Pattison Media announced Tuesday it has made the “difficult decision” to close its CHAT-TV station in Medicine Hat, Alberta, after serving the community for 68 years.
“Since 1957, we’ve had the honour of being part of the conversation in this community — elevating important stories, sparking dialogue, and empowering people,” Pattison Media said in a statement attributed to its president, Rod Schween. “Despite employing a variety of efficiency measures, the financial challenges facing CHAT-TV have proven insurmountable. The world of local television has shifted so much in recent years, making it harder for CHAT-TV to remain viable while continuing to deliver the impactful local programming that has connected Medicine Hat and neighbouring communities.”
Schween said the decision to shut down CHAT-TV was not made lightly, as Pattison Media explored “every possible avenue” to sustain operations.
“Unfortunately, shrinking support for local TV, tough economic challenges, and ongoing losses made it impossible for us to continue our TV operations in Medicine Hat,” Schween said.
“The most difficult aspect of this decision is the impact on 16 of our dedicated team at CHAT-TV. They have been the heart and soul of CHAT-TV, bringing creativity, excellence, and dedication to everything they do — from promoting local events to producing award-winning commercials to reporting the local news that matters most. Their commitment has been nothing short of inspiring, and we’re deeply grateful to every single one of them. We’ll do everything we can to support them through this transition,” he said.
Schween added that Pattison Media remains committed to providing local journalism in Medicine Hat.
“As CHAT-TV’s operations come to an end, we remain steadfast in our belief that strong communities need local journalism. While this closure represents a significant loss, it also serves as a reminder of the vital importance of supporting local media outlets in an increasingly challenging environment. Our two local radio properties, Wild 94.5 CHAT-FM, My96 CFMY-FM, and our rebranded news portal hatnewstoday.ca, remain committed to advocating for and championing local journalism to ensure the voices of Medicine Hat and other communities remain heard.”
In a press release Tuesday evening, Unifor confirmed the 16 CHAT-TV employees who have been laid off are all Unifor members, calling the station’s closure a loss for local journalism and Canadian media workers.
“The shuttering of CHAT-TV is not just the end of a station — it’s the loss of a legacy in Canadian news,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a statement. “At a time when disinformation spreads faster than facts and our sovereignty is challenged by foreign media dominance, we must act now. Canadian journalism is worth saving. We need immediate investment in local newsrooms — not more cuts.”
Unifor Local 1010 President Andrew Parry said: “This is about more than job loss — it’s about the disappearance of our local voice and the stories that bind our communities…For generations, CHAT-TV told the stories of Medicine Hat. The closure leaves a dangerous void and risks turning our city into another news desert where critical local coverage is simply no longer available.”
Pattison Media’s shutdown of CHAT-TV in Medicine Hat comes three weeks after Stingray announced the closure of its CITL-TV and CKSA-TV stations in Lloydminster, Alberta.
Photo of CHAT-TV via Unifor
