TORONTO – Casino and Gaming Television Canada has been added to the Rogers Digital Cable lineup.
Rogers is the first operator in Canada to launch CGTV.
“CGTV is the first and only television network in North America celebrating the casino and gaming lifestyle, from around the corner to around the world,” says the press release.
“Informative and entertaining, CGTV is the one place on television where viewers can explore the casino and gaming experience first hand. From the best in local and international casinos, to local lottery retailers, to the living rooms of players everywhere, CGTV is a place to watch and learn the games that people love to play.”
CGTV showcases the glitz and glamour of the casino industry, taking viewers inside the gaming entertainment experience. It delivers the inside track on lotteries, sports wagering and fantasy sports leagues.
To be announced at a later date, CGTV will also provide a full suite of interactive television products including play-for-fun sweepstakes-based games or subscription based games.
These games will include virtual racing games, bingo games, keno type games and many more. CGTV Canada is on-line at www.cgtvcanada.com.
“We’re thrilled to launch CGTV Canada on Rogers Digital Cable,” says Terry Debono, CGTV’s co-founder and chief creative officer, and President of Boardwalk Media. “Our years of experience in the gaming industry and broadcast industry will allow us to leverage that knowledge into what we believe will be the most exciting channel on the dial. CGTV Canada brings the excitement of the casino and gaming lifestyle directly into the viewer’s living room, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
CGTV Canada is a partnership between the Kilmer Group, Len Stuart and Associates and the Debono Group. The network is operated by Insight Sports Networks, a division of Insight Sports Ltd.
“We’re ecstatic that CGTV is available to Rogers Digital Cable customers,” says Mark Rubinstein, president, Insight Sports Networks. “CGTV serves one of the fastest growing entertainment categories in Canada – and we look forward to working with Rogers on developing leading-edge interactive technology in the near future.”
“Rogers is thrilled to bring this service, at no additional charge, to our Rogers Digital Cable customers,” said David Purdy, Vice-President and General Manager, Television Services for Rogers Cable. “We provide our customers with a Personal TV experience, where they can watch what they want, when they want it, and with the growing popularity of this new channel, we know this programming genre will appeal to the varying interests of our customers.”
The partners of CGTV Canada (the most notable of which is construction magnate and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment co-owner Larry Tanenbaum) have investments in various sports, entertainment and gaming operations across North America. These include: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and the Air Canada Centre), NHL Network, The Score, Insight Sports, Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment (the largest licensed operator of Charitable Gaming Centres in Canada), Bingo King (the largest gaming ticket permutation printer in North America), the Royal City Star Casino in British Columbia, the Second City comedy clubs across North America and SCTV Television.
Also coming very soon from the folks at Insight is all-soccer channel GolTV and in December, the World Fishing Network. (www.goltvcanada.com, www.wfn.tv)
CGTV Canada is an associated company of Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment Inc. Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment is a partnership of Kilmer Group subsidiary Penbingo and Len Stuart. Boardwalk and its partners are the largest owner/operators of Charitable Gaming Centres in Canada with 25 facilities in Ontario and four in British Columbia.
Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment is the owner of Boardwalk Media. Boardwalk Media has four operating divisions: a leading Secured Gaming Private Network broadcast and production company that links pay to play gaming facilities across North America for various state and provincial governments; virtual private advertising networks in retail stores, restaurants and bingo centres via satellite or Internet Protocol (IP); a full service television production and distribution centre fully equipped with master control, edit facilities and production studio; and specialty gaming style promotions for various retail and entertainment based companies. The Boardwalk group of companies employ over 1,000 full and part-time staff.
Besides the assets already mentioned, Insight Sports has significant investments in Score Media Inc. (The Score) and NHL Network. As well, Insight Sports through it’s wholly owned subsidiary Aquila Productions, produces programming for broadcast television (Be A Player, The Business of Sports, CFL Crunch, ICE), in-arena scoreboards and DVD home entertainment (Gold Rush 2002, Ultimate Gretzky).
John Brunton, chairman, is also president and CEO of Insight Production Company Limited. (Canadian Idol, Falcon Beach, The Juno Awards). Insight Sports’ principal shareholders include Tanenbaum (Kilmer Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of Kilmer Van Nostrand), MWI & Partners, a private equity fund, and IMG, a global force in athlete representation and event management.
