Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Sep 08/03) - Tuktoyaktuk's local television station aired the last round of community announcements and TV Bingo's last week.

Earlier this year NorthwesTel Cable -- the sole cable provider in Tuktoyaktuk -- said the entire cable service was not economically feasible.

The service was put up for sale but the company couldn't find a buyer, said Mike Dittrich, company vice- president and general manager.

NorthwesTel was asking between $130,000 and $175,000 for the cable operation.

Cable was cut off July 31 but took nearly a month to wind down, said Dittrich.

Aug. 26 was the last transmission for the community station.

Although the cable company has pulled out, the hamlet hasn't given up on keeping the community channel.

"I think our channel is important in terms of funding for community organizations," said Tuktoyaktuk Mayor Eddie Dillon.

TV Bingo was a big fundraiser for organizations like the crisis centre and Tuktoyaktuk Minor Hockey.

The hamlet had looked into purchasing the entire cable service but couldn't afford to. Tuktoyaktuk could only offer $30,000 for the cable system -- $100,000 short of NorthwesTel's minimum acceptable bid.

Now they've found a less expensive alternative for the one channel -- an off-air transmitter.

New North Networks is currently working out a deal with the hamlet, said Dillon. The off-air transmitter would be attached to the old New North Networks transmitting tower and would serve only the immediate community.

Dillon wasn't sure when the station would be back in service.

There were 75 registered cable subscribers in Tuktoyaktuk but 200 were needed to keep the cable running.

The service is still up for sale. As time goes by the equipment will be slowly dismantled and removed from the community, said Dittrich.