TORONTO – Political and business leaders across the continent are expressing their tributes to Rogers Communications founder Ted Rogers, who died early on Tuesday, December 2nd.
Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO, Comcast:
“My father and I had the honor of knowing and working with Ted for many years, and his passing is a sad day for all of us. Ted was a giant in the history of cable television and telecommunications in North America.
“Ted’s passion, especially for new technology, was contagious. I always looked forward to his frequent visits to Philadelphia when we would share ideas and test new technologies. He was a devoted family man as well. When he entrusted his son, Edward, to us for one of his first jobs in the cable industry, I think my father felt that was one of the highest compliments he ever could have received. Ted was a good friend and a loyal business partner, and we will miss him tremendously.”
Ivan Fecan, CEO CTVglobemedia:
“Ted Rogers was one of the greatest entrepreneurs and builders our country has ever seen. I admired him enormously. For us at CTVglobemedia, he was both a wonderful partner and very tough competitor. But at all times, he was a gentleman and his word was his bond. Our thoughts go out to his family and his employees. Ted always used to say: ‘the best is yet to come’. Today, that’s not true anymore."
Said Pierre Karl Peladeau, president and CEO, Quebecor Media, who did battle with Ted over ownership of cable company Videotron, but whose companies have also worked together on a number of projects:
"Today we honour the memory of a man who was not only a leader in telecommunications but also one of the greatest, if not the greatest, entrepreneur that Canada has known. Coming from a family of visionaries who also made their mark in the history of Canadian communications, Ted Rogers had a vibrant sense of entrepreneurship.
“He never feared forging ahead and he undertook enormous risks in a career crowned with great success. This is how he built one of the strongest businesses in the country. Ted Rogers was an exceptional human being and a great gentleman. The death of Ted Rogers is a loss for all Canadians."
Dr. Richard Green, president and CEO, CableLabs:
“The cable industry owes Ted Rogers an enormous debt of gratitude. His love for technology and its development contributed in many ways to the success that the industry has achieved. Ted pioneered many of the new technologies that brought leadership and distinction to cable. Rogers was the first company to offer cable modem service and initiate the transition from entertainment to telecommunication services. We are proud that Ted was a member and an integral part of the CableLabs governance for twenty years. We all mourn his passing. We will miss him. We have lost a special person and a great telecommunication pioneer and entrepreneur.”
Robert Depatie, president and CEO of Videotron:
"Not only was he a top-flight entrepreneur but his skilful leadership succeeded in ushering his company into the 21st Century brilliantly. He was an unparalleled leader. His contribution to the industry, his intelligence and his passion will be sorely missed."
Ian Greenberg, president and CEO, Astral Media:
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of my long-time friend and business hero Ted Rogers. He has always been and will remain an important source of inspiration, determination and leadership. Today, we mourn the loss of one of our industry and country’s greatest visionaries. Ted will be remembered as the founder and builder of one of the most important and respected companies in Canada, as well as one of the most ardent promoters of our culture and identity. I wish to express my deepest sympathy to his wife Loretta, as well as to the members of the family and to all of his colleagues."
Kyle McSlarrow, president and CEO, National Cable Television Association:
"The entire U.S. cable industry today mourns the loss of our friend, Ted Rogers, a great leader and visionary in cable telecommunications whose impact is felt well beyond his beloved Canada. Ted was a true pathfinder in the telecommunications industry, from his modest beginnings in radio to the unprecedented innovation he brought to cable television, high-speed Internet and wireless telephone services. Ted shared his pioneering vision with this industry for more than 40 years, as a provider of services in both the United States and in Canada, and through his longtime service as a member of the CableLabs board of directors. We will truly miss his passionate leadership."
Leonard Asper, president and CEO, Canwest Global:
"Ted Rogers will be remembered by us all not only as a competitor who played fairly but more importantly as a reliable business partner and personal friend. He was a great collaborator who helped shape and build the Canadian media landscape. Through his visionary leadership, he first pioneered the build out of the Canadian cable industry and almost single-handedly positioned Rogers as a leader in the wireless and broadband age. While his place in history is secure, the future will demonstrate even more the true impact of his life’s work. His business legacy will perhaps only be surpassed by his philanthropic work that will benefit Canadians forever."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper:
"Mr. Rogers was one of Canada’s greatest telecommunications entrepreneurs. His visionary business acumen was evident as early as 1960 when, as a law student in his mid-20s, he bought all the shares in Canada’s only FM radio station CHFI when only 5% of Toronto households had FM receivers. This prescient investment in FM radio led him to invest in cable television, wireless telecommunications, broadcasting and publishing. He paved the way for enhanced consumer service in areas such as the Internet and voice over internet.
"He touched the lives of countless Canadians outside of his business ventures through his generosity in professional sport, health care and education. He and his wife Loretta have made substantial contributions, including to Ryerson University and Toronto-area hospitals. Mr. Rogers was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1990, our country’s highest civilian honour.
"We will never forget one of our greatest Canadians."
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty:
"I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Ted Rogers. Ted leaves behind an astonishing legacy. He built Rogers Communications through sheer hard work and vision into one of the most successful media companies in Canada. In the process, Ted created thousands of jobs for Ontarians and served as an inspiration to business and community leaders in Canada and around the world.
“Ted and his wife Loretta have left an indelible mark on our communities through their generous support of numerous public institutions, including the University of Toronto, Ryerson University and many charities and hospitals. No matter what he did, whether it was through his philanthropic efforts, work in the community or his business, Ted always found ways to connect people to one another.
“Today my thoughts and prayers are with Ted’s many colleagues, friends and family members. I join with them in mourning his loss. He will be missed."
Canadian Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion:
“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Ted Rogers, founder and CEO of Rogers Communications… Mr. Rogers’ passion and dedication for the communications industry transformed him from entrepreneur to founder of one of the largest and most successful companies in the country. With his passing, Canada has lost a media giant.”
Glenn O’Farrell, president and CEO, Canadian Association of Broadcasters
“Equally deserving of as much tribute is his outstanding philanthropy and his outstanding sense of community and his outstanding commitment to country. He’s one of the best Canada has ever produced and we have to consider ourselves lucky to have shared space with him in the course of our lives.
“He was always extraordinarily generous to me. He was very much a person would could be counted on for straightforward advice and counsel and he always seemed to have a capacity to not only put his views forward but also the broader perspective of the industries at large – which was always instrumental in the way Rogers conducted itself.”
