New deal preserves TV bingo
Program was expected to end on Nov. 24 after disagreement
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 4, 2014
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Television bingo in Fort Simpson will continue to air after the group that owns the broadcasting functions and Liidlii Kue Support Services reached an agreement on Nov. 24.
Jennifer Simons says after an agreement between H.R. Thomson Consultants and Liidlii Kue Support Services was reached Monday, TV bingo in the village will continue. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo
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Jennifer Simons, a manager with communications technology company H.R. Thomson Consultants Ltd., said regular programming will continue because of the new deal.
"Bingo will continue, as will the community channel," she said after the meeting with Liza McPherson, executive director of Liidlii Kue First Nation. "The world stops in Fort Simpson when bingo is on."
Both McPherson and Simons said they're happy the deal has been reached.
TV bingo has run in the community since the mid-1990s. Community groups can pay a $135 fee to run a bingo and the group sells the bingo ticket packages to players who watch from home.
The proceeds are a fundraiser for the community group running the bingo.
It initially appeared the popular program was at risk. Late last month, Simons put up signs in the community announcing it would end in November, which stemmed from what she described as a misunderstanding between the two groups.
Now, other than TV bingo on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, channel 9 is "dead air," she said.
Originally there was other content on the station, but a multi-media society faded, leaving only the bingo which remained because it brings in money.
H.R. Thomson Consultants hoped more could be added to the TV lineup, Simons said.
It sought out proposals to expand programming and possibly relocate to a location where they could set up a small TV studio.
That caused concern that bingo would be lost, Simons said, even though that wasn't the intent. At the same time, the company also sought to collect payments she said had not been made. When a deal wasn't reached, the signs went up.
McPherson said she wasn't sure what caused the disagreement however, both said the issues are now behind them.
Simons said she's happy with the deal reached.
"I just feel very positive that this ended on a positive note," McPherson said of the agreement. "It's just a good step for the community."
McPherson emphasized that the agreement isn't with LKFN, but with the non-profit Liidlii Kue Support Services.
The agreement includes a fee increase of $10 to $35, which covers the company's costs for the video uplink and other broadcast equipment.
Simons said it's the first time the fee has increased in about 10 years.
As part of hopes to grow the channel to a more community news format, H.R. Thomson Consultants sought out space for a small broadcast studio.
It approached the village to see if there was space it could use for the studio in the village office, but council wasn't interested.
During a committee meeting Nov. 20, councillors unanimously said they support the channel but couldn't support providing village space for a studio.
Simons said they're still looking for space.
"We don't need much space, just enough room for a TV anchor-type desk and camera," she said.
The programming could include anything from small news broadcasts to advertising for upcoming community events.
At some point, she sees the channel being able to do a live broadcast from community events or taping workshops to air on the channel later.
"Anything to bring the community together," Simons said.
While she admits it is ambitious, she believes it can work with community support.
"We're in the age where six-year-olds use iPads to create movies," Simons said.
The push to expand could include reaching out to Thomas Simpson School to train students on multi-media, camera work and other behind-the-scenes technical jobs.
She said with community support, expanded programming on the TV station could be up and running within months.
