frequently asked questions

With the Campbell River TV (CRTV) Annual General Meeting date fast-approaching, Customer Service Reps at CRTV are fielding a lot of questions regarding details of the meeting. The following are the most frequently asked questions being encountered. Q:  Where is the meeting being held?
A:  The meeting is being held at the Tidemark Theatre at 1220 Shoppers Row. The original location was to be the Marine Heritage Centre but due to high numbers of members expected, the change of location was required. Q:  What time does the meeting start?
A:  The doors open at 7:00 pm for voter registration and the meeting commences at 8:00 pm sharp. Q: Will there be enough room at the Tidemark for CRTV’s AGM?
A:  We don’t know at this point in time how many members will attend. The Tidemark is capable of some 450 people with a bit of an overflow in the foyer. Q:  Who may attend the meeting?
A:  The meeting is for CRTV members only and is not open to the general public. It has normally been the practice to allow spouses of the member to attend as well. We are asking that only the members attend to accommodate as many members as possible. Spouses who accompany the member will only be admitted immediately prior to the meeting commencing, if space allows. Q:  Will the meeting be covered by any media?
A:  The meeting will be covered live on Cable 10 to allow inclusion of family members. Q:  How will questions be dealt with?
A:  Speakers’ microphones will be installed and members who have questions are asked to use the microphones stating their names clearly. We would also ask that if we have already dealt with the same question once, there is no need to repeat it. Q:  What can I do if I am a member and I am unable to attend?
A:  As prescribed under Campbell River T.V. Association bylaws, if a member is not able to attend, they may authorize an immediate family member domiciled with the member to obtain a proxy allowing that individual to vote on their behalf. Such a proxy would need to be requested at the office of CRTV prior to the meeting. Q:  Will there be any arrangements made for people with limited mobility?
A:  If any members have special needs, they are encouraged to arrive early or call the office of CRTV at 923-8899 prior to the meeting to ensure their needs are accommodated. Q:  Will details of the Shaw offer be available?
A:  Members will be supplied with a file copy of the Shaw offer at the AGM. These documents will also be available over the counter at 500 Robron prior to the AGM. Q:  Is there to be a vote on the Shaw offer?
A:  It is important to note that the Board is not planning to have a membership vote in regard to the Shaw offer at this meeting. Rather, the meeting will include discussion on the three courses of action that CRTV may take: a)  Maintaining the status quo by keeping Basic Cable TV rates as low as possible, maintaining existing Digital Services and existing High Speed Internet Services. b)  Following a planned strategy of investment to keep up with changes in technology by expanding CRTV’s service offering to include Video-on-Demand, telephone, WiFi, and fibre infrastructure. Also to also enhance HD offerings and Internet service provision and continue with digital duplication of analogue channels. c)  Sale of CRTV to highest bidder with all proceeds being distributed equally among the ordinary members. (As per CRTV Bylaw #107) Q:   There has been some discussion in regard to the distribution of cash upon the sale of CRTV. Some members feel that since they have been longer-term members that they should obtain a greater share of the proceeds of a sale if one occurs. Will this be addressed?
A:   Members should be aware of CRTV existing Bylaw #107 that specifies on how the cash (proceeds) are to be distributed. This bylaw states “That upon the dissolution of The Society, all assets of The Society shall be distributed equitably among the ordinary members in good standing at the time of dissolution.”  So every member would get an equal portion. Long-term members should also be aware that they have benefited by receiving lower cable rates for the first 50 years of CRTV’s existence. Q:   What are the tax consequences to CRTV upon the sale of CRTV?
A:   CRTV is one-of-a-kind non-profit organization and a definitive opinion on the tax result on it’s sale is difficult to establish. The best opinion we have states that upon the sale of CRTV the assets of CRTV should be non-taxable as long as CRTV maintains tax exempt status. Q:   What would be the tax consequence for a member upon receiving a cheque from CRTV as their share of CRTV’s sale?
A:   This would depend on how Revenue Canada treats the sale of CRTV. If the sale of CRTV is non-taxable, the distribution to members on dissolution would most likely give rise to a capital gain in the hands of the members.
Example: Based on $100 original debenture and cash proceeds of $3,000, this gives rise to a $2,900 captal gain, ½ (half) of which is taxable at an individual members marginal tax rates. Each individual’s case would be different based on their own financial situation.Q:   How may CRTV members voice their opinion prior to the AGM.
A:   Members have the option of sending a letter to the CRTV Board at 500 Robron Rd, Campbell River, BC, V9W 5Z2 or emailing jim.forsyth@crtv.net.Members wishing to obtain more information are encouraged to visit www.crtv.net where they will find the AGM notice, Strategic Analysis, and current and archived press releases. CRTV will also be carrying information on The Wheel and on Cable 10. Copies of the various documents are also available at 500 Robron Road. To ensure your voice is heard, you should keep November 19, 2007 open and attend the CRTV AGM. Yes, it is YOUR TV Campbell River!

Click to review documents

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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available. CRTV – It’s your TV… and MORE Campbell River!

 

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CRTV Board Responds to Shaw’s Mail Drop

CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – For Immediate release - October 31, 2007

In light of the October 29, 2007 letter that was sent to all Campbell River households and targeted at CRTV Association members, the Board of Directors of CRTV need to clarify a few items. Board Chairman, John Kerr states that "At this time, CRTV is NOT FOR SALE, nor has it agreed to a merger. Also, contrary to the Shaw letter, members will not be voting on whether to sell CRTV to Shaw at our Annual General Meeting. Bylaw 106 makes it very clear that a decision to sell CRTV must be supported by a clear process." That process is written authorization by 75% of the members of the society. At the upcoming AGM the following strategic business options will be discussed:

a) Maintaining the status quo by keeping Basic Cable TV rates as low as possible, maintaining existing Digital Services and existing High Speed Internet Services.

b) Following a planned strategy of investment to keep up with changes in technology by expanding CRTV’s service offering to include Video-on-Demand, telephone, WiFi, and fibre infrastructure. Also to also enhance HD offerings and Internet service provision and continue with digital duplication of analogue channels.

c) Sale of CRTV to highest bidder with all assets being distributed equally among the ordinary members. (As per CRTV Bylaw #107) The Board is trying to remain open to all views and is constrained by the CRTV bylaws to follow a certain process. As such, Shaw’s offer will be reviewed as one alternative under Option C. Shaw’s representatives have not been invited to attend the meeting contrary to their alluding to this in their letter. It is important to note that this neutral stance is neither endorsement nor refusal of Shaw’s offer. The Board is merely acting as required by the Constitution and Bylaws.The Board would also like to remind members that a sale of CRTV would not be a simple windfall. Any payment made by cheque or shares may have tax implications. The Board is looking to the membership for their input at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting that is scheduled for the November 19, 2007 at the Tidemark Theatre at 8:00 pm. Doors open at 7:00 pm at which time, voting members will need to register. Non-members (with the exception of spouses) will not be allowed to attend. A large turnout is expected and it is anticipated that there will be a wide-ranging discussion with many points of view being expressed.Members can obtain copies of CRTVs Strategic Business Analysis and CRTV’s Bylaws on Web site at www.crtv.net , across the counter at CRTV or via the mail. To ensure your voice is heard, you should keep November 19, 2007 open and attend the CRTV AGM. Yes, it is YOUR TV Campbell River!
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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.
CRTV – It’s your TV… and MORE Campbell River!

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NOTICE

51st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
of the
CAMPBELL RIVER TV ASSOCIATION
NOVEMBER 19, 2007

AT THE TIDEMARK THEATRE 1220 SHOPPERS ROW CAMPBELL RIVER, BC AT 8:00P.M.***Doors open at 7:00p.m. for voter registration***

Annual General Meeting
As prescribed under By-Law 20

Under Section 5 of the Associations By-Laws there will NOT be an election of Directors at the Annual General Meeting. However, nominations of Directors to fill the vacant positions will be held at the meeting. An election of Directors, if necessary, will be held at 500 Robron Road on Monday, December 3, 2007, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 8:00p.m. An advance poll will be held at 500 Robron Road on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 during the normal business hours, 8:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Under By-Law 108 - "The following Agenda for the conduct of business at the Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be followed":

Report of notice of meeting Roll call of Directors Reading and confirming of the Minutes of the last Annual and Extra-ordinary meetings Correspondence Report of Directors Report of Committees

(g) Financial Report(h) Nomination of Directors(i) Appointment of Auditors(j) Taking up unfinished business(k) New business and consideration of motions(l) Welfare (m) Adjournment

SPECIAL NOTICE TO CORPORATE MEMBERS: By-Law 29 of the Campbell River TV Association states: "Every ordinary and corporate member in good standing is entitled to one (1) vote which must be cast in person by the member, duly authorized designate, or duly authorized proxy. Provided, however, and notwithstanding anything else contained in the bylaws of The Society, an ordinary member of The Society shall be permitted to authorize a proxy vote for any immediate family member who shall then be entitled to vote on behalf of such member. Such proxy shall be in a form approved by the Secretary of The Society and shall be filed with The Society prior to the meeting at which it is to be used. The proxy shall be revocable at any time by the member and shall in any event only be valid in accordance with provisions of The Society Act for the meeting it is intended to be used at or any reconvened meeting thereof."
Corporate members who wish to be represented at this Annual General Meeting must register the required authorization (proxy) at the Campbell River TV Association business office at 500 Robron Road by 4:00p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2007.SPECIAL NOTICE TO MEMBERS: BY-Law 46 of the Campbell River TV Association states: "The qualification for a Director shall be coincident with qualification for ordinary membership in the Society except that only members who are Canadian citizens and reside in the CRTV service area may serve as Directors in accordance with regulations of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission and these bylaws. The office of Director shall be vacated immediately upon the incumbent ceasing to be an ordinary member of The Society, moving from the service area, or for any reason ceasing to be a Canadian Citizen. No corporate member, either itself or through its proxy, shall be entitled or eligible to hold office in The Society or to become a Director or Officer of The Society."MEMBERS NOTE: A complete copy of Campbell River TV Associations Constitution & Bylaws is available on our web site at www.crtv.net under section "About CRTV".Notification: As approved by the Board of Directors of CRTV the Basic Cable rate will increase from $16.33 per month to $26.33 per month effective January 1, 2008. This increase will help offset increased operating costs for the different Cable TV services we offer and at the same time help to pay for increased capital expenditures to renew CRTV’s infrastructure.

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Can CRTV compete after a $10 rate increase?
We'll leave the math up to you!
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – October 30, 2007 RATE INCREASE JUSTIFICATIONEffective January 1, 2008 CRTV's Basic Cable rate will increase from $16.33 to $26.33 per month. This rate increase requirement was identified during a recent Strategic Analysis and has been approved by the Board of Directors. While it is a substantial increase it is necessary if CRTV is to remain competitive in the coming years. It is important to note that even with this increase CRTV's Basic Cable rates will still be lower than the vast majority of Cable TV systems in Canada. CRTV shines Canada-wide when comparing Basic plus full-tier services as you see in the comparison above.To compete in the communications marketplace CRTV has identified critical needs that need to be addressed immediately:

CRTV is no longer a utility as service suppliers have converged into each others markets. Consumers have the option to choose from satellite, cable and telephone for their entertainment and communication services. CRTV must increase its Basic Cable rates and enhance service offerings to compete in this market place if it is to survive and thrive.Jim Forsyth
CRTV-GM

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CRTV Board Confirms Details of Shaw Offer
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – October 22, 2007 On Saturday, October 20, 2007 the Board of Directors of CRTV met to review a letter dated October 12th from Shaw Communications Inc. The President of Shaw had sent a firm offer to purchase the assets of CRTV with a closing date of November 20th, 2007, a day after CRTV's AGM. The CRTV Board in turn has sent a letter to the President of Shaw acknowledging his offer.The general details of Shaw's offer are as follows:
   1) That Shaw is willing to purchase the assets of CRTV for $3,000 per active basic cable subscriber.
   2) That Shaw would apply to the CRTC to transfer the Cable TV license. In turn, as a condition of license, Community Programming would be maintained as per the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) regulations.
   3) That Shaw would establish a local advisory board that would communicate to Shaw the local community issues and business affairs of the system in order that Shaw may consider the same in planning and operating the systems.
   4) That upon the closing date Shaw would be responsible for the employees employed in connection with the operations of the system. In turn Shaw would be required to abide by the existing IBEW Union contract that is presently in place at CRTV.Association members should be fully aware that the Board does not have the authority to sell CRTV. As per CRTV's bylaws the decision to sell CRTV resides with the members. At the same meeting the General Manager informed the Board that he had recently been successful in his application for a VOD (Video On Demand) license for CRTV. He also advised that as soon as financing was put in place the equipment could be ordered and appropriate staff hired. At the time of the meeting the Board's position was to wait until the AGM to determine which of the following strategic business options the membership wish to accept:

1. Maintaining the status quo by keeping Basic Cable TV rates as low as possible, maintaining existing Digital Services and existing High Speed Internet Services.Following a planned strategy of investment to keep up with changes in technology by expanding CRTV's service offering to include Video-on-Demand, telephone, WiFi, and fibre infrastructure. Also to also enhance HD offerings and Internet service provision and continue with digital duplication of analogue channels.
2. Sale of CRTV to highest bidder with all assets being distributed equally among the ordinary members. (As per CRTV Bylaw #107)

The Board is looking to the membership for their input at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting that is scheduled for the November 19, 2007 (new location to be announced as high numbers of attendees are expected) at 8:00 pm, at which time, CRTV's future Strategic Business options will be discussed.Members can obtain copies of CRTV's Strategic Business Analysis and CRTV's Bylaws off the internet at www.crtv.net, across the counter at CRTV or via the mail. To ensure your voice is heard, you should keep November 19, 2007 open and attend the CRTV AGM. Yes, it is YOUR TV Campbell River!*************************************************************CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV - It's your TV... and MORE Campbell River!

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CRTV Membership Has Its Privileges -
You Can Choose the Future of Your Cable Company!! The Campbell River TV Association (CRTV) is making headlines due to an offer received from Shaw. At a regular Board meeting held on Monday, October 1, 2007 the Board of Directors reviewed an "Expression of Interest" to purchase CRTV from Shaw Communications Inc. The offer was received on the 24th of September, 2007 and was open for CRTV’s consideration until the 2nd of October, 2007. The Board of Directors of CRTV have reviewed the offer and have responded to Shaw thanking them for making the offer. CRTV members should be fully aware that the Board of Directors of CRTV do not have the authority to sell CRTV. As per CRTV’s bylaws, the decision to sell CRTV resides with the members. The Board is looking to the membership for their input at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting that is scheduled for the 19th of November, 2007 at the Maritime Heritage Center at 8:00 pm, at which time, CRTV’s future Strategic Business options will be discussed. Members can obtain copies of CRTVs Strategic Business Analysis and CRTV’s Bylaws off the internet at www.crtv.net , across the counter at CRTV or via the mail. To ensure your voice is heard, you should keep the 19th of November, 2007 open and attend the CRTV AGM. Yes, it is YOUR TV Campbell River! ************************************************************* CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV - It's your TV... and MORE Campbell River!

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More Channel Changes at CRTV!
KVOS & KSTW Leave, but See What's Coming!
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – September 5, 2007 On September 29, 2007 CRTV will be making some changes in the basic channel lineup.KVOS – Bellingham (Basic Cable Channel 12) will be replaced by channel m - Multivision TV from Vancouver (channel m currently occupies Channel 62) KSTW – Tacoma (Basic Cable Channel 26) will be replaced by MTV. The replacement of the two US-based channels will be due to CRTV’s disconnection from Shaw’s Saltspring Island microwave system. CRTV has realized that it cannot continue to depend on the old microwave system for access to lower mainland television services. All other Basic Cable television services originally received off microwave have been replaced with direct satellite feeds. General Manager, Jim Forsyth states "“Changing our feed for these channels directly improves the quality of service received and reliability has been improved considerably." Unfortunately KSTW and KVOS are not available from any other source. MTV is a Canadian-led partnership between CTV, Canada’s number one television brand and MTV, the worlds most valuable media brand. Bold, dynamic and interactive, MTV offers innovative lifestyle, talk and documentary programming, with a commitment to 71 per cent Canadian programming in primetime. MTV in Canada reflects a uniquely Canadian culture and personality through a mixture of locally produced and globally-shared programming. MTV has become an outlet for a variety of different television shows aimed at adolescents and young adults and will be an exciting addition to Basic Cable. www.mtv.ca channel m (Multivision Television) is a multicultural television station that broadcasts in over 22 different languages and produces over 55 hours of local programming per week. Their schedule features multilingual news, entertainment, lifestyles programming, international films and top-rated American programming. "Even though Basic Cable will have one channel less, there is an additional benefit" states Jim Forsyth. "“There are some exciting new channels that CRTV would like to add but we simply need to make room for them. There will be a lot more Digital and HD services to come!"

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CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV - It's your TV... and MORE Campbell River!

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Soccer & Fishing & More… Oh My!
CRTV Provides New Digital Content for Campbell River
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC - August 2007

CRTV subscribers can’t seem to get enough digital programming, as is evidenced by a steady parade of digital equipment leaving 500 Robron Road. In response to this hunger for digital content, CRTV has added more new channels to the Digital theme packs. GOLTV is Canada's only 24-hour sports network dedicated exclusively to soccer. Led by live coverage of the world's best teams and best players, GOLTV delivers 1,500 games a year -- more than you'll see anywhere else. With live league action from Spain, Germany and Brazil, GOLTV is home to soccer's biggest stars. Fans can also enjoy league action from Colombia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and El Salvador. Extra Time with Lee Godfrey is a weekly show dedicated to everything and anything soccer. Anchored by GOLTV News, a nightly soccer news, highlights and information show, GOLTV delivers a lineup of soccer-dedicated programming for the true fan. GOLTV has extensive coverage of the UNCAF Cup. GOLTV has been added to the Digital Sports Theme Pack as channel 129 at no extra charge for Digital Sports and All-in-Digital subscribers. Get hooked on the only network dedicated 24-hours a day, seven days a week to every single aspect of fishing. WFN (World Fishing Network) provides a daily escape for Canada’s 6 million recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts, with a programming lineup that covers all aspects of angling, in five distinct programming blocks.

• International Waters gives viewers an instant passport to adventure, featuring the world’s top fishing destinations. Ultimate Fishing is the home of competitive fishing in Canada, with coverage of the best tournaments and tours. School of Fish is an instructional and lifestyle block that appeals to fishing enthusiasts of all ages. All-Canadian Fishing features the best fishing shows from the Great White North, including Canada’s fishing icon, Bob Izumi.
• American Angling gives viewers access to some of the most popular programs from south of the border.

WFN is home of the FLW Tour in Canada. WFN has been added to the Digital Destinations Theme Pack as channel 197 at no extra charge for Digital Destinations and All-In-Digital subscribers. Some other digital additions include:

• The Score on Basic Channel 46. Subscribers with a Digital box will now receive this channel in Digital format. Comedy East (Channel 280) has been added to the Digital Timeshift package allowing for earlier viewing of all of your favourite comedy programs.
• CRTV has also added some adult content packages (Hustler and Red Light District) which are bundled with the American Superstations.

"These changes are just a few of the many to come” states Jim Forsyth. “CRTV takes great pride in delivering cutting edge services to Campbell River and there will be a lot more Digital and HD services to come!" ************************************************************* CRTV is committed to bringing the best home-entertainment value to Campbell River subscribers. On June 7, 2007 CRTV celebrated 50 years of serving Campbell River. CRTV is still community-owned and still boasts the lowest Basic Cable rates in Canada. Subscribers also have access to an ever-increasing number of digital and HD channels and Campbell River’s fastest Internet available.

CRTV - It's your TV... and MORE Campbell River!

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CRTV HDTV Grand PrizeWinner
Maritime Heritage Centre
June 7, 2007 Rob McKinnell is handed the remote control of his new HDTV by CRTV General Manager, Jim Forsyth. This prize was drawn at the CRTV 50th Anniversary celebration at the Marine Heritage Centre on Thursday, June 7th. In addition to his new HDTV, Rob received a year of Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and a year of digital services. The evening marked CRTV's official anniversary and was celebrated by a capacity crowd. In addition to his new HDTV, Rob received a year of Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and a year of digital services.

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CRTV PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
50th Anniversary of CRTV
May 18, 2007 This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Campbell River TV Association. As one of the first cable television co-operatives in Canada, CRTV has a long history of serving the community and meeting the needs of its members. It has at the same time witnessed a great deal of change in both our community and in the cable industry in Canada. Starting with a few analog signals CRTV now offers hundreds of channels, including many digital and high definition services. No longer just a television provider, we offer high speed internet with our ISP partners over our upgraded broadband network. While we were for many years the only provider of multi-channel television we now face strong competition from two well-financed national satellite companies. For our high speed internet services we compete directly with the large regional telephone company which we expect will soon also begin to offer television services in our area. They will be a serious competitor as they also offer local and long distance telephone services as well as wireless. We are not yet in a position to compete in voice services. While an anniversary is usually a time to look back on accomplishments, it is not a time to rest on our laurels. The pace of change has increased rapidly in the industry and probably will accelerate even more in the next few years. Everyone, including the residents of Campbell River is seeking more, better, faster, new services. CRTV must continue to move forward offering new services and meeting the competitive challenges or we will be left behind. While you, our customers, are also our members and owners, you are customers first and want the same level and quality of services Canadians receive in other centres. CRTV has reached an important stage in its development as we mark this milestone anniversary. We must decide whether to make substantial upgrades in technology and significant investments in order to be able to offer the same new services our competitors will be offering. We must also be ready to handle the increased competition as telephone companies and others move into our core video business. We can’t sit back and watch our customer base erode along with the economic viability of our association. CRTV’s Board of Directors and management have recognized these challenges and have taken action. We commissioned a strategic business analysis to assist us in guiding the company as we move forward. This analysis identified the opportunities, the challenges and the risks we face. We want to share what we have learned with you and to get your input on the future direction we should take. We believe a community-owned asset like CRTV is worth maintaining and that we should make the investments required to do so. The analysis will be available on CRTV’s website, at our office, and by mail upon request. We want to hear from you if you have comments or questions. In preparation for the Annual General Meeting in November, we want to work together to develop a plan in the best interests of Campbell River and our Members. Members will need to be committed to supporting the plan if we are to move forward successfully. For those of you who are not yet Members of CRTV we encourage you to join us now. Join in receiving the excellent service and good value for money. Join us in planning for the future. Happy 50th Anniversary.
Let’s go for 100!

J. Kerr President, CRTV

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