TORONTO – Rogers Media's OMNI Television plans to deliver even more hit Bollywood programming, community-focused multilingual newscasts, and exclusive cultural event coverage with the re-launch of OMNI.2 in Ontario. Beginning January 21, the new schedule for OMNI.2 will include an additional 35 hours of ethnic-focused programming featuring original multilingual documentaries, exclusive Canadian coverage of such favourites as the Indian Film Industry Awards, and of course more Bollywood shows. OMNI.2 is the only conventional station in the Ontario market to deliver all ethnic-focused programming says the company.
With an increased focus on content geared towards the Asian and South Asian communities, the new programming schedule reflects the changing face of Canada. The company notes that according to the most recent Statistics Canada data, more than 1.8 million people in Toronto report speaking a non-English or French language most often at home and among those individuals, approximately one-third spoke one of five languages: Cantonese, Punjabi, Chinese, Urdu, and Tamil.
"OMNI Television has a legacy of being entrenched in the diverse communities throughout Canada and our strategy to program all ethnic content on OMNI.2 in Ontario reaffirms our commitment to serving Canada's multilingual communities," said Madeline Ziniak, national vice-president, OMNI Television. "OMNI Television continues to be a leader – and trendsetter – in delivering multilingual programming and this refocused program schedule is designed to better reflect and meet the demands of Canada's changing demographics with a focus on Asian and South Asian content."
Weekdays from 5 to 10 p.m., OMNI News viewers can stay up-to-date with regional newscasts in Mandarin (5 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.), Cantonese (5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m.), and Punjabi (6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) and also South Asian community focused English-language newscasts at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Serving the growing Mandarin community, OMNI News: Mandarin Weekend Edition keeps viewers informed with local and international news on Saturdays at 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m.
The new OMNI.2 is adding weeknight prime-time broadcasts for all-things Bollywood including feature films, exclusive event coverage, and original series Bollywood Boulevard. Additionally, OMNI Television's Signature Series featuring original award-winning multilingual documentaries moves to a new prime-time slot Sundays at 7 p.m. ET. The refreshed schedule will also carry Shahs of Sunset, a docu-series that takes a look inside the lives of six, young, Persian socialites living in Los Angeles.
OMNI.2 also plans to ring in the Chinese New Year with a lineup of in-depth news coverage of festivities across Canada, along with movies and specials in Mandarin and Cantonese from February 9 to 17. Some of the highlights include Travelling in Chinese New Year, which explores how different regions across China welcome in the New Year, and a special broadcast of the popular CCTV Chinese New Year Gala from Beijing.
