Astral and Rogers Team Up To Bring Customers More Ways to Watch the Hottest Shows and Family Favourites

New deal brings more TMN, HBO Canada, Mpix, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney choices to TV, Online and On Demand Platforms

TORONTO, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Astral, Canada's leading broadcaster of premium pay-and-specialty television services, and Rogers Communications Inc., the country's leader in video entertainment, announced today that they have entered into a new agreement that will bring Rogers customers even more of the exciting TMN, HBO Canada, Mpix, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney entertainment content they want, while also providing the freedom to watch this content anywhere, anytime, across virtually any screen.

Today's announcement delivers more of what customers are looking for in viewing entertainment. According to data from a Rogers Advisory Panel research report, Rogers customers consistently rank movies and HBO programming as their top choices for content they want to watch. The same polling finds that families with children under the age of nine are looking to the flexibility of on demand family programming as a key component of their entertainment experience.

Now, under the terms of this new content agreement, Astral's most popular programming from TMN, HBO Canada and Mpix will be available to Rogers customers with matching cable subscriptions, wherever and whenever they want with Rogers On Demand Online. Customers can log in to catch HBO Canada's latest award-winning, boundary-pushing series, films, live specials and sporting events, including the latest episodes and upcoming season finales of True Blood, Hung and Entourage and highly anticipated new series like Boardwalk Empire. In addition, customers will get Hollywood hit movies from TMN and hours of the ultimate collection of classic movies from Mpix - all free to customers who subscribe to the channels as part of their Rogers Digital Cable package.

In the coming weeks, Rogers will also launch Astral's renowned children's channel, Playhouse Disney, delivering more exciting kids' TV programming to young families. Committed to offering engaging, educational and development-based programming for younger children, Playhouse Disney offers exclusive, first-run programs from Disney together with celebrated Canadian series to create an environment for fun and learning and will launch as part of the popular Rogers Digital VIP cable package. Playhouse Disney will also be available on Rogers On Demand Online and as part of Rogers Family On Demand service. Family Channel, which has until now only been available on the linear platform, will now also be available on Rogers On Demand Online and On Demand, bringing the best of Disney programs such as Hannah Montana and Suite Life on Deck to Canadian families.

"Customers love entertainment and want to have the freedom to access the content they want, on their schedules, wherever they are," said David Purdy, Vice President, Video Products, Rogers Communications Inc. "We're thrilled to be working with entertainment giants like Astral to deliver more iconic, star-studded, smash hit-movies, shows and children's programming to Rogers customers, and give them new opportunities to enjoy that content in the way they want to enjoy it."

"Astral is thrilled to partner with Rogers to expand our offering through a truly multi-platform deal that capitalizes on Rogers's on-air, on-demand and online reach," said Domenic Vivolo, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Astral Television Networks. "Now Rogers customers can have even more access to the very best programming from sought-after entertainment brands such as Disney, HBO and Showtime, as well as Hollywood hit movies and our unparalleled original programming, through our networks TMN, HBO Canada, Mpix, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney Canada."

TMN, Mpix and HBO Canada will be available online beginning today. Family Channel will be available later this fall on Rogers On Demand Online and On Demand. Playhouse Disney will launch the linear service, on demand service and online service by the end of September. With the availability of new Astral content on Rogers On Demand Online and Rogers On Demand, Rogers customers currently have access to more than 10,000 hours of primetime, movies, series and sports entertainment from hundreds of top studios and networks available through Rogers' multi-platform On Demand offerings.

For more information about Rogers On Demand Online, visit www.rogersondemand.com. To find out more about Rogers Digital Cable offerings, visit www.rogers.com/digitalcable.

About Astral:

Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates over 100 of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

About Rogers:

Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com

SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.