Rogers Communications Acquires Major US TV Channels for Canadian Market

Rogers Communications is making waves with its latest acquisitions, setting the stage for a transformative change in Canadian television. The company has secured the content and branding rights to Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of U.S. lifestyle and factual brands, including HGTV, The Food Network, Magnolia Network, The Cooking Channel, OWN, Discovery, MotorTrend, Science, Animal Planet, and I.D.

Rogers invests to bring Canadians the most coveted sports and entertainment, said Colette Watson, President of Rogers Sports & Media. Starting January 2025, Rogers will be the new home for this content in Canada, taking over from Corus Entertainment and Bell Media which currently hold the licenses for these channels until the end of 2024.

Impacts on Corus Entertainment

This move shakes up Corus Entertainment’s operations significantly. Corus confirmed Warner Bros. Discovery informed them that some programming and trademark output arrangements would not be renewed after December 31, 2024. This change will affect channels like HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, Cooking Channel, Magnolia Network, and OWN.

Distribution and Availability

Starting January 2025, Rogers will make this content available across its platforms including Citytv+, Citytv, OMNI, FX, and FXX. Watson mentioned that Rogers is adapting its business to reflect consumer preferences by bringing the best mix of U.S. and Canadian content to audiences in the way they want to watch it.

Bravo Channel’s Canadian Debut

Additionally, Rogers is set to launch NBCUniversal’s Bravo channel in Canada this September. As the English-language television content rights holder for Bravo on this side of the border, Rogers aims to expand its entertainment portfolio steadily.

Strategic Vision and Future Outlook

Watson emphasized that Rogers’ strategy revolves around evolving their business to meet changing consumer behaviors while building a diverse media portfolio capable of competing with international streamers. As Watson put it,We know that our investment in high-quality, original content is paying off, indicating the success of these ventures.