Rogers Media to Acquire Métro14 Montréal from Channel Zero

TORONTO AND MONTREAL – 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.

- 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 -

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.

For further information:

Media Contacts:
Andrea Goldstein, Rogers Media, andrea.goldstein@rci.rogers.com; w-416-935-5962

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Posted by WoodlawnPost on May 4 2012. Filed under Film & TV, URBAN ENT.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.