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TORONTO, ON (September 14, 2005) -- The Shopping Channel Direct (a division of The Shopping Channel and subsidiary of Rogers Media Inc.) today announced that it has acquired Mix Promotions Inc. (Mix Promotions), a privately held leading Quebec-based direct response television (DRTV), Internet, promotions and retail distribution company.
The acquisition consolidates The Shopping Channel Direct's leadership position as Canada's most comprehensive DRTV and retail distribution company, providing our U.S. marketing partners, domestic and international clients with a full service turn key solution for selling their products in English and French, across Canada.
"We are excited to welcome Mix Promotions to our team," stated Ted Starkman, Executive Vice President and General Manager, The Shopping Channel. "This is an important acquisition that allows us to bolster our DRTV and retail distribution business into Canada's clear leader."
"We are thrilled to have Alain Campeau," continued Starkman, "Former owner and President of Mix Promotions, and Alain Gagnon, head of marketing and sales and their entire team, join The Shopping Channel Direct family and to continue serving their valued partners in Montreal, Quebec."
Starkman also explained that The Shopping Channel is focused on expanding its direct business as well as its presence in Quebec, making the Mix Promotions acquisition "the perfect deal" in terms of furthering both goals.
Willard Cowan, Vice President, The Shopping Channel Direct, explains, "Since 1997, Mix Promotions has been one of Canada's leaders in the direct response and promotions industry. Now the combined operations can offer a broader range of services for our proprietary and clients' products in French and English to consumers on television, home shopping, through the Web and our retail partners' stores. "
Cowan went on to explain that Mix Promotions has achieved great success through its experienced management and marketing team of professionals as well as boasting an impressive list of contracts which compliment The Shopping Channel Direct Canadian DRTV media holdings.
"We are thrilled to join Rogers Communications, and work with the entire team at The Shopping Channel to drive the growth of The Shopping Channel Direct," stated Alain Campeau, newly appointed Vice President, The Shopping Channel Direct. "Mix Promotions now enjoys the benefit of access to capital and infrastructure from one of Canada's largest public companies, Rogers Communications; access to diverse media from Rogers Media's leading television, radio and magazine publications; direct access to The Shopping Channel buyers; and last but not least the strongest DRTV in-house retail distribution team in the country.
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With our continued flexibility to operate independently to serve our clients, in English and French, and in the same dedicated and committed way as usual, yet having the opportunity to take advantage of the integrated infrastructure, this deal is an exciting recipe for success for all of our partners."
About The Shopping Channel Direct
The Shopping Channel Direct (formerly called 20/20 Direct) (a subsidiary of Rogers Media Inc.) is The Shopping Channel's leading Canadian full service turn-key Direct Response Television (DRTV) and national retail distribution/wholesale division. The Shopping Channel Direct licenses products and product lines for the Canadian market from manufacturers and product marketers and in turn comprehensively sells and distributes the vendor partners' products on a turn key basis, in English and French, throughout Canada, through: its parent home shopping channel, DRTV infomercial and spot media sales, Internet retailing, continuity clubs, print direct response and multi-channel marketing and promotions -- all geared to the ultimate roll out for retail distribution. The Shopping Channel Direct's retail sales team distributes products to all major and independent Canadian retailers in a multitude of categories (fitness, cleaning, health & beauty, house wares etc.) and formats (such as drug, mass, grocery, hardware and club stores). The Shopping Channel Direct moves more unit sales than any other Canadian distributor by combining its media, sales and retail distribution power while leveraging The Shopping Channel's national television channel, merchandising team, and back end logistics, warehousing, and customer care infrastructure.
About The Shopping Channel
The Shopping Channel, Canada's only nationally televised shopping service and its leading electronic commerce player, is Canada's most innovative and diversified retailer and distributor. Since the launch of The Shopping Channel's initial television shopping channel in 1987, The Shopping Channel has become a true multi-channel retailer and distributor through its leading online presence at www.TheShoppingChannel.com (launched in 1999), its catalogue and retail store fronts and its full service turn-key Direct Response Television (DRTV) and national retail distribution/wholesale division, The Shopping Channel Direct. With 600+ dedicated employees, focused on delivering a world class Customer Experience and comprehensive marketing and distribution services to valued partners, The Shopping Channel today is recognized as Canada's premier success story in electronic and diversified retailing. The Shopping Channel is a division of Rogers Broadcasting Limited (a subsidiary of Rogers Media Inc.).
About Rogers Media Inc.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG) operates Rogers Broadcasting, Rogers Publishing and Rogers Sports Entertainment. Rogers Broadcasting has 46 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, Canada's live event and high-definition leader, Rogers Sportsnet, and the management of two 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 industry, medical and financial publications. All media properties are integrated with their own popular web sites. Rogers Sports Entertainment owns The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, a year-round sports and entertainment facility.
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For more information, please contact:
Lisa Lupynec
Media Profile
416.504.8464 ext. 246
Ted Starkman
Exec VP & General Manager,
The Shopping Channel905.362.7801
Ted.Starkman@tsc.rogers.com Willard Cowan
Vice President, The Shopping Channel Direct
905.362.7871
Alain Campeau
Vice President, The Shopping Channel Direct
450.682.3323 ext. 232
