Omni Television History and Operations

Omni Television has a rich history that spans over five decades. The network was launched in 1974 as a private, commercial television station.

Omni Television's early years were marked by a focus on local content, with a significant portion of its programming consisting of Canadian productions. This emphasis on local content helped establish the network as a staple in Canadian television.

Omni Television operates as part of the Ethnic Channels Group, a Canadian media company that specializes in multicultural broadcasting. The company's headquarters is located in Toronto, Ontario.

For another approach, see: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

CFMT-TV was launched in 1979 as Canada's first multilingual/multicultural television station.

It was originally referred to as "MTV" before using its call letters to identify on-air in 1983. This was due to confusion with the American music video channel.

Rogers purchased CFMT-TV in 1986, saving it from financial difficulties and bankruptcy.

Rogers attempted to launch a similar multicultural station in Vancouver in 1996, 1999, and 2002, but all three attempts were rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

The "OMNI Television" brand was introduced in 2002, with CFMT-TV and CJMT-TV branded as "OMNI.1" and "OMNI.2" respectively.

Rogers acquired two religious TV stations, CHNU-TV in Vancouver and CIIT-TV in Winnipeg, from Trinity Television in 2005.

CHNU-TV was rebranded from "NOWTV" to "OMNI.10" in September 2005, while CIIT-TV went on air as "OMNI.11" on February 6, 2006.

The 2007 realignment was a significant turning point for Omni. The CRTC granted Rogers licences to operate new multicultural stations in Calgary and Edmonton, beating out a competing proposal from Multivan Broadcast Corporation.

Rogers made public its offer to sell the religious-licensed Omni stations in Winnipeg and Vancouver as part of its purchase of Citytv. This move was a result of the CRTC ordering CTVglobemedia to sell off Citytv stations as part of the CHUM Limited takeover deal.

Rogers announced an agreement to purchase CHNM, securing a true multicultural television licence in Vancouver. This acquisition was a major reason for the sale, as Rogers had already acquired the Calgary and Edmonton multicultural licences.

The CRTC approved Rogers' takeover of the Citytv stations, giving the company one year to divest itself of the religious Omni stations. A tentative deal to sell the stations to S-VOX was announced on November 6.

The CRTC approved both Rogers' acquisition of CHNM and its sale of CIIT and CHNU to S-VOX on March 31, 2008.

In 2005-2006, Rogers made a significant acquisition that changed the face of religious television in Canada.

Rogers acquired two religious television stations from Trinity Television, which led to a rebranding of CHNU-TV Vancouver as OMNI.10 in September.

As a result of the acquisition, the Winnipeg station was not yet on the air, but it signed on February 6, 2006, as CIIT-TV OMNI.11.

Both of these stations continued to offer some religious programming, marking a shift in their focus.

In 2017, the CRTC approved Rogers Media Inc.'s application to operate a national, multilingual multi-ethnic discretionary service called OMNI Regional for a licence term of three years.

This approval was an interim measure, as the Commission felt the application didn't fully meet their expectations for a service that would receive mandatory distribution on the digital basic service and fully address the needs of Canada's diverse ethnic and third-language communities.

Rogers Media's OMNI Regional was approved for mandatory distribution on the digital basic service to serve the needs of Canada's ethnic and third-language communities in the interim.

The CRTC issued a call for applications for a national, multilingual multi-ethnic television service offering third-language news and information programming that would receive mandatory distribution on the digital basic service.

Consider reading: Multichannel Television in Canada

Omni Television is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It was launched in 1999 as a 24-hour news channel.

The channel's primary focus is on providing in-depth coverage of current events, politics, and social issues.

Omni Television broadcasts a mix of local and national news programs, including news analysis and discussion shows.

The channel's programming is available in both English and French languages, catering to diverse audiences across Canada.

Omni Television offers a diverse range of programming and content to cater to different linguistic and cultural groups.

Prior to 2002, CFMT aired news in Portuguese, Italian, and Cantonese from Monday to Friday, with a Mandarin program on the weekends.

The channel expanded its Mandarin programming to Monday to Friday newscasts after the launch of CJMT, also known as Omni 2, which introduced a South Asian news program in English.

CHNM, or Omni British Columbia, produced a national newscast in Punjabi, as well as Cantonese and Mandarin, after being branded as Channel M and purchased by Rogers in 2008.

Omni Alberta also produced newscasts in Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as an English language South Asian newscast, from its launch in 2008 until 2011.

The newscasts featured coverage of Canadian news stories in the language, along with stories from foreign broadcasters in countries where the language is natively spoken.

Rogers announced a restructuring of Omni News programs in 2015, replacing the newscasts with public affairs-oriented programs produced in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Punjabi.

These new programs featured in-depth discussion of local issues, but did not include original news reporting.

Rogers reinstated half-hour national newscasts in Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, and Punjabi languages as part of the Omni Regional service.

In September 2020, Arabic and Filipino newscasts were added to the service.

Explore further: Multiplatform Television Service

OMNI News programs have undergone significant changes over the years. Prior to 2015, they featured original news reporting in languages such as Cantonese, Mandarin, and Punjabi, but were eventually replaced by public affairs-oriented programs.

The decision to drop the newscasts was financially motivated, with Rogers citing production expenses of CA$9 million against CA$3.9 million in advertising revenue per-year. This move resulted in criticism from Member of Parliament Julian Fantino, who described the loss of Italian-language news coverage as "devastating".

In 2020, Rogers reinstated half-hour national newscasts in Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin, and Punjabi languages as part of the Omni Regional service. The newscasts feature coverage of Canadian news stories in the language, along with stories from foreign broadcasters.

Rogers subcontracted production of some of the newscasts to Fairchild Media Group, owner of the Cantonese Fairchild TV and Mandarin Talentvision channels. However, this arrangement was questioned by Unifor and community groups over concerns about Fairchild's news coverage and editorial control.

The CRTC ultimately dismissed a complaint filed by Unifor, ruling that "produce" was broadly defined to allow for subcontracting, and that Rogers' editorial control was sufficient to maintain the diversity of voices.

High definition is a big deal for Omni Television, and it's interesting to see how they've expanded their offerings over the years.

In the fall of 2004, Omni launched high definition simulcasts of both Toronto stations, CFMT and CJMT. This was a significant move, as it brought high definition viewing to a wider audience.

These stations were initially only available through digital cable, but that changed in the summer of 2008 when they began broadcasting digitally over-the-air. This made high definition viewing more accessible to people without digital cable subscriptions.

In December 2009, CHNM started broadcasting an over-the-air digital signal and standard definition broadcasts. This marked another milestone in Omni's expansion of high definition offerings.

Omni has come a long way since its high definition launch in 2004, and it's clear that they're committed to providing their viewers with the best possible viewing experience.

OMNI Television has been a vital platform for Canada's Ukrainian community for over 20 years, supporting local producers like the creators of Kontakt, a Canadian-produced current affairs program.

Rogers, the parent company of OMNI Television, has made a significant donation of $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross's Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

The Ukrainian diasporic community is a vital part of Canada, and OMNI Television's support through Kontakt has helped connect and unite this community during a difficult time.

In many cities, community centers serve as a hub for local events and activities, fostering a sense of connection among residents. They often offer classes, workshops, and programs for all ages, from cooking and art to fitness and education.

The city of Los Angeles has seen a significant increase in community garden projects, providing green spaces for residents to grow their own fruits and vegetables. This initiative has not only improved air quality but also brought people together.

Community art projects have been a staple in many cities, with murals and public installations becoming a popular way to express local culture and creativity. In the city of Chicago, a public art program has been instrumental in transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant works of art.

In cities like New York, community centers have been instrumental in providing essential services such as food banks, job training programs, and health clinics. These services have been a lifeline for many residents struggling to make ends meet.

Urban planning initiatives have also played a crucial role in shaping the character of cities, with many cities incorporating green spaces, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. In the city of San Francisco, a comprehensive urban planning strategy has helped to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

OMNI Television has been supporting Canada's Ukrainian community for over 20 years through its work with local producers, including the creators of the Canadian-produced current affairs program Kontakt.

The Alberta Ukrainian Media Association (AUMA) and the UCC Alberta Provincial Council have benefited from OMNI Television's support, helping to connect and unite the Ukrainian community.

Rogers, the parent company of OMNI Television, has made a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross's Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.

You can donate $5 by texting "ROGERS" to 20222 (EN) or 30333 (FR), or any amount by visiting www.redcross.ca/UkraineCrisis/Rogers.

100% of the donations will go to the Canadian Red Cross's relief efforts in Ukraine.

OMNI Television's annual revenue was a notable $21.9 million in 2025.

The company's financial performance is reflected in its NAICS codes, which include 5151, 516, 515, and 51.

These codes provide a glimpse into OMNI Television's operations and indicate its classification within the broadcasting industry.

The SIC code for OMNI Television is a specific classification used in the industry. The SIC codes for OMNI Television are 484, 4841, and 48.

If you're in the TV business, you need to know your SIC code. It can help you navigate industry regulations and requirements.

The SIC code for OMNI Television can help you understand their business structure and classification. The codes 484, 4841, and 48 indicate their specific classification within the industry.

Knowing your SIC code can be helpful when applying for licenses or permits. It's essential to have the right classification to avoid any issues with regulatory bodies.

The SIC code for OMNI Television is just one example of how this classification is used in the industry. It's a crucial piece of information that can help businesses like OMNI Television operate smoothly.

Owned stations are a crucial part of a business's revenue stream. They allow companies to have complete control over their operations and finances.

In Canada, owned-and-operated stations are a significant presence in major markets. Calgary, Alberta is home to CJCO-DT, which broadcasts on channel 38.1 (RF 38).

Edmonton, Alberta has its own owned station, CJEO-DT, broadcasting on channel 56.1 (RF 44). This shows that even smaller markets have their own dedicated stations.

Toronto, Ontario is a major market with two owned stations, CFMT-DT and CJMT-DT. CFMT-DT broadcasts on channel 47.1 (RF 47), while CJMT-DT broadcasts on channel 69.1 (RF 51).

Vancouver, British Columbia also has its own owned station, CHNM-DT, broadcasting on channel 42.1 (RF 20).

Here are the owned stations mentioned in this article, listed by city:

Let's take a look at the annual revenue of some companies. OMNI Television had a significant annual revenue of $21.9 million in 2025.

Their revenue is substantial, but it's worth noting that annual revenue can fluctuate from year to year.

For example, some companies may have a higher revenue in certain years due to various factors such as market trends or new business ventures.

A different take: List of Cable Television Companies