IT was with incredulity that I read your story about the pending sale of Craig Media in the Feb. 2 issue of Playback (p. 2). In it your reporter quotes unnamed ‘observers’ who say the sale of Craig Media ‘means an end to Western Canada’s role in broadcasting’ and the end of ‘the era of the family-run [broadcasting] business.’

The last time we checked, CanWest Global Communications, owner of Global and CH Television, two CBC affiliate stations and seven specialty channels, was headquartered in Winnipeg. Manitoba. Western Canada.

CanWest broadcasts all seven of its specialty channels from a play-out center located at the corner of Portage and Main, which by all measurement is located in the western part of this country. Of the company’s 16 conventional stations, 10 are situated west of the Ontario-Manitoba border.

I am sure that the Asper family would be astonished at the comment that the ‘family-run business… is done.’ The Asper family is not only the founding family and controlling shareholder of CanWest, but how more fully engaged can you be? Leonard Asper is the president and chief executive officer, David Asper is the executive vice-president, and Gail Asper is not only a member of the board of directors but also president of the CanWest Global Foundation.

I suspect that comment may also raise eyebrows at Shaw and Rogers, both of which remain family-run media businesses.

Geoffrey Elliot,

Vice-president, corporate affairs,

CanWest Global Communications,

Winnipeg, MB.