CFTV34 offers local, specialized programs

Free Press sales rep hosts Look Who’s Cooking

Sarah Fisher, February 1, 2006-
Residents of southern Essex County will soon have a new television station to watch.

The station is CFTV34, which is owned and operated by Southshore Broadcasting Inc., a non-profit organization. The network will broadcast live local sports and town council meetings, as well as educational and musical programs. According to the station’s website, its signal has been tested and its programs should be available at the end of the month.

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission approved the station’s license in November 2003. Although funding has been an obstacle for the organization, its website indicates programming will be available shortly. Information released Jan. 30 indicates that the Essex branch of the Community Futures Development Corporation will provide the funding for the station to purchase its traffic software. The software will keep track of the programming, including commercials, for the station. The CFDC is a non-profit organization that seeks to encourage economic development and create jobs.

Among the educational programs featured at CFTV34 is Look Who’s Cooking, a cooking show hosted by Karen Callies. Callies, who is also a sales representative for The Essex Free Press, has a background in cooking. Last fall she approached Bill Gay, a contributing writer for the newspaper and a member of the board of directors for CFTV34, about hosting a cooking show.

“They didn’t have anybody doing a cooking show for the station and with my background in catering I thought it was a good idea,” Callies said. “Plus, it would be a way to promote cooking, but also with the interesting people who come on it, would promote what they do too.”

Some episodes of Look Who’s Cooking have been taped but have not aired. Callies has invited restaurant owners and managers as well as local personalities, including mayors, to share a recipe with her. Restaurant owners leery of revealing secrets can suggest another specialty.

The set for the program is the community room at Zehrs, the Real Canadian Superstore, in Leamington. Representing Zehrs, Mike Tetreault, a former manager at the Essex and Parkway stores, says Look Who’s Cooking will “showcase the variety of products offered by the store including a full line of organics, ethnic and seafood.”

Callies suggested the show because of her love of food. She was raised on a farm in Leamington where her father, Jerry Chobrda, grew organic apples. Her family fostered the appreciation for well-grown and good tasting food. She has worked in the business, either at restaurants or in catering, in several cities, including Minneapolis, Leamington and Toronto. Aside from working at the Free Press, Callies runs her own catering company — Le Petite Gourmet. She has experience in several different cuisines, including French cooking.

Look Who’s Cooking and CFTV34’s other programs will be an alternative for county viewers. Currently, Channel 11 on Cogeco broadcasts to county viewers but features mainly Windsor-based programs. According to information from CFTV’s employees, the station’s signal will reach primarily in the southern part of Essex County and will cover areas such as Essex, Harrow, Leamington and Kingsville.

Promotions about CFTV34 and its programs have aired and brought a positive response.

“We’ve heard positive comments,” said Tina Brown, CFTV34’s admini-strative assistant. “People are excited that it’s going to be local. There should be some crossover as well. Some people on one show might also be on one of our other shows. They’ll also get to know who else is working at the station.”
Among the other programs that will be offered by CFTV34 is Viva Latino. According to the website, the program will be in Spanish and is designed to appeal to Mexican agricultural workers and other Spanish-speaking residents.