Key Takeaways
- Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery signed multiyear deals with Canadian media company Rogers Communications to provide programming in Canada.
- Rogers said NBCUniversal’s Bravo will launch in Canada in September, while Warner Bros. Discovery shows will become available in January 2025.
- Rogers said the deals will advance the company’s position as a strong Canadian broadcaster.
Comcast’s (CMCSA) NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) signed multiyear deals with Canadian wireless, cable, and entertainment giant Rogers Communications (RCI) to provide programming to Rogers’ Canadian customers.
Rogers announced Monday that it will be launching NBCUniversal’s Bravo channel in Canada in September, and will become Bravo’s English-language television content rights holder in the country.
Starting in January 2025, Rogers will also offer Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of English-language U.S. lifestyle and factual brands, such as HGTV and The Food Network.
‘Best Mix of US and Canadian Content’
Rogers Sports & Media President Colette Watson said the company is “evolving our business to reflect where consumers are going, bringing the best mix of U.S. and Canadian content to audiences in the way they want to watch it.” She noted that the moves will also help Rogers advance its position “as a strong Canadian broadcaster that can compete with foreign streamers.”
Financial terms of the agreements weren’t disclosed.
Shares of all three media firms lost ground in early trading Monday before recovering somewhat in the afternoon. Comcast shares were 0.4% lower at $38.81 as of 3 p.m. ET. Monday, while Warner Bros. Discovery shares were down 2% at $8.10, and Rogers Communications fell about 1.5% to $38.18.