TORONTO, March 31 /CNW/ - Rogers Media today announced that the Canadian
Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved the
agreement under which Rogers Broadcasting, a Rogers Media subsidiary, will
acquire Vancouver's free over-the-air ethnic station, channel m (CHNM-TV) from
Multivan Broadcast. The transaction is expected to close on April 30, 2008.
"We are delighted with the approval by the CRTC of our acquisition of
channel m. The Rogers OMNI Television group will continue to illustrate
Canada's ongoing commitment to a media landscape that reflects our
multicultural and multilingual history," said Leslie A. Sole, Chief Executive
Officer of Television for Rogers Media. "channel m is a well run local
television station that is a welcome addition to the Rogers family of
television channels."
Beginning in the fall of 2008, the two OMNI Television channels in
Toronto/Ottawa/London (OMNI.1 and OMNI.2) will be joined by the newly licensed
OMNI channels launching in Calgary and Edmonton. As a result of today's
decision, channel m will become an OMNI channel and will continue to serve the
diverse communities of Vancouver and Victoria. The expansion and collaboration
of OMNI properties across the country provide Rogers with a national platform
for ethno-cultural audiences and advertisers.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI;
NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers
Broadcasting has 52 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television
properties include 5 Citytv stations as well as the OMNI multicultural
television stations. Rogers Sportsnet, Canada's live event leader, offers
viewers four channels and Sportsnet HD and the Shopping Channel is 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 web sites. Rogers Media also owns The Toronto Blue Jays
Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, a year-round sports and entertainment
facility.