A suitor for Valley Cable’s parent lost a request.

Slaight Communications previously reached an agreement to buy 49% of Standard Broadcasting for $21.50 Canadian--$15.75 U.S.--from Hollinger Argus Ltd. and to make a tender offer for the remaining 51% at the same price. On Wednesday, Selkirk Communications of Toronto reported tentative plans to offer $24 Canadian ($17.50 U.S.) a share for all of Standard’s stock. But Selkirk sought approval from the Ontario Securities Commission to sidestep an agreement intended to thwart a second company from bidding for Standard, which owns Valley Cable. Rafe Engle, president of Selkirk, strongly hinted that his company will go ahead with its proposed offer. At current exchange rates, that offer would be worth $104 million. Chatsworth-based Valley Cable serves 56,000 customers in the San Fernando Valley.