by Glenn Taylor
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Oct 31/97) - Inuvik TV will join cable companies across the country in launching up to 10 new channels recently approved by the CRTC. When, how and at what cost (if any) to the customer have yet to be determined, however.

Ten new channels -- from comedy to cartoon networks -- were recently approved for distribution among Canadian cable companies. Inuvik TV -- which hasn't raised its rates since 1990 and remains perhaps the North's lowest-cost provider -- now has to figure out how to offer the service, according to president Tom Zubko.

"We're still analysing the offers of the various (channels) to determine the best way to introduce them," said Zubko. One of the main issues facing the company is whether to raise rates to recover the higher costs of the service, or to somehow accommodate them without cost to the customer.

Zubko said the company hopes to have some or all of the 10 new channels in place by Christmas. In the meantime, the company will debate bottom-line issues. If a rate increase is determined, customers will have 90 days to respond to the CRTC.