CRTC Approves Rogers Acquisition of Citytv
Toronto – September 28, 2007 – Rogers Media today announced that the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) has approved the agreement under which Rogers Broadcasting, a Rogers Media subsidiary, will acquire five Citytv conventional television stations from CTVglobemedia Inc. These assets are currently under the control of Mr. John D. McKellar, C.M., Q.C., Trustee under a Voting Trust Agreement in respect of CHUM Limited. The Citytv network includes Citytv Toronto (CITY-TV), Citytv Winnipeg (CHMI-TV), Citytv Edmonton (CKEM-TV), Citytv Calgary (CKAL-TV) and Citytv Vancouver (CKVU-TV). The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2007.
“We are delighted with the approval by the CRTC of our acquisition of the Citytv network. We are the successors to a proud tradition at Citytv and we will continue to nurture and develop one of Canada’s great brands in a way that builds on its intensely local, urban and diverse personality,” said Rael Merson, President of Rogers Broadcasting Limited (RBL).
RBL also announced that Leslie A. Sole, Chief Executive Officer of Television for Rogers Media, will assume operational responsibility for the Citytv stations, upon completion of the acquisition. “Leslie is one of the great innovative thinkers in Canadian broadcasting. The inimitable originality and creativity that Leslie brings will ensure that the Citytv stations prosper for the long-term,” said Mr. Merson. “Jamie Haggarty, Vice-President of Financial Operations for Rogers Media will oversee the transition with Leslie”.
“This is a very exciting time for the television broadcasting group at Rogers. The addition of Citytv to our broadcast portfolio gives us the platform and scale for a fresh and innovative approach to reaching diverse audiences in some of Canada’s largest markets.” said Leslie Sole. “The Citytv stations will complement our existing multicultural OMNI television stations in Ontario along with the impending launch of new OMNI stations in Calgary and Edmonton. Rogers also recently applied to the CRTC for approval of its acquisition of the Vancouver/Victoria multicultural station Channel M. The combination of our existing television properties with the Citytv stations gives us a national television platform that will continue our proud tradition of service to local communities.”
About Rogers Media Inc.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers Broadcasting has 51 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television properties include multicultural television broadcaster Rogers OMNI Television, which is a free over-the-air system consisting of four regional broadcasters; The Shopping Channel, a televised and electronic shopping service; Rogers SportsNet, Canada’s live event and high-definition leader, and the management of two digital television services. 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.
For further information:
Media – Andrea Gagliardi, (416) 260-3803 [email protected]
