While some postings on the Internet raise questions about the validity of the type of TV promotion that Salmon Arm groups are considering purchasing, so far local investigation has found no cause for concern.
The Salmon Arm Economic Development Society was approached by the Today in America Show, hosted by Terry Bradshaw, to participate in a show called Canada's Hidden Gems, The Best Places to Live, Work and Play.
The fee for the five-minute Salmon Arm segment would be $24,800 US, which the local partners would have editorial control over. It would air 35 times over a 90-day period – once on the Discovery Channel across the U.S., once on Canada's Business News Network, and in 33 regional slots that Salmon Arm would select. The City of Salmon Arm would provide up to $10,800, while seven local organizations would each provide $2,000: the economic development society, the chamber of commerce, Shuswap Hospital Foundation, Shuswap Tourism, Downtown Salmon Arm, Community Futures Shuswap and SCIP (Shuswap Construction Industry Professionals). Once the five-minute segment is complete, the local partners would be able to use it as they wish.
A number of accusations are made on various websites such as: the promotion is a scam, the time slots when the programs air have few viewers and the videos are of poor quality.
Lana Fitt, manager of Salmon Arm Economic Development, says the society has done a significant amount of due diligence, including speaking with communities which have participated in the show and contacting the Better Business Bureau. The communities she has spoken to are satisfied, she said, and the company has a good rating with the bureau.
No contract has been signed yet, she noted, and the group of community partners will meet Friday for the first time to discuss the plan.
Meanwhile, Carl Bannister, the city’s chief administrative officer, said the initiative is the economic development society's and he believes the society has already done a fair amount of due diligence. As far as the city’s participation goes, he said, “we are asking Lana at economic development to complete her due diligence on this before any city funds are put towards it.”
He said if circumstances require it, he will report back to city council.