Citytv Expands to Quebec; Rogers Media to Acquire Métro14 Montréal from Channel Zero
– Expansion reinforces commitment to providing premium content on a
 national scale –
– Reaches 1.1 million Canadian households; another step en route to
 becoming national network –
TORONTO AND MONTREAL, May 3, 2012 /CNW/ – Rogers Broadcasting Limited, a
 division of Rogers Media Inc., today announced its intent to acquire
 Métro14 Montréal (CJNT), enabling Citytv to expand its footprint in the
 key Quebec market and provide its premium programming to new audiences.
The deal reinforces Citytv’s commitment to expand its national reach and
 deliver its world-class content on a national scale.  With the
 acquisition of Métro14 Montréal, which reaches 1.1 million Canadian
 households, Citytv is now available in 9 million homes throughout the
 country.
The agreement is currently pending regulatory approval with a decision
 expected in fall 2012.  In the interim, Citytv and Métro14 Montréal
 today also signed an affiliate agreement in which Citytv programming
 will air on the station, beginning June 4 through closing, with Citytv
 selling the inventory.
Today’s announcement follows the previous Rogers Media agreement to
 acquire Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) in January 2012, as
 Citytv continues to target national reach and compete more effectively
 with other national broadcasters.
“Breaking into this market with the acquisition of Métro14 Montréal is a
 key ingredient of our overall strategy to deliver our content to a
 national audience.  It is our goal to become a full national network in
 the near future, and this is without question, an aggressive and
 essential step in the right direction,” said Scott Moore, President,
 Broadcast, Rogers Media.  “Having a direct presence in Quebec offers a
 more consistent and reliable viewing experience with local and acquired
 programming not available on any other network.”
The programming lineup will feature marquee original and acquired Citytv
 programming, such as CityLine, key prime-time hits New Girl, Hell’s Kitchen, 2 Broke Girls, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, and Revenge, the highly-anticipated The Bachelor Canada which launches this fall, daytime favourites, original documentaries,
 movies and specials.
“Initially, the thought of selling Métro14 at a time when we were seeing
 solid audience and revenue growth on the station didn’t seem to be the
 right course of action. However, after much consideration, we saw the
 sale of Métro14 to Rogers Media as a win-win,” said Cal Millar,
 President and COO, Channel Zero Inc.  “This transaction represents an
 excellent opportunity for Channel Zero to put itself in a position to
 take advantage of more immediate-term growth opportunities.”
About Rogers Media Inc.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI;
 NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting Limited and Rogers
 Publishing Limited.  Rogers Broadcasting has 55 AM and FM radio
 stations across Canada.  Television properties include five Citytv
 stations, five OMNI multicultural television stations, Sportsnet
 (consisting of four regional channels and the nationally-distributed
 Sportsnet ONE), and The Shopping Channel, a televised and internet
 shopping service.  Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer
 magazines, such as Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Flare, L’actualité, and
 Canadian Business, and is the leading publisher of a number of
 industry, medical and financial publications.  All media properties are
 integrated with their own popular websites.  Rogers Media Inc. owns
 Rogers Centre stadium, a year-round sports and entertainment facility,
 and the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club.
