CTV Takes on Consumer Advocacy Issues with STEELE ON YOUR SIDE, Launching Oct. 20

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VANCOUVER (October 16, 2013) – CTV British Columbia today announced the launch of STEELE ON YOUR SIDE, a new half-hour weekly series that puts consumer issues to the forefront, airing Sundays at 3:30 p.m. beginning Oct. 20, and available on demand at bc.ctvnews.ca immediately following the broadcast. Award-winning consumer reporter Lynda Steele anchors the 13-episode series, expanding on CTV News’ popular nightly consumer segment “Steele On Your Side”, and continuing a long tradition of helping consumers make informed decisions about the products and issues that affect their pocketbooks. The new expanded format offers a roundup of the latest “Steele on Your Side” stories, along with the week’s top consumer stories locally and across the country.

“It is a great honour and extremely gratifying to serve as a consumer champion and advocate to B.C. viewers,” said Steele. “Our commitment to consumers is simple: inform and enrich their buying experience, challenge those that would cheat or take advantage of the honest consumer, and host an ongoing, informative consumer-centric dialogue to help people make educated choices when it comes to spending their hard-earned money.”

In the series opener, STEELE ON YOUR SIDE tackles topical feature stories ranging from cookware that allegedly melts when heated to a 3D printed toothbrush that promises to clean teeth in just six seconds.

Earlier this year, “Steele on Your Side” garnered the attention of the 2013 Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTDNA), scooping the Ron Laidlaw Award for Continuing Coverage for its “Faulty Washers” segment. Steele’s in-depth investigation into a series of defective Whirlpool washing machines uncovered flooding problems with one of Whirlpool’s most popular washer models, forcing the world’s largest appliance manufacturer to pay the expensive insurance deductibles of dozens of affected consumers and issue a public apology.

“The economy is, by far, the single most important issue for most people, and I think that’s why Lynda has such an impact. Every single day, she helps people save money, find the best products, and avoid being ripped off,” said Ethan Faber, Managing Editor, CTV British Columbia. “For 15 years, CTV has been the only newscast in Vancouver covering pocketbook issues every night, and now we’ll be the first and only station with a whole show on consumer news. We’re very excited to expand this important service for our viewers.”

STEELE ON YOUR SIDE welcomes consumer tips, feedback on stories, questions and pitches by email at steeleonyourside@ctv.ca, or 604.609.2345.

Social media links:

Twitter:

@CTVLyndaSteele
@darcynews

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ctvlyndasteele

About CTV News

CTV News is Canada’s most-watched news organization both locally and nationally and has a network of national, international and local news operations. CTV News operations include CTV NEWS CHANNEL, BNN – Business News Network, CP24 and information programming, including CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH LISA LAFLAMME, CTV NATIONAL NEWS WITH SANDIE RINALDO, CANADA AM, W5, POWER PLAY and QUESTION PERIOD. With a perspective that is distinctly Canadian, CTV News brings Canadians the international and domestic news stories of the day and is the #1 news organization in Canada.

– CTV –

For more information:

Darcy Wintonyk, Producer, CTV British Columbia, 604.609.5800 or darcy.wintonyk@bellmedia.ca
Patricia Garcia, Bell Media, 416.384.2645 or patricia.garcia@bellmedia.ca