Two organizations "have approached Roche Securities of
Edmonton about possibly buying" the NHL Oilers "then re-
selling 40 to 60 percent in a public-share offering,"
according to Ron Chalmers of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. Ray
Johnston, Roche Securities Corporate Finance Manager, would
"not identify the organizations and has not spoken to
Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington." But Johnston "thinks an
existing public or private company or community group could
complete Pocklington's original plan to sell a large
minority interest through a share offering -- with one
difference: Pocklington would no longer be the majority
owner" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/11).
OFF THE AIR -- FOR NOW: CFRN-TV "will not pick up the
automatic one-year renewal of its five-year contract with
Molstar Sports and Entertainment" to telecast Oilers games,
according to Ray Turchansky of the EDMONTON JOURNAL. That
move leaves ITV and the A-Channel, slated to go on the air
in September, "to vie for the last year in the deal."
Still undecided is whether CFRN "will have to make up the
shortfall between the $2 million a year it was paying and
whatever the new carrier will pay, which is assumed to be
somewhat less" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 6/11).