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Home | About OMNI Television
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About OMNI Television
OMNI Television Broadcast License
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OMNI CRTC renewal supplementary brief
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CRTC reply February 23, 2009
About OMNI.1
OMNI.1, Canada's first free over-the-air multilingual/multicultural television system, was licensed in 1979 as Channel 47 in Toronto. Rogers Broadcasting Limited acquired controlling interest of OMNI.1 in 1986.
Since its inception, OMNI.1 has expanded its reach to approximately 90% of viewers in the province of Ontario. OMNI.1 is also available to viewers across Canada via cable systems served by ExpressVu satellite distribution systems and in the province of Quebec, via Star Choice and Look TV.
As a leading provider of ethnocultural television programming, OMNI.1 broadcasts 60% of its programming in no less than 15 languages to communities encompassing more than 18 cultures. Its ongoing commitment to reflecting the evolving needs of its diverse audience is evidenced by a regular production schedule that sees more than 22 hours of original multilingual programming produced each week - including a one hour Italian language newscast on weeknights, and a Portuguese language newscast that airs each weekday.
With 40% English language programming, OMNI.1 plays host to the best of talk shows and the best of comedy!
From Maury to Montel; from The Simpsons to The Late Show with David Letterman - everybody loves the talk and the laughs on OMNI.1!
* Channel placement varies from city to city.
Please consult your local listings or your cable provider.
About OMNI.2
OMNI.2 launched at 6:00 a.m., Monday, September 16th, 2002, on channel 44, cable 14 (*). Effective April 14, 2004, OMNI.2 moved from channel 44 to channel 69 to ensure an improved over-the-air broadcast signal for viewers who rely on antenna systems.
As a companion diversity channel to OMNI.1, OMNI.2 provides programming in 20 additional languages, for 22 more ethnocultural groups, and airs no less than 70% of its total programming overall in language - more than 80% in peak prime time. OMNI.1 now principally serves the local European, Latino and Caribbean communities, while OMNI.2's programming reflects the local Pan Asian and African population.
"The ethnic population in Toronto/Hamilton is growing rapidly, at about twice the rate of the population as a whole. By 2011, over 68% of the people living in the Toronto area will be of ethnic origin," says Madeline Ziniak, Vice President and Station Manager of Multilingual Television, Rogers Television. "The launch of OMNI.2 on the analog dial will mean accessibility to more ethnic programming for more ethnocultural groups, in more languages, free, over-the air."
Local viewers in the South Asian community have seen an enhanced schedule of programming, marked by several firsts -- including the debut of a nightly one-hour newscast. OMNI NEWS: South Asian Edition airs in English-language each weeknight. On Sunday afternoons, OMNI.2 presents OMNI Freetime Movie, an array of new and classic Bollywood feature films, many for the first-time on terrestrial (non-satellite) television. OMNI.2 has also introduced new programmes in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Punjabi, to further expand the diversity of freely accessible South Asian programming for the local audience.
For viewers in the Chinese community, OMNI.2 offers increased programming hours per week, including - another first -- a new 30-minute Mandarin language newscast every weeknight. There are additional, diversified hours of Cantonese language programming, including quality documentaries, original new projects and the re-introduction of community affairs programming. Established Cantonese-language programmes remain in their familiar timeslot.
In answer to the developing information needs of the local Pan African/Asian audience, OMNI.2 introduced a dozen, independently produced language programmes, includling Afghan, African (English and French), and Somali. OMNI.2 has since added programming for the Urdu and Turkish language communities, bringing the combined total of independent productions aired on OMNI.1 and OMNI.2 to 27 -- more than any other Canadian broadcaster.
* Channel placement varies from city to city.
Please consult your local listings or your cable provider.
