Changes at Shaw TV are causing some to worry the broadcasting company is losing interest in Squamish.
The locally produced kids' show Down By The Docks has been cancelled, current formatting for Not Just for Seniors is cancelled and MySquamish Magazine show is rumoured to be moving to Vancouver.
But the changes don't reflect a retreat from Squamish, said Shaw Lower Mainland Regional Manager Dave Fenwick.Fenwick confirmed the Down By The Docks cancellation, but said Not Just For Seniors is being rolled into MySquamish, a show Shaw has committed to improving.
"We're certainly not looking at canceling the magazine show and moving it to Vancouver, we're just looking to improve the show," said Fenwick. "We are looking at things in the future just to enhance the show because Squamish doesn't have playback facilities - the ability to replay shows they produce - so we might look at replaying them from Vancouver. But they'll certainly continue to be produced in Squamish, it's just using that technology."
Down By The Docks creator Daryl Robb said he's disappointed and confused by the cancellation. Robb said Shaw TV's Squamish manager Alan Richardson successfully fought last January to extend the show, but was recently ordered to go through with the cancellation for technical reasons.
"It was to free up computer space and time for the MySquamishshow," said Robb."Although I'm slightly confused by the decision as I understand Shaw has a mandate to develop children'sprogramming."
Shaw TV Squamish employees were directed not to speak to the media. Fenwick said that Shaw decided to cancel the kids' show to dedicate itself to quality programming.
"I think it's just run its course at this point, it's been on for three years," said Fenwick. "We will continue to repeat what's been produced and, never say never, it could come back. But we want to focus on that magazine show and make it the best possible."
Down By The Docks was being broadcast in 250,000 households throughout Canada and the U.S., and in the past six years the live show has toured in Alberta, BC, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Northwest Territories and the Cayman Islands.
All but two of the 18 volunteer cast members are children Aged 9 to 14. The youths do everything from acting to working puppets to operating cameras. The cancellation will not put them out of work, however.
Down By The Docks will continue to produce newepisodes to keep supplying other broadcasters from the Northwest Territories to New Mexico.
"All of our cast isexcited by the upcoming changes and cannot wait to get back to work," said Robb.
"We'velaunched an Internet TV stations for kids, which will feature the new Down ByThe Docks shows. We're also producing a new animated version of Down By TheDocks and broadcasting some old episodes from three years ago on www.tlptv.com."Meanwhile, said Fenwick, Shaw continues its mandate to produce "as much local programming as possible, and the best possible programming."
