Canada’s commercial broadcasters are anxiously waiting for a decision by the broadcast regulator CRTC due on July 6 that could throw a lifeline to local television stations.

Both Canwest and CTVglobemedia want to dispose of some local stations, either by finding a buyer or closing them down.

The CRTC decision comes against a background of fears about the loss of local programming, which broadcasters blame on rising costs, lower advertising revenues and fragmenting audiences.

The future for many of Canada’s local TV stations may be clearer by the end of Monday July 6.