Hailing the move as the ‘first-ever ethnic television’ in Alberta, Rogers Omni Television will launch two television stations to serve the increasingly diverse population of the province.
Broadcasting in more than 20 languages, Rogers Omni Alberta will debut in Calgary and Edmonton at 6 am MT on Monday, Sept. 15. Omni Calgary (CJCO) will air on cable channel 4 and over the air on channel 38, while Omni Edmonton (CJEO) will broadcast on cable channel 11 and over the air on channel 56.
‘We’re happy to be pioneering language television in two previously underserved areas at the same time,’ says Al Thorgeirson, regional VP of television for Rogers Media. ‘While we are breaking new ground with Rogers Omni Alberta, we are also offering community-focused programming in 20 languages to ethno-cultural audiences we feel will be highly receptive.’
‘Each Omni will have a strong focus on local news with a balance of local, regional and national perspectives as well as the opportunity to share ethno-cultural issues and stories throughout our evolving national television system – something we’ve never been able to offer before,’ explains Madeline Ziniak, national VP of Rogers Omni Television.
With more than 75 hours of ethnic programming each week, including locally produced newscasts each week day for the regional Cantonese, Mandarin and South Asian communities, Omni Alberta will specialize in multilingual/multicultural programming. It will include popular sitcoms and dramatic series along with Omni’s national schedule of Chinese Super Cinema and South Asian Bollywood Freetime Movies.
As well, the programming lineup will include independently produced documentaries in English and other languages, such as first-run Chinese and South Asian films.
