CTV says its "Save Local TV" campaign and the accompanying news special it aired this weekend are aimed at educating Canadians about the issues facing local stations - not a self-serving initiative meant to put pressure on Ottawa regarding the thorny fee-for-carriage issue.

"Local television is in a crisis," maintains Paul Sparkes, EVP of corporate affairs at parent CTVglobemedia, adding that the issues put forth by the campaign are only discussed in the regulatory environment. "The drama cannot just be played out in Ottawa...it's an issue that affects each one of our viewers," he says.

The network conducted a country-wide open house at many of its CTV and A stations on Saturday, including the main Toronto facility, and will simultaneously broadcast highlights, interviews and testimonials from the event in a live two-hour special hosted by news anchor Ken Shaw.


CTV defends "crisis" campaign