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WHITBY FREE PRESS PROGRESS EDITION, WEDNESDAY MARCH 2, 1983, PAGE SALUE TOPROGnEjS5 The past year was a: exclting ami challen@ Ing One for Pine Ridg, Cable TV, now known aý Rogers'Cable TV-Piný Ridge. The year Was spent ii preparation for'the de bufý of pay television ih inada, which made it officiai appearance ih February of 190M. The company's 55 employees have extend- ed their office hours tc meet the soaring de- mand for pay TV sub- seriptions, company spokesman Tom MeCut- cheon says. With the addition of three pay TV channels, Pine Ridge now offers 13 basic channels, and as many as 30 if subscrib- ers have converters. .Pine Ridge, along with other cable com- panies across Canada, was able to begin offer- ing three pay TV chan- nels after the Canadian Radio-television Tele- communications Com- mission (CRTC) ruled in, favour of bringing pay TV toCanada. Since that ruling came down late in 1981, Pine Ridge has« been preparing to offer Superchannel, First Choice and C Channel on its cable network. Ail three channels are commercial-free and can be purcbased for approximately. $15 per month, for a total of $45 for ail tbree stations. The 'channelà offer first-run movies at al bours of the day or night, variety specials, big sports events and the performing arts._ Although the implica- fions of conmnercial- free television will not be seen in Canada for some time, it bas been said that pay TV wil n encourage quality pro- 9-ductions to serve the e demands of its subscrib- s ing audience. le 1 For Canadian produc- ers, directors and per- n formers, pay TV could > mean the-beginning of a n boom in the Canadian s television industry. The n CRTC ruling stipulates 30 per cent of ail pro- gramming must be Canadian.- Although the termn *"Canadian content" can » simply mean running a Hollywood movie that stars Donald Suther- land, Canadian artists hope to begin producing quality Canadian pro- ductions for pay TV. The advent of pay TV is just one more step in the ongoing growth of Pine Ridge. Since its beginning in 1966, Pine Ridge has grown from having 31 subscribers to a present total of more than 42,000 subscribers and more than 55 emn- ployees. Pine Ridge boasts more than 550 miles of underground cable ser- vinig about 75 per cent of the housebolds in its licensed area., Local programming is featured on the com- pany's Cablecast 10 charnel,' which airs about 600. local pro- grains each year. .Cablecast offers a, free community calen- dar for local communty groupa to publicize their upcoming events. As weil, the comnpany bas a complete production studio at its office at 301 Marwood Drive in Oshawa. With the expansion of its services through pay TV, Pine Ridge is look- ing forward to a busy and productive year in 1983. Corntoe (firh page 4) one, employee, to bis present size of 5,000 square feet and six full- time employees. He recently opened a showroom at the front of the plant, which dis- plays the many produc- ts manufactured at Cor- nerstone Marble. Although he serves plumbing and building suppliers, cabinet makers and renovators from Scarborough to Kingston, Mr. Rasmus- sen bopes to increase distribution in the Wbit- by market and tbrougb- out the Durham region. Altbough everyone is welcome, the showroom bas been designed to serve the professional and trades personnel lnvolved in the building industry. Mr. Rasmussen says that, "cultured marble not only adds eye appeai - It adds seil appeal. "_' Cultured marbie has be- come an increasingly popular upgrade option in the residential and condominium market. In1 keeping with the company's progressive attitude, Mr. Rasmus- sen bas recently acquired distribution rights for the new' "Dynamic"' water pro- cessor whicb he states wiil remove ail bacteria and 92 per cent or more of ail harmful chemicals from your drinking water. The purifier is a two stage under the counter filtration system that can be in- stalled in a few minutes and can be used in your apartment, bouse, cot- tage, boat or trailer etc. Mr. Rasmussen and bis staff extend an invi- tation for everyone to visit their displays at the Oshawa Home Show in midAprhl. Ce»)Rogers CabIeTV-.Pine. Ridge WE'VE GRO.WN TOGETH ER Pmne Ridge makes Pay TV debut m FIRSTCUIOICI--' 1 Yesterday... Rogers Cable TV-Pine Ridge 'was founded in 1966 with 31 subscrib- ers and a choice of seven cable television channels. m With new sei-' Ices such as the 3 Pay TV channels the future of cable television is indeed bright. Subsoribers are now entering a new era in home entertainment. New technologies now bring premium entertainment into your home at affordable prices. ROGERS CABLE TV WILL CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE BEST THAT THE FUTURE HAS TO OFFER. Than'k You For Making Ut Possible. e>») Rogers Cable TV- Pîene Ridge 301 Marwood Drive, Oshawa SToday... Your cable television company ser- ves over 42,000 households, repre- senting some 75% of the members of our community. Todays cable subscribers can choose from basic cable service, converter service plus twenty-one FM stations, ail of- fering the best in home entertain- ment. cchannel