Rogers Sports & Media

Operations

Main article: List of assets owned by Rogers Communications

Current television brands owned by Rogers include two television systems: the English-language Citytv, and the multicultural-oriented Omni Television. Other television brands owned by Rogers include CityNews 24/7 and TSC, as well as Canadian versions of FX, FXX, Bravo, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, and Magnolia Network.

The Sportsnet family of channels, which began as a group of regional sport channels, now serves as the de facto sports programming brand and division for Rogers.

In addition to television, the Rogers Radio division owns 55 stations across Canada.

History

Background, formation, and early expansion

Rogers Media was established in 1960 when Ted Rogers and Joel Aldred acquired CHFI. The origins of Rogers can be traced to 1927 when Edward S. Rogers Sr. launched a radio station that would eventually become CFRB.

In August 1925, the name Rogers came into view on the Canadian broadcasting scene with the introduction of the Rogers Batteryless Radio at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. This invention was made with new tubes by Edward S. (Ted) Rogers, who invented them. Rogers Sr founded the holding company Standard Radio Manufacturing Corporation Ltd. During the year 1927, the first ever seen radio broadcasting transmitter was built by Edward Rogers. This was a big deal because it operated from power lines without the assistance of batteries or converters. Rogers Batteryless was born from this invention.

In 1939, Edward Rogers died, and his son was only six years old. The Rogers family had involvement in Canada's broadcasting until about the mid-1940s; Velma, Edwards's wife, sold her shares away in Standard Radio Limited. Sixteen years later, the business would resurface again due to the son of Edward Rogers, Ted.

Rogers Media business began in 1960, when Ted borrowed $85,000 to buy Canada's first FM radio station, CHFI. That year, Rogers and Aldred formed Baton Aldred Rogers Broadcasting (a forerunner to present-day competitor Bell Media) when it acquired the license for CFTO-DT, which launched the following year. In 1962, Rogers bought Aldred's shares of CHFI, which changed its name to CHFI-FM Limited, then Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. By 1964, CHFI-AM, which would eventually become CFTR went on air.

In 1986, Rogers acquired CFMT, Canada's first multicultural station. It also received many stations from Selkirk Communications in 1989.

In the most significant acquisition to date, Rogers Media acquired the assets of Maclean Hunter broadcasting properties in 1994. It later resold various properties to Western International Communications and sold CFCN-TV to Baton Broadcasting Inc in 1996.

In 2000, Bell GlobeMedia acquired NetStar, the parent company of TSN, and ultimately divested their stake in Sportsnet, making it a sister channel to CFMT and giving them full ownership.

2007–2013: Acquisition of Citytv and The Score

In June 2007, as part of CTVglobemedia's acquisition of CHUM Limited, Rogers announced its intent to acquire its Citytv stations. CTV had originally intended initially intended to sell CHUM's A-Channel stations and several other specialty channels to Rogers. Still, the CRTC required the Citytv stations to be divested to comply with major-market ownership restrictions. CTV maintained ownership of flagship Toronto station CITY-TV's local news channel CP24, prompting Rogers to establish its own short-lived CityNews Channel in 2011 as a substitute, in cooperation with CITY-TV and sister news radio station 680 CFTR. The network folded in 2013.

On January 16, 2008, the CRTC rejected an application by Rogers to establish a new rock radio station in Parry Sound, citing that it would have a disproportionately negative impact on its North Bay stations and local competitor CKLP-FM/.

Rogers acquired a minority interest in the web-based video production firm Vuguru in 2009. In 2010, Rogers received CHST-FM in London, Ontario, from CTVglobemedia.

In 2011, Rogers announced a partnership with FX Networks to launch a Canadian version of FX. The channel was launched as FX Canada on October 31, 2011, with FX Networks acquiring a minority stake later that year.

On August 25, 2012, Rogers Media acquired Score Media's broadcast business, including The Score Television Network, for $167 million, including a 10% stake in its digital business. The network has since been rebranded as Sportsnet 360.

2013–2017: NHL, WWE, and Vice deals

On November 26, 2013, Rogers announced that it would become the exclusive national media rightsholder for the National Hockey League (NHL) beginning in the 2014–15 season under a 12-year contract valued at $5.2 billion. This gave Rogers rights to broadcast national telecasts on the Sportsnet networks and CBC Television (the latter as part of a sub-licensing agreement to maintain Hockey Night in Canada) and handle distribution for the NHL's out-of-market packages.

On April 1, 2014, a Canadian version of FX's younger-skewing sibling network, FXX, and the "FXNOW Canada" app were launched.

On August 1, 2014, Rogers reached a deal with American professional wrestling promotion WWE. An expansion of Sportsnet 360's existing deal with the promotion as The Score, the network would continue to be the exclusive broadcaster of WWE's weekly television programming, while Rogers would distribute the linear feed of the WWE Network.

In October 2014, Rogers announced a $100 million joint venture with Vice Media to establish a production studio in Toronto and launch Vice-branded television and digital properties in 2015. The following year, on November 5, 2015, Rogers and Vice announced that it would launch a Canadian version of Vice's specialty cable channel, Viceland, in Canada on February 29, 2016. The new channel would replace the Canadian version of Biography Channel; a brand which was also owned by Vice Media investor A+E Networks.

In September 2016, Rogers acquired Tillsonburg Broadcasting Company's CJDL-FM and CKOT-FM in Tillsonburg. In January 2018, Rogers announced its acquisition of CJCY-FM in Medicine Hat, Alberta, from Clear Sky Radio.

2017–2023: Sale and shuttering of assets

Following an announcement on July 5, 2017, and over two years after the shuttering of its U.S. namesake, the Canadian version of G4 shut down on August 31, 2017.

After Rogers pulled out of its venture with Vice, Viceland shut down on March 31, 2018.

In March 2019, Rogers announced that it would sell its remaining print publications, including Maclean's, Chatelaine, and Hello! Canada, Today's Parent, and the digital operations of former magazines Canadian Business and Flare to St. Joseph Communications.

In February 2020, Rogers Media was rebranded as Rogers Sports & Media to "more accurately [reflect] our mix of assets." However, the subsidiary's legal name did not change.

In November 2023, Rogers reached an agreement with Disney Streaming to handle advertising sales for the ad-supported version of Disney+ in Canada.

2024–present: New licensing agreements

On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) beginning in 2025. Under the agreement Rogers will hold the Canadian rights to WBD's factual brands, including Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery (ID), Magnolia Network, Motor Trend, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), and Science Channel. Content will be distributed via new and existing Rogers platforms, including its television networks and Citytv+. Rogers also announced an agreement with NBCUniversal to relaunch Bravo in Canada in September 2024. Rogers' agreement with WBD succeeds long-time partnerships the latter company had with Bell Media and Corus Entertainment, while the Bravo relaunch would be Rogers' third collaboration on a TV channel with Comcast after the launches of OLN and G4 in Canada.

In a statement to The Gazette media writer Steve Faguy, a Bell Media spokesperson stated that their agreements with Discovery "includes protections against the launch of competing services", and that they "fully intend to assert our rights with a view to protecting our business." Bell subsequently filed for a court injunction to prevent Rogers from operating channels under the relevant brands for at least two years after the Rogers deal takes effect, citing non-compete clauses in its outgoing agreement, along with monetary damages from both Rogers and WBD. Bell further alleged that Rogers induced WBD to break the non-complete clauses in question. Subsequently, Rogers filed documents asserting that WBD had failed to disclose the non-compete clauses to Rogers. On August 30, Bell said that in light of that revelation, it was no longer seeking monetary damages from Rogers, but would proceed with claims against WBD; including injunctive relief.

Corus also retaliated by filing a complaint with the CRTC in August 2024, accusing Rogers Communications as a whole of abusing a dominant position due to Rogers Cable offering the ad-supported version of Disney+ to Ignite TV subscribers, and promoting the service adjacent to Corus' Disney-licensed specialty services in the Ignite TV program guide. Rogers countered that Corus "has not kept up with the demands of Canadians and is now looking for the regulator to protect their broken business model" and accused Corus of forcing service providers to carry channels that consumers "no longer want to watch."

On August 28, Rogers announced its plans for how it will deploy the Warner Bros. Discovery factual brands: new specialty channels for the Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, ID, and Magnolia Network brands launched on January 1, 2025, while content from Animal Planet, Cooking Channel, Motor Trend, OWN, and Science Channel will stream on digital platforms such as Citytv+. Rogers would also confirm that OLN will be rebranded as Bravo on September 1.

Later in September, Rogers launched a new audio app known as Seekr, which carries radio stations and podcasts from across the Rogers Sports & Media division. The company will continue its existing partnership with Radioplayer Canada. On October 8, 2024, Bell announced that it had settled with WBD, agreeing to a renewal of its licensing agreements for HBO and Warner Bros. content on its streaming service Crave.

Notes

References

References

1. "Rogers Media | History of Canadian Broadcasting".
2. Jim Byers. (June 12, 2007). "Rogers buys Citytv stations". [[Torstar Corporation]].
3. Des. (2013-05-30). "Rogers shuts down CityNews Channel {{!}} Financial Post".
4. (January 16, 2008). "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-6 English-language FM radio station in Parry Sound". [[Gouvernement du Canada]].
5. (28 October 2009). "Rogers buys stake in web video firm Vuguru". [[CBC Canada]].
6. Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). (2010-12-22). "ARCHIVED - CHST-FM - Acquisition of assets".
7. [http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/864995/critically-acclaimed-fx-canada-launches-with-exclusive-free-view-for-digital-subscribers-starting-october-31 {{sic. Critically. -acclaimed FX Canada launches with exclusive free-view for digital subscribers starting October 31] {{Webarchive. link. (May 28, 2013 Canada Newswire October 25, 2011)
8. [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-783.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-783] CRTC December 16, 2011
9. (November 26, 2013). "NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'". Toronto Star.
10. (November 27, 2013). "Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion". The Globe and Mail.
11. "CBC partners with Rogers in landmark NHL rights deal". CBC Sports.
12. "Rogers scores national NHL TV rights for $5.2B". CBC News.
13. [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2014/01/14/rogers_goes_after_younger_audience_with_new_fxx_channel.html Rogers goes after younger audience with new FXX channel] [[Toronto Star]], January 14, 2014
14. (January 14, 2014). "Rogers Media Announces Launch of New Premium Specialty Channel FXX, April 1". Rogers Media TV Access.
15. Nowak, Peter. (2014-08-01). "Working from NHL playbook, Rogers locks down 10-year cable deal with WWE wrestling". [[Canadian Business]] Captured by: [[Wayback Machine]].
16. (2014-07-31). "Rogers and WWE® Announce Landmark Television and WWE® Network Agreement".
17. (October 30, 2014). "Rogers, Vice Media strike $100M deal to create Canadian content".
18. "Viceland content will be made in Canada, for a global audience". Rogers Media.
19. (October 30, 2014). "Rogers, Vice Media to partner on $100-million venture". The Globe and Mail.
20. "Vice Media to Launch Cable TV Channel in Canada". The Hollywood Reporter.
21. "Tillsonburg radio stations bought by Rogers communications". Postmedia Network.
22. [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-90.htm Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-90], ''CRTC'', April 5, 2017
23. [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-251.htm Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-251], ''CRTC'', July 13, 2017
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26. Vlessing, Etan. (January 22, 2018). "Viceland to Go Off the Air on Canada's Rogers Communications". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
27. (15 February 2018). "VICELAND – Revocation of licence". CRTC.
28. "Rogers Media Sells Remaining Print Titles, Including 'Maclean's,' To St. Joseph".
29. Rody, Bree. (2019-03-19). "St. Joseph acquires Rogers Media's magazine titles".
30. (2020-03-05). "Regulatory, Telecom & Media News - SAIT Broadcast Systems Technology course to fall under cuts".
31. (May 4, 2020). "ROGERS SPORTS & MEDIA DESIGN — 2025954". [[Canadian Intellectual Property Office]].
32. Hernandez, Andrea. (2023-11-02). "Rogers Sports & Media settles into the Mouse House".
33. (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops rights to HGTV, Food Network, Discovery and more from Corus, Bell". [[The Canadian Press]].
34. Thiessen, Connie. (2024-06-10). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell".
35. Faguy, Steve. (June 10, 2024). "Rogers kneecaps Corus, stealing Canadian rights to HGTV and Food Network". Fagstein.
36. Hudes, Sammy. (July 2, 2024). "Bell files injunction seeking to block Rogers from broadcasting Warner Bros. content".
37. Thiessen, Connie. (August 30, 2024). "Bell no longer pursuing damages from Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery beef". Broadcast Dialogue.
38. Thiessen, Connie. (2024-08-13). "Corus lodges CRTC complaint alleging Rogers abusing 'dominant position'".
39. Thiessen, Connie. (2024-08-28). "Rogers outlines plans to launch new channels".
40. (28 August 2024). "Rogers deal to shift Discovery Science, OWN, Animal Planet channels to streaming, on demand".
41. Thiessen, Connie. (2024-09-10). "Rogers Sports & Media launches Seekr app".
42. Whittock, Jesse. (2024-10-08). "Bell Expands Warner Bros Discovery Pact For HBO & Max Content And Ends Legal Action Over Rogers Deal".