TORONTO – Bill Roberts, a 12-year broadcast veteran who built VisionTV into a specialty channel that reached 10 million Canadian homes and was head of S-VOX and most recently ZoomerMedia (TV), is calling it quits effective October 31, 2012.
During Roberts’ tenure he shaped VisionTV into Canada’s preeminent multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster. Seen in over 10 million households across Canada, VisionTV presents inspirational, insightful and original programming that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding among people of different faiths and cultures. Under Roberts’ leadership, VisionTV has grown to be among Canada’s top 25 specialty channels in audience awareness, attracting over two million viewers each week.
“For every success we had (ratings growth, financial turn-around, improved stake holder relations, increased BDU rates) — often in the face of very long odds — I owe a debt of enormous gratitude to my talented executive team, to the dedicated employees of VisionTV, to my generous industry colleagues, and of course to our loyal viewers,” said Roberts.
VisionTV has been recognized for programming quality with more than 150 nominations of excellence at Canadian and international festivals and awards ceremonies. These include an unprecedented streak of Canada Awards (Geminis) for achievement in multicultural programs, and the coveted “Employer of the Year” honour from Canadian Women In Communication (CWC).
“My time of stewardship at VisionTV, and of the growth of what became of parent company S-VOX has been a true and cherished privilege. VisionTV has clearly matured into what Parliament’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage recently lauded as a veritable national, public service broadcaster,” recalls Roberts.
Additional highlights during Roberts’ tenure include securing a coveted license for One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel and subsequently launching the network. And in 2009, Roberts aggressively pursued three over the air (OTA) stations in Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg from Rogers Media and successfully rebranded them as Joytv.
“Beginning November 1st, I’ll be looking forward to a brief period of ‘under employment’, then I hope to continue doing what one can to foster our unique broadcasting system and the laudable media aspirations within it,” added Roberts.
