Pattison Media shutters Alberta TV station after nearly 70 years on air
A TV station in Alberta is shutting down after nearly 70 years on air, resulting in 16 job losses.
Pattison Media, a division of the Jim Pattison Group, announced on Tuesday that CHAT-TV is closing its doors after operating for 68 years in Medicine Hat.
“Since 1957, we’ve had the honour of being part of the conversation in this community — elevating important stories, sparking dialogue, and empowering people,” the company said in a news release.
“Despite employing a variety of efficiency measures, the financial challenges facing CHAT-TV have proven insurmountable. The world of local television has shifted so much in recent years, making it harder for CHAT-TV to remain viable while continuing to deliver the impactful local programming that has connected Medicine Hat and neighbouring communities.”
The closure of the TV station, which reached over 100,000 viewers each week in Medicine Hat and surrounding area, will result in 16 job losses.
Pattison Media added that the decision to close the station was not made lightly, but due to shrinking support for local TV, tough economic challenges, and ongoing losses, it was “impossible” for the company to continue its TV operations in Medicine Hat.
The closure comes on the heels of two other TV stations closing their doors in Alberta after nearly 50 years on the air.
“On behalf of CHAT-TV and its parent company, Pattison Media, we thank our viewers, advertisers, and supporters who have been part of this journey. You have been the reason we strived to deliver the best for nearly seven decades,” a news release added.