Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Aklavik (Oct 29/01) - NorthwesTel Cable is pulling out of Aklavik and trying to sell most of its other operations in the communities, including Tuktoyaktuk, Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope.

"We're trying to sell in the communities where we find it expensive to manage or operate," says NorthwesTel Cable vice-president Mike Dittrich. That means all the communities where the company currently operates, except Yellowknife.

Cable operations in Nanisivic and Pangnirtung in Nunavut, and Watson Lake in the Yukon, are also for sale.

In most of the communities, potential buyers have come forward and negotiations are underway, Dittrich says. But in Aklavik, no one was interested in buying the station, and the cable operator has already given notice that it will pull the plug Dec. 3.

To soften the blow, the cable operator, wholly-owned by NorthwesTel, has worked out a deal with Bell ExpressVu to provide current cable subscribers with a free satellite dish. Bell ExpressVu is a division of NorthwesTel's parent company, Bell Canada.

In Aklavik, no one seems to be complaining.

"For what NorthwesTel Cable was offering cost-wise, it was more feasible for people to rent or buy satellite dishes," says resident Tim. Tigiglok, who spells his first name with a period.

Tigiglok bought a satellite dish over the summer and he hasn't had any regrets, even though he paid close to $300 for it. "I did get a $100 of free programming and a rebate, so it was more like $199 and then there was a free trial period. It pays for itself."

Cable rates in Aklavik are $30 for 17 channels, and $60 for 32 channels, but Tigiglok has been paying $52 a month for 106 channels with his dish.

Many people in town were already ditching their cable subscriptions even before Bell ExpressVu came up with the special deal.

One reason why no one seems to care about the local cable station is that Aklavik doesn't operate a community channel with announcements and bingo. Instead, the community radio fulfills those roles.

Then there are the people who don't even watch TV, like elder Maria Selamio. "Me, I was brought up in the bush, so I don't care as long as I got the radio. I'm not used to TV."

In a market like that, it's no wonder that NorthwesTel wasn't making enough money. But Dittrich says even though his company couldn't keep the cable afloat, local interests with lower operating costs should be able to make a profit.

"What's really the most expensive is the travel costs associated with managing from Yellowknife, because we can't afford to have staff everywhere. I truly believe that a local community with a strong community TV channel is a good viable business, but running it remotely is not the least-cost alternative."