And the only ones to blame will be Ivan and Leonard.

does this mean the stations will go digital very shortly?
No, that is highly unlikely. Even with this deal, they still likely won't go digital until 2011.

It's brilliant strategic move by Shaw, I expect they will drop the stations once they realize they can no longer make money with them, well after the fee for carriage issue has been decided.

You really think the fee for carriage issue will ever come to an end? It is like the Quebec referendum and the broadcasters will keep trying over and over again until they get what they want.

Your probably right, but at that point we have a different landscape altogether. If the broadcasters win Shaw will stumble on for a while and likely quietly close them... that's my guess.

But the networks say the Kenora station is unique: Because it is the
only one in town, and is not affiliated with a network, CTV and Global
give it programming at bargain prices. CTV sells Desperate Housewives
to the Kenora station for $40 an episode, while Two and a Half Men
goes for $20, well below the normal rates.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090505.RSHAW05ART1943/TPStory/Business

If they were to combine the Windsor, Wingham and Brandon stations w/ the 5 E! stations for sale for also $1 a piece, they could have a string of a stations to form a nice little netlet. I'm not sure what counter-programming they'd offer to CTV and Global does and what -- if any -- of A remains. To buy the entire A stations (London, Barrie, Ottawa and Victoria) would be interesting, but there's already a Hamilton (CHCH-TV) and Barrie (CKVR-TV) stations placed too close to one another.

barrie and hamilton could work as future shaw stations. barrie could focus on muskoka, barrie, and simcoe, while hamilton can focus on steeltown and the niagara region, or revert to being the regional superstation it was before it was munched by Canwest.

CKVR-TV's over-the-air signal makes it to downtown toronto, but only BARELY. it's about the same in quality as WNWO-TV 24 (NBC Toledo) for me: fuzzy, but watchable.
CHCH-TV has a similar coverage footprint. They do not really overlap to a great deal in coverage areas, and shaw has no over-the-air properties.

I doubt CTVgm will want to give up CFPL-TV, as it contains the master control for all other A stations (CIVI-TV Victoria, CHRO-TV Pembroke, CKVR, and the ones being sold to Shaw). If Shaw were to buy all the E and A stations, that would be a very interesting scenario, and may very well happen, as global has them up for sale, and Shaw's already purchased three from CTVgm for a song.

I see what you mean about master control of CFPL-TV. The great thing about Shaw buying the 2 secondary netlets of A and E! is it takes them out. Giving us now 3 major private networks (CTV, Global and whatever Shaw wants to call is; STV). That's assuming they can wrangle the broadcast rights of popular American fare. CTV and Global can also no longer try to avoid canablizing each other by buying up all the American shows they can to avoid the *other* from having it... leaving them to sort out the best and the 2nd best to put on either CTV/A and Global/E!.

It ends the monopoly of 2 privates for the first time in quite a while (I guess since the last days of an independent CHUM).

I don't think shaw will call them "STV" becuase their cable channels are already named "Shaw TV". if anyone from Shaw is reading this, how about "Canada One" for a network name?

I really don't think this makes much sense as a new national network. For it to be successful, they would need stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and possibly Montreal, Winnipeg and Halifax. The A and E! stations leak into or have repeaters in some of these markets, but I am not sure if that is enough. I think it is more likely for them to pick and choose the best programming from the larger networks (who are starting to shut down their repeaters) in addition to providing local programming.

Master Control moved from London back in 05 or 06. It was the start of a declining staff for that station. CHUM consolidated all Masters into one at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto. After the CTVgm acquisition, I believe the master then moved to Channel Nine Court in Scarborough.