TORONTO – Independent broadcaster Channel Zero is so “offended” by the broadcaster consortium’s decision to exclude Green Party leader Elizabeth May from its leaders’ debate, that it has issued an invitation to all five party leaders to participate in its own nationally televised debate.
“Clearly, this type of behaviour illustrates one of the real dangers of media ownership concentration that we have witnessed recently in Canada”, said Channel Zero president, Cal Millar, in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
Channel Zero, in cooperation with CHEK Media, said that it is prepared to host and televise the debate from CHCH’s broadcast studios in Hamilton, ON, and air it nationally on CHCH, Métro14 Montréal, and CHEK-TV in Victoria/Vancouver. It also put out a call inviting any and all other TV, radio and on-line broadcasters to air the debate as well.
“As an independent broadcaster with no network, BDU, or consortium affiliation, we believe 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’s statement continued.
