SHAW WANTS TO DROP U.S. SPOTS
By Adnews Staff
Shaw Communications wants to drop some American TV spots in British Columbia and give Canadian specialty channels a boost. The Edmonton-based cable operator has asked the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for permission to substitute Canadian ads in place of U.S. spots for products not available in Canada. If the move is approved, substitute ads would be for Canadian specialty channels, including the Life Channel and Bravo. The changes would affect Nanaimo, Cedar, Ladysmith, Gabriola, Parksville and Qualicum, says Michael D'Avella, vice-president of planning for Shaw. He says that the change would be easy, since the system for inserting commercials is automated. He is hopeful the CRTC will come on-side since the CRTC has already approved a similar application from Rogers Cable.