2006 news releases

SaskTel and Rawlco Radio Searching for Saskatchewan Stars

August 24, 2006

SaskTel and Rawlco Radio today announced the launch of the Saskatchewan Star Search.  SaskTel and Rawlco are partnering to provide the opportunity for Saskatchewan talent to win a $10,000 recording session, on-stage Rolling Stones tickets and the chance to perform at a pre-concert event at the Casino Regina on Sunday, October 8, 2006.

“With events such as the Junos, the Canadian Country Music Awards, and the Rolling Stones our efforts to showcase the province as a hotbed for music and the arts are paying off,” Deb Higgins, Minister Responsible for SaskTel said.  “This contest will allow Saskatchewan talent to showcase that the province also produces some of the greatest artists in the country.”

“As the presenting sponsor of the Rolling Stones concert, SaskTel is extremely pleased to add a Saskatchewan component when the most famous rock and roll show in the world comes to Saskatchewan,” Robert Watson SaskTel President and CEO said.  “SaskTel is committed to sponsoring events and organizations that contribute to the culture and social life of Saskatchewan and ultimately provide benefits to everyone in this province.”

“Rawlco Radio is proud to sponsor the Saskatchewan Star Search together with SaskTel.  The winner of this contest will receive a $10,000 recording session paid for by Rawlco,” said Rawlco President Pam Leyland. “There is nothing more meaningful to aspiring musical talent than to record their own music and hear it played on the radio.  Rawlco is pleased to help the winning artist or band accomplish both those goals.”

Ms. Leyland added, “In response to the tremendous success of Project 10K20 in Saskatchewan, Rawlco’s seven FM stations throughout the province are now playing 40% Canadian content.  Under CRTC regulations, 35% of a radio station’s music play list is required to qualify as Canadian content.  The decision to play more Canadian music on our FM stations was driven by the huge response to Project 10K20.  In total, 29 Saskatchewan artists and bands have each been awarded $10,000 from Rawlco to record their own CD.  Tracks from those discs are being played on our stations throughout the province.”

About SaskTel
SaskTel is the leading full service communications provider in the province offering competitive voice, data, internet, entertainment and multimedia services, web hosting, text and messaging services over a state-of-the-art digital network.  The Corporation also provides cellular and wireless data services, security monitoring services, directory services, in-room communications services to the healthcare sector through Hospitality Network, telecommunications consulting service through SaskTel International and an out-of-province sales and service channel in Alberta and British Columbia through Navigata Communications.  SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 permanent full-time employees.  Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

About Rawlco Radio
Rawlco Rawlco Radio is Saskatchewan’s largest radio broadcaster.  Rawlco owns and operates 12 radio stations in Saskatchewan:

• Z99 FM, 94.5 Jack FM and 980 CJME in Regina
• C95 FM, Rock 102 FM, and 650 CKOM in Saskatoon
• Power 99 FM, Mix 101 FM and 900 CKBI in Prince Albert
• Q98 FM and CJNB in North Battleford
• CJNS in Meadow Lake

Media Backgrounder

What is Saskatchewan Star Search?
SaskTel and Rawlco are partnering to provide the opportunity for a Saskatchewan talent to win a $10,000 recording session, on-stage Rolling Stones tickets for the Sunday October 8, 2006 performance and the chance to perform at a pre-Rolling Stones concert event at the Casino Regina on Sunday, October 8, 2006.

Saskatchewan artists can submit a recorded song to RAWLCO Radio anytime until 5 p.m. September 15, 2006. A panel of judges will select five finalists. The five finalists will then participate in a showdown at the Odeon Centre in Saskatoon on September 30, 2006 where they will perform LIVE before a panel of judges and the public. One winner will be selected that evening and will be awarded the $10,000 recording session courtesy of Rawlco Radio, on-stage passes to see the Rolling Stones including a backstage tour at the Sunday October 8, 2006 performance and an opportunity to perform LIVE at a pre-concert event in Regina on October 8 at the Casino Regina Show Lounge.

How do I enter?
Full contest details on how to enter the Saskatchewan Star Search contest and rules and regulations are posted on www.z99.com. For more information, you can contact any  Rawlco Radio station:
Regina: 525-0000
Saskatoon: 534-2222
Prince Albert: 763-7421
North Battleford: 445-2477