CHCH-TV to Broadcast a Complete Leaders' Debate

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Today Channel Zero announced that it is offended by the Broadcaster Consortium's decision to exclude one of the leaders of Canada's five major federal political parties from their leaders' debate. As a result, Channel Zero is extending an invitation to the leaders of The Conservative Party of Canada, The Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, The Bloc Quebecois, and the Green Party of Canada to participate in a nationally televised and fully representative Leaders' Debate.

"Clearly, this type of behaviour illustrates one of the real dangers of media ownership concentration that we have witnessed recently in Canada. Democracy demands that the media simply relay the parties' positions without attempting to control the message. Excluding the leader of a party that garnered 1 out of every 15 votes in the 2008 federal election is just plain wrong", said Cal Millar, President of Channel Zero.

As an independent broadcaster with no network, BDU, or consortium affiliation, Channel Zero believes that the participation of all of the above leaders is of critical interest and importance to Canadians as they head to the polls in just over four weeks.

Channel Zero, in cooperation with CHEK Media, is prepared to host and televise this debate from CHCH's broadcast studios in Hamilton, Ontario, and will air the debate nationally on CHCH, Métro14 Montréal, and CHEK-TV in Victoria/Vancouver. In addition, Channel Zero will also invite any and all other broadcasters (TV, radio and online) to broadcast the debate with us.

For further information: