TORONTO (January 15, 2004) - Beginning in February of 2004, OMNI Television will launch Canada: A People's History in Hindi and six other non-official languages, to ensure that Canadians whose language of comfort is other than English or French will have access to its highly educational, historical - and Gemini award-winning -- content. The Hindi version of Canada: A People's History will premier Sunday, February 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. on OMNI.2.

Viewers of OMNI.2's Badhai Ho! will recognize the voice of Geetika as narrator for the Hindi-language version of Canada: A People's History. Indeed, all 32 episodes of the epic documentary have been fully transcreated, with voiceover and subtitling, to provide a better understanding of Canada and its people for those who speak: Hindi, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Russian.

In addition to inviting more people to discover and explore the stories that have shaped our nation, OMNI's multilingual re-versioning of Canada: A People's History is timely. In the past century, Canada has welcomed more than 13.4 million immigrants with the greatest number arriving during the 1990s. From 1996 to 2001, Canada's Hindi speaking population increased by 68%, making it one of the fastest growing language groups in the country. As of 2001, 18.4% of Canada's population was born outside of the country. By 2011, people of ethnic origin other than English, French or Aboriginal will represent 68% of the population of Toronto, Canada's most ethnically diverse city.

Clearly, Canada's place as one of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world has been confirmed.

"Working on Canada: A People's History has been both a privilege and an education," says Geetika, host of OMNI.2's Badhai Ho! programme and voiceover on the Hindi-language version of Canada: A People's History. "I came to Canada just over two years ago and here I am speaking in my mother tongue to other Hindi-speaking Canadians - educating them about Canada while learning more about the country myself!"

"OMNI Television is proud to introduce Canada: A People's History to an entirely new audience of Canadians," said Madeline Ziniak, Vice President and Station Manager, OMNI Television. "As the authentic diversity broadcaster, we felt it was important to make Canadian history accessible to the ethnocultural communities that we serve. By airing this series in seven, non-official languages, OMNI is contributing to an informed future that is built on understanding our past."

All language versions of the series will conclude with a historical segment, in English, that will provide insights to the development and contribution of ethnocultural communities in Canada. OMNI is working with the Multicultural History Society of Ontario on the segments, which will reflect a total of 18 communities and feature interviews with historians, professors and members of the respective groups. In addition to Hindi, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Russian, ethnic groups whose stories will be told in these segments include Black, Filipino and Iranian.

"History has always been a passion of mine, more specifically the history of this great country," said Mark Starowicz, Executive Producer of the CBC's Canada: A People's History. "By having OMNI Television make this series available in so many languages, each concluding with a look at the contributions of various ethnocultural communities to Canada, truly reflects the true essence of our country, the diversity of its people and the yearning for all Canadians to know more about our history."
Just as OMNI Television is making Canada: A People's History accessible to non-official language audiences, the series itself appeals to all ages and generations. Accordingly, OMNI Television's website (www.omnitv.ca) will host an interactive microsite dedicated to promoting and enhancing the viewer experience. The site will provide episodic information as well as a number of interactive games by which viewers can test their knowledge of Canadian history.

OMNI Television, consisting of diversity television stations OMNI.1 (CFMT) and OMNI.2, is a free over-the-air system owned by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Media: Television division. Combined, the OMNI stations have significantly expanded the variety of languages, number of hours and choice of programming being offered for ethnocultural communities throughout the province of Ontario, providing programming in more than 40 languages to ethnocultural groups encompassing no less than 40 communities. With the launch of OMNI.2 in September 2002, ethnic programming on OMNI.1 (CFMT) now principally serves the local European, Latino and Caribbean communities, while OMNI.2's programming reflects the local Pan Asian and African population.

Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B; NYSE: RG) operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers Broadcasting has 43 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television properties include Toronto multicultural television broadcasters OMNI.1 (CFMT) and OMNI.2; televised and electronic shopping service, the Shopping Channel; regional sports channel, Rogers Sportsnet, and the management of three digital television services. Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer magazines such as Maclean's, Chatelaine, Flare, L'actualité and Canadian Business, and is the leading publisher of a number of trade publications. All media properties are integrated with their own popular web sites.



Media Contact:
Sandy Zwyer - Programme Information Coordinator, (416) 260-3590 sandy.zwyer@rci.rogers.com
Andrea Gagliardi - Director, Public Relations, (416) 260-3803 andrea.gagliardi@rci.rogers.com

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A Proud Indian Canadian