Rogers Continues Nationwide Citytv Push

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will allow Rogers Media to acquire Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) later this month, and the new Citytv Saskatchewan will launch July 1.

Today’s announcement follows the previous Rogers Media program supply agreement with SCN, which took effect January 2012, in which SCN airs Citytv programming from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.

Citytv Saskatchewan marks the first official expansion for the brand in recent years, as Citytv moves towards a national footprint for its premium programming, Rogers points out. The Saskatchewan deal joins the operator’s expansion into the Montreal market, pending regulatory approval; Citytv programming recently became available long-term in Kamloops, B.C., Prince George, B.C., and Medicine Hat, AB. By this fall, Citytv will be available in eight provinces and will reach nine million homes.

"In this competitive landscape, it is paramount to expand Citytv’s reach to better serve Canadians and engage audiences across the country. We won’t stop until we reach our goal of becoming a fully national network," comments Scott Moore, president/Broadcast at Rogers Media. "With its growing economy, Saskatchewan is exactly the right market for the Citytv brand, and we’re excited to grow this service and become an active and integrated member of this robust community."

Maintaining all of SCN’s educational broadcast obligations, Citytv Saskatchewan will continue to air commercial-free educational content between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. For the rest of the day, Citytv Saskatchewan will air original and acquired Citytv programming. In addition, Rogers Media will offer Citytv Saskatchewan in high def within the coming year.

Citytv Saskatchewan will continue to operate out of Regina.