Canwest Global Communications Corp. issued an unusual news release today.

It stated that its Victoria television station, CHEK-TV, has been sold to a local investor group.

But the news release did not identify those investors or release the purchase price. The news release hasn't been posted on Canwest's corporate site, either.

"Many dedicated individuals on both sides of the table came together and the result is that it has preserved jobs and service in the community," Canwest CEO Leonard Asper said in the news release.

He also said the winners are the people of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. The sale requires the approval of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

It's only on the CHEK-TV site where people can learn that the  employees were part of the winning  bid.

"The lights are staying on for CHEK TV with approval of an employee-led bid to buy B.C.'s oldest private station from Canwest Global Communications," CHEK-TV states on its site.

According to the CHEK-TV report, employees contributed $500,000 to a $2.5-million bid that Canwest rejected late last month. Canwest had threatened to close the station on August 31.