A publicity stunt or a serious deal gone sour? That’s the question left in the air after CTVglobemedia said Shaw Communication backed out of a May offer to buy three of its stations – CKX in Brandon, MB, and Ontario stations CKNX in Wingham and CHWI near Windsor – for $1 each.

According to one rival broadcaster, Shaw never appeared serious about the station purchases, and instead aimed to blunt the latest fee-for-carriage pitch to the CRTC by CTVgm and other broadcasters, which saw the money-losing stations held up as evidence that traditional broadcasters needed the extra revenue.

‘Nothing went wrong with the deal. I never really believed that it was genuine in the first place. You don’t make serious offers for serious businesses via a press release,’ the broadcaster said privately.

But Shaw’s defenders insist the pullout came after the cable operator did due diligence on the three stations and discovered the slide in local automotive ad revenue in the southern Ontario TV market continues.