Vancouver: The seven bidders vying to transform B.C.’s Knowledge Network into a self-sustaining public-private partnership will know later this month if they’ve made the short list.

B.C.’s Ministry of Advanced Education, along with Partnerships B.C., is reviewing expressions of interest from groups including CHUM-owned Learning and Skills Television of Alberta (LTA). Other bidders include a consortium between Insight Film & Video and Channel M and a consortium among Paperny Films, Jim Pattison Broadcasting, CBC, U.S.-based Link TV, APTN and TVOntario. VisionTV is an applicant, along with A-Channel and an education group fronted by local broadcast executive Jon Festinger. The seventh bidder is thought to be a second application from CHUM, independent of LTA.

Ministry spokesperson Kathryn Macdonald won’t discuss any details about the applicants, who had until Nov. 24 to declare themselves, but says the ministry could be soliciting more information from the finalists by March and participating at a hearing before the CRTC next fall.

‘The government is going to retain control,’ says Macdonald. ‘This is still going to be an educational network. But we are looking for a new model that ensures it is viable over time.’

The government is looking for a way that Knowledge Network can be self-sustaining without the $5.1-million annual grant from government that makes up 69% of the annual operating budget.

Details of the individual proposals are not public, but it’s expected that the bids will include new and enhanced revenue streams for Knowledge, including sponsorships and commercial advertising.

‘We want to maintain the Knowledge Network,’ says Trevor Hodgson, business affairs manager at Vancouver’s Paperny. ‘Our model doesn’t turn Knowledge Network into a completely mainstream network. There are ad-free blocks [of airtime in the proposal] and there is still an educational underpinning to the station.’ *

-www.knowledgenetwork.ca