TORONTO – Rogers has received CRTC approval to launch a local, 24-hour news channel in the Greater Toronto Area.
Programming for the new channel will consist of local news, traffic, weather, business, sports and entertainment information “devoted exclusively to residents in the Greater Toronto and commuting areas”, the decision read. The channel will also include news items from other Rogers owned media properties including The Fan 590, 680News, Sportsnet, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Rogers publishing division (With titles like Maclean’s, Flare, Chatelaine and Canadian Business).
"We are extremely pleased with the CRTC decision today," says Jamie Haggarty, executive vice-president of operations for Rogers Media Television. "Torontonians and residents of the GTA will now be able to enjoy greater diversity when it comes to local news, weather and sports. Citytv’s unique brand of news and information, complimented by our ethnically diverse OMNI stations is the perfect combination to deliver a full-time channel committed to the local perspective."
The channel will likely be operated out of the Rogers facilities at Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. There was no launch date announced for the category 2 digital licence, but expect it in 2009.
For details on the CRTC decision, click here.
