Even though Banff’s resort TV station is part of the overall RTown chain, bankruptcy of that company’s flagship channel in Whistler has had zero effect on the Bow Valley operation.
RTown Communications in Whistler announced bankruptcy earlier in July, citing technology and marketplace changes in an email statement to the Whistler Question.
“RTown’s core business of TV informational programming and advertising faced various challenges as the technology evolved and the marketplace shifted,” company founder Don McQuaid stated in the email. “As a result, the company could not meet its current financial obligations. We were regrettably forced to file for bankruptcy, which, in the end, we felt was the best and only fair option for all the stakeholders of the company.”
Dan Evans, owner of Banff TV, said the Bow Valley operation is autonomous from Whistler’s, although they do operate as an affiliate.
“We have been independent for five years from the Whistler market,” Evans said. “They have gone in a few different directions, which has led to where they are now, which I’m surprised at.
“As far as RTown Banff, nothing is going to change here.”
Evans said the resort television industry has been transitioning into new technology, which he added is coming down the pipeline in the next few months.
“We are going to be transforming our offering from just TV to a current technology platform which gets people excited again,” he said. “Really, things are going well for us here, the Banff community is really tight and we have a lot of long-standing, good partnerships with people like the Banff Springs and Banff Lodging Company, so we are healthy and happy.”
