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CTV Thrilled to Go Digital early


For the team at CTV it feels as if the promise and excitement of going digital on March 18th will help pay tribute to the staff lost on 22 February 2011 and thank the community who have been so loyal during the last two years. Like many businesses in Christchurch, CTV has had to adapt to the rapidly changing environment that have made work conditions extremely tough and economically demanding, but CTV now finds itself well paced to benefit from the digital change by going early.

“We had many challenges across editorial, sales and production but our staff responded magnificently and kept CTV on air 24 hours a day,” said CTV Chairman Nick Smith. “With our potential audience expanding to over 500,000 people from Timaru to Kaikoura, the clarity of picture and over 20% local content, CTV will offer viewers a real choice and mix of programmes.

Mr Smith says, joining Freeview|HD will strengthen the station’s signal and CTV’s reach which will in turn strengthen the role that CTV plays in the community. By branding the station with “It’s Canterbury” CTV are committed to being your regional voice, sharing your issues and your sense of place and we will do it together. With the increase coverage are we will work with local communities to bring you the local issues, your people and events. The diversity of the communities will be part of the challenge for CTV as we expand into the rural hinterlands of Canterbury and the smaller towns.

“Regional TV fulfils a critical role, broadcasting information that national broadcasters don’t necessarily cover,” said CTV Sales Manager Malcolm Harris. “And we currently air over 20 hours of local content and hope to increase this substantially during the year. We already have new programmes in the pipeline and plans on how to cover Canterbury to reflect who we are and what we are doing.”

Mr Harris says CTV has been to the forefront post-earthquakes, ensuring we targeted the information and specific news needed to be disseminated to the community by bringing on the spot local issues such as re zoning, demolition work and community events. The team at CTV are committed to the Canterbury rebuild and will continue to introduce a range of current affair and news programmes that reflect what is happening in our community and continue with some of the old favourites.

The digital changeover will remove a lot of questions and uncertainty by viewers on how to receive CTV especially as many people had changed their damaged TV’s .CTV has made a significant commitment to go digital and believes it is important that it remains free to air.

“There are lots of people in Canterbury who aren’t in a position to pay for subscription TV, particularly the elderly,” said Mr Harris “and we want to be in a position that capitalises on our new audience , new customers which will grow the company and reinforce CTV ‘s place in the community as a number one choice.”

CTV will start broadcasting on Freeview HD Channel 40 from 18 March and the staff are looking forward to bringing regional TV, your voice to a much wider audience.

“We are confident we will play an important part of your future TV viewing and that you will become regular and dedicated viewers of CTV – It’s Canterbury,” said Mr Smith. “We look forward to new business partnerships and playing our part in the rebuild of Canterbury. CTV is a proud of how far we have come and as a strong regional channel we should be able to attract more viewers , more revenue and funding, and in turn better quality programmes that Cantabrians can look forward to.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

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