Bingo could be NACTV's saviour

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Published on Wednesday, October 1, 2014

NAC-TV board members Hector Swanson and Ivan Traill (seated).

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

With its future uncertain, NAC-TV’s board members hope that a new fundraiser will give the station some much needed financial stability. On Oct. 7, the local access television station will bring TV bingo back to the Neepawa area.

 “It’s probably make or break for us… If it [the bingo] goes the way we hope, it could be a savior, to have money coming in each week,” said NAC-TV general manager Ivan Traill. Traill explains that the profits from bingo will be used to help the station set up in a new location as well as upgrade equipment.  

The station has been told by their landlord, the Town of Neepawa, that they will have to move next summer. The Town’s final plans for the building aren’t known, but it requires extensive renovations. A move would not only require the organization to spend money moving, but they would have new capital costs to get set up, including microwave links to replace the wires that connect the station to the tower on top of Yellowhead Manor as well as to the Roxy for live broadcasts.  

Without a steady stream of income, they wouldn’t even consider borrowing to cover these initial costs. Without the income from a successful bingo, Traill said, “If we have to move… we won’t set up again.”

Traill said that the fundraiser was made possible by the Neepawa Lions Club, who donated their bingo machine and equipment to the station.

Bingo chair, NAC-TV board member and Access 2 Books manager Hector Swanson explains that bingo cards will go on sale Oct. 1. They will be available in 21 communities across Westman, including Brandon, Minnedosa, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie. The games will be broadcast live every Tuesday on NAC-TV, the internet and CJ Radio. The television broadcast will be available on Westman Cable 12, MTS 30 and Bell 592.

Swanson explains that the card packs will contain three Bonanza cards, for Game One, and six cards for Games Two and Three. The first bonanza will be a blackout in 50 numbers.  The minimum jackpot will be $2,500 and it will accumulate. Game Two will be an X on the board, while Game Three will be a continuation of Game Two using the same card. 

Swanson and Traill explain that once the game becomes more established, the prizes will grow according to ticket sales.

A full list of card vendors and games is available at neepawaTV.com as well as by phoning NAC-TV.

Oct. 2: Correct date Bingo will take place