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Rogers Media builds momentum this fall, bowling over closest competitors across the country

– Citytv sees double-digit growth in key markets across the country –
– CityNews Channel already stakes claim among Top 5 digital networks in
Toronto

– Sportsnet takes larger share of sports audience nationally, growing
14% P2+* –

– Excitement builds for eagerly-awaited launch of FX Canada on October 31

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2011 /CNW/ – Rogers Media Inc. is the media player with the most momentum this fall as its family of networks
continue to experience success and growth across all platforms. From
quality programming to network rebranding to highly-anticipated channel
launches, Rogers Media Inc. has established itself as the media company
on the cutting edge of premium content and innovative development.

“With the success of our primetime programming on Citytv, the launch of
Canada’s Got Talent, CityNews Channel and Sportsnet rebranding, as well
as the upcoming addition of FX Canada, we are thrilled with the growth
of Rogers Media over the past few months,” commented Scott Moore,
President of Broadcasting, Rogers Media Inc. “We have been putting all
of our efforts into developing an innovative, diverse and competitive
group of offerings. We are very proud that our results can speak for
themselves.”

Launching with one of the biggest fall seasons to date, Citytv has
delivered the highest-rated comedies and dramas in network history – 2 Broke Girls and Terra Nova, respectively, with Terra Nova outperforming CTV’s The X-Factor in all major English metered markets. Several of its new series have
received early pickups including critical darling New Girl, deliciously intriguing drama Revenge, hilarious comedy 2 Broke Girls and cheeky comedy Suburgatory, to name a few. With the strongest and most daring lineup of the fall
season, Citytv has quickly become destination television that is bold,
young and edgy.

“Building upon our acquisition success of the spring, Citytv’s fall
lineup has outperformed our competitors on both a market and national
level, with series like Terra Nova that have lived up to the hype by
maintaining top ratings week after week,” said Malcolm Dunlop,
Executive Vice-President Programming, Rogers Media Television. “With
some of the highest rated new series of the fall, Citytv has proved it
is more than just a regional network and has levelled the playing field
in the Canadian television landscape.”

BBM Canada confirms Citytv outperformed CTV Two nationally this fall in
the key A18-49 and A25-54 demos and in all major English metered
markets (P2+). In addition, Citytv has experienced double-digit growth
in the Calgary and Vancouver markets by 15% and 17% (A18-49).

In addition to the success of Citytv this fall, other Rogers Media
properties have also made significant gains in recent weeks. CityNews
Channel is now among the Top 5 digital networks in the
highly-competitive Toronto market. Launching on October 3, the only HD
24-hour news channel in Toronto continues to bring viewers breaking
news coverage that goes to the heart of issues that matter most.  Also,
the newly-branded Sportsnet has experienced dramatic growth, taking a
larger share of the national sports audience with its coverage of key
sporting events.

Rogers Media Ratings Highlights:

  • Citytv bests CTV Two nationally in key demos A18-49 and A25-54
  • Citytv has six of the top 10 performing new series of the fall in
    Toronto, including #1 new series Terra Nova, Person of Interest, New Girl, 2 Broke Girls, Revenge and Suburgatory
  • Double-digit growth in the key markets of Calgary and Vancouver, up 15 %
    and 17% (A18-49) respectively over last year
  • In less than one month, CityNews Channel has jumped into the digital
    network Top 5 as Toronto’s only 24-hour HD news service, ranking #3
    (A18-49) and #4 (A25-54)
  • In primetime, Sportsnet is up 22% (P2+) to this point in the 2011-12
    broadcast year, while closest competitor TSN is down 9% (P2+)*

About Rogers Media Inc.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI;
NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers
Broadcasting has 55 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television
properties include 5 Citytv stations, 5 OMNI Television multicultural
television stations, 2 digital channels G4 and The Biography Channel,
as well as specialty channel, OLN. Sportsnet, the Canadian leader in
NHL and MLB broadcasts, is comprised of five channels, all of which are
available nationally and in high definition. 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 marketing, medical and financial publications. All media
properties are integrated with their own popular websites. Rogers Media
also owns The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, a
year-round sports and entertainment facility.

Source:  BBM Canada, Sept.19 – Oct. 9, confirmed data
* BBM Canada, Aug 29Oct 10, 2011 confirmed data, M-S 6p-11p.