We need local content on TV

You wouldn't have to go back too many decades in Moose Jaw's history to arrive at pre-cable TV days. Back in the early- to mid-'70s, residents had their choice of CBC, CKTV or STN (Saskatchewan Television Network - which eventually became Global).
Those same three stations exist in one form or another today.
The three channels provided network programming along with local programming. Then along came cable and dish TV and hundreds of different channels including the three major U.S. networks. People with cable have much to choose from every day.
But at what cost to the three Canadian networks? All three Canadian networks are arguing that cable companies pay other networks for their service, but not the Canadian networks. The Canadian networks make an effort to carry Canadian content - providing jobs and opportunities for Canadian artists.
But more important, the networks pay to have local people provide local news and community coverage on a daily basis. The networks could save a lot of money by offering one newscast right across the country with no allotment for local news. No need for local reporters, cameramen, producers, directors, anchors, etc. A real cost-saving.
Instead, the three networks are asking that cable companies purchase the local networks' service the same as they do U.S. networks and specialty channels. It certainly seems to be a fair request.
The cable providers are saying they would have to pass the cost along to the customers. We're kind of used to that. But at the same time, the three Canadian networks are included in cable providers' basic packages, so we already do pay for them, one would think.
Regardless, most people would be willing to spend a few dollars a month more to retain community news and event coverage. We already get a national news outlook. But we want our local (or in Moose Jaw's case, regional and provincial) news as well. Saskatchewan people deserve to have their local news presented to them in many different formats, including local television.
Maybe cable providers should ask their customers what's important to them before making decisions that could affect most Canadians. Just see how happy people would be if they could no longer tune in to the 6 p.m. news to get Rider game highlights, long-range weather forecasts or information on crimes in southern Saskatchewan. And that's just the news.
Would Corner Gas have been as successful outside of Canada if CTV hadn't given it a chance to begin with? How many of the movies filmed in and around Moose Jaw would make it to theatres or American TV for us to look for familiar faces or locales?
Are there not events in Regina or elsewhere in the province that Moose Jaw people might like to know about in order to decide if they would like to attend? And shouldn't these organizers have the opportunity of letting people elsewhere in the province know about their upcoming event? Afterall, we do not live in isolation within the boundaries of our communities in Saskatchewan.
We need to keep Canadian and especially local TV in our cable packages.