ZoomerMedia

Last updated
ZoomerMedia Limited
Company type Public
TSX-V:  ZUM
Industry Media
Founded Toronto, Ontario (2007)
Founder Moses Znaimer
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Products Broadcasting, Advertising, Publishing, Television production
Website www.zoomermedia.ca

ZoomerMedia Limited is a Canadian media company. Founded by veteran media executive Moses Znaimer, the company has interests in radio, television, and digital media.

Contents

The company focuses primarily on lifestyle properties appealing to adults 45–65 (including baby boomers), being formed from Znaimer's acquisition of publishing and digital assets affiliated with CARP. The company later acquired the broadcasting assets of S-VOX (including specialty channel VisionTV), and subsumed other privately held assets that had been owned by Znaimer directly (including three Toronto radio stations). In the 2020s, it began to expand into digital properties targeting a young adult audience, including BlogTO, Daily Hive , and MobileSyrup.

History

ZoomerMedia was announced in February 2008 by Moses Znaimer—a veteran Canadian media executive that had recently been named the executive director of CARP—via his acquisitions of Kemur Publishing and Fifty-Plus.Net International. The two companies had originally been established by CARP's founders Lillian and Murray Morgenthau to house for-profit publishing and internet businesses that could not fall directly under the non-profit association; they provided revenue to CARP via royalties and other business agreements with the organization. Znaimer acquired the companies for $13.1 million in a reverse takeover, going public on the TSX Venture Exchange in July of that year. [1]

The name of the company is derived from "zoomer", a term coined in 2000 by Znaimer for baby boomers "with zip" who wanted to live actively after retirement; as such, its operations would consist of businesses that target people between the ages of 45 and 65. [1] [2] ZoomerMedia would maintain its affiliations with CARP, with plans announced for its magazine to be relaunched as Zoomer Magazine under new publisher Suzanne Boyd, and the company expanding the "Zoomer" brand into other ventures targeting the demographic, such as the social networking service Zoomer.com, and the ZoomerShow expo in Toronto [1] [2]

In June 2009, ZoomerMedia announced a deal to acquire the broadcasting assets of S-VOX, which included conventional stations CHNU-TV and CIIT-TV, along with specialty channels VisionTV and a stake in One for $25 million. Alongside the acquisition of S-VOX, ZoomerMedia also planned to subsume MZ Media—a private company held by Znaimer that owned the Toronto radio stations CFMZ-FM, CFMX-FM, and CFZM. [3] [4] Following the transactions (which required the approval of minority shareholders and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Znaimer owns 66% of the combined company, and insurance company Fairfax Financial owns 28%. [5] All of these transactions were completed on June 30, 2010. [6]

Later, on September 28, 2010, ZoomerMedia relocated its headquarters to 64 Jefferson Avenue.[ citation needed ]

In 2022, ZoomerMedia began to acquire young adult-oriented digital properties, acquiring the publisher of BlogTO in February 2022, [7] and the publisher of Daily Hive in September 2022. [8] Chief digital officer Omri Tintpulver explained that despite being positioned towards young adults, BlogTO still had a sizable reach among ZoomerMedia's core demographic market, and that the site would also allow it to reach wider demographics, pursue "integrated" multi-platform advertising opportunities, and leverage its experience in developing digital and social media content. [7]

On February 8, 2024, Bell Media announced that it would sell its Owen Sound radio station CJOS-FM to ZoomerMedia. [9] In June 2024, Blue Ant Media sold the mobile and technology news website MobileSyrup to ZoomerMedia. [10]

Assets

Conventional television stations

ZoomerMedia's two conventional stations were part of a television system known as Joytv until August 2013 when CIIT was rebranded as "Hope TV" and dropped all non-religious programming. As Joytv, they were licensed as religious television stations that air religious-based programs in addition to other family friendly and entertainment programs. Both were previously owned by S-VOX. They had previously been a part of the Omni Television system, having been previously owned by Trinity Television before the sale to Rogers. Rogers sold the two stations to S-VOX on March 31, 2008.

Specialty channels

Radio

Magazines

Digital

Other assets

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses Znaimer</span> Canadian media executive

Moses Znaimer is a Tajik-born Canadian media executive of Jewish descent. He is the co-founder and former head of Citytv, the first independent television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the current head of ZoomerMedia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHUM Limited</span> Canadian media company

CHUM Limited was a Canadian media company based in Toronto, Ontario in operation from 1945 to 2007. The company was founded in 1945 as York Broadcasters Limited when it launched CHUM-AM 1050 but was acquired by salesman Allan Waters in 1954. CHUM had expanded to and owned 33 radio stations across Canada under its CHUM Radio Network division and also owned other radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Media</span> Canadian media company

Bell Media Inc. is a Canadian media conglomerate that is the mass media subsidiary of BCE Inc.. Its operations include national television broadcasting and production, radio broadcasting, digital media and Internet properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CITY-DT</span> TV station in Toronto

CITY-DT, branded as Citytv Toronto or simply Citytv, is a television station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, serving as the flagship station of the Citytv network. It is owned and operated by network parent Rogers Sports & Media alongside Omni Television outlets CFMT-DT and CJMT-DT. The stations share studios at 33 Dundas Street East on Yonge–Dundas Square in downtown Toronto, while CITY-DT's transmitter is located atop the CN Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHMI-DT</span> TV station in Portage la Prairie

CHMI-DT is a television station licensed to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, broadcasting the Citytv network to the Winnipeg area. Owned and operated by Rogers Sports & Media, the station has studios at 8 Forks Market Road in downtown Winnipeg, and its transmitter is located adjacent to Bohn Road in Cartier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHNU-DT</span> Religious independent TV station in Fraser Valley, British Columbia

CHNU-DT is a religious independent television station serving southwestern British Columbia, Canada, including Greater Vancouver, Victoria, the Fraser Valley and surrounding areas. Licensed to the Fraser Valley Regional District, the station is owned by ZoomerMedia and is branded on air as Joytv. CHNU-DT's studios are located on 192 Street/Highway 10 in Surrey, and its transmitter is located on Mount Seymour.

CIIT-DT is a religious independent television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, owned by ZoomerMedia. The station's studios are located on Osborne Street and Wardlaw Avenue in Winnipeg, and its transmitter is located near Courchaine Road in southern Winnipeg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omni Television</span> Canadian television system and specialty channel

Omni Television is a Canadian television system and group of specialty channels owned by Rogers Sports & Media, a subsidiary of Rogers Communications. It currently consists of all six of Canada's conventional multicultural television stations, which are located in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and an affiliate in Quebec. The system's flagship station is CFMT in Toronto, which was the first independent multicultural television station in Canada.

VisionTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts multi-faith, multicultural, and general entertainment programming aimed at the 45 and over demographic.

Access Media Group, legally Learning and Skills Television of Alberta Ltd., which also served as the corporate brand until 2005, was a privately held Canadian broadcasting and multimedia group based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada specializing in learning-based media, originally majority-owned by CHUM Limited. It owned four television channels, a multimedia distribution company, and a school for continuing education and personal growth. AMG's headquarters are situated at Enterprise Square in Edmonton, Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKFM-FM</span> Radio station in Toronto

CKFM-FM is a Canadian radio station in Toronto, Ontario. The station is owned by Bell Media. The station airs a Top 40/CHR format, and is the flagship of Canada's "Virgin Radio" stations. CKFM's studios are located at 250 Richmond Street West in the Entertainment District, while its transmitter is located at the top of the CN Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One (Canadian TV channel)</span> Canadian TV channel

One is a Canadian English language discretionary cable and satellite specialty channel owned by ZoomerMedia. It offers lifestyle and entertainment programming devoted to programming on yoga and meditation, weight loss and fitness, sex and relationships, natural health and nutrition, and alternative medicine. Additionally, it provides general entertainment programming during primetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFMZ-FM</span> Classical music radio station in Toronto

CFMZ-FM is an FM radio station that is licensed to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Broadcasting on 96.3 MHz, the station is owned by ZoomerMedia and airs a classical music radio format. CFMZ's studios are located on Jefferson Avenue in Liberty Village, while its transmitter is located atop First Canadian Place in downtown Toronto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFZM</span> Radio station in Toronto, Ontario

CFZM is a commercial AM radio station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is owned by ZoomerMedia, headed by Canadian broadcaster Moses Znaimer. It airs an oldies and adult standards radio format, branded as Zoomer Radio, with the slogan "The Original Greatest Hits". The studios and offices are on Jefferson Avenue in the Liberty Village neighbourhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S-VOX Foundation</span> Canadian media organization

S-VOX Foundation was a Canadian non-profit media organization dedicated to producing content on spirituality.

In 2007, significant ownership changes occurred in Canada's broadcast television industry, involving nearly every private English-language network and television system. In addition to the shuffling of network affiliations and mergers involving various networks, several new television stations and rebroadcast transmitters also signed on the air.

CFMX-FM is a commercial radio station in Cobourg, Ontario, and serving the Peterborough area. It is owned by ZoomerMedia and airs a classical music format branded as Classical 103.1. It is a semi-satellite of Toronto's 96.3 CFMZ-FM. All music programming originates from Toronto, although 24 hours per week of locally oriented talk, news and spoken word programming broadcasts from radio studios in Cobourg. During the simulcast music shows, CFMX-FM inserts local commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joytv</span> Canadian television system

Joytv is a Canadian television brand owned by ZoomerMedia. Joytv was formerly a television system formed in September 2008, comprising two religious independent stations acquired from Rogers Media by S-VOX. The stations carried a mixture of multi-faith religious programming, as well as secular, family-oriented entertainment programming.

CFMO-FM is a radio station broadcasting a classical music format on 102.9 MHz FM in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. The station is owned by ZoomerMedia, through licensee MZ Media Inc. It is largely a semi-satellite of ZoomerMedia's CFMZ-FM 96.3 in Toronto.

Whiteoaks Communications Group is a media company based in Oakville, Ontario that owns several radio stations in Ontario as well as Christian podcasting platform, Faith Strong Today Media. The company was founded in 1956 as CHWO Radio Limited by Howard and Jean Caine with the launch of CHWO radio in Oakville. After Howard Caine died in 1967, the company was run by his widow, Jean. Their son, Michael Caine (1949-2024) subsequently became company president. The current president is Michael Caine's son, Matthew Caine. Whiteoakes is owned by the Caine family through their holding company, Caineco.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MOSES HAS SPOKEN (so WHY aren't you listening?)". The Globe and Mail. 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  2. 1 2 "Old 'Boomers' have new name: 'Zoomers'". Toronto Star. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  3. ↑ "Spiritual TV fits Moses' Zoomer vision Archived 2009-06-19 at the Wayback Machine . The Globe and Mail , June 15, 2009.
  4. ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2010-03-30). "ARCHIVED - Vision TV - Acquisition of assets - CHNU-TV Fraser Valley and CIIT-TV Winnipeg - Change in effective control - ONE: The Body, Mind and Spirit Channel - Change in effective control Classical Digital, CFZM, CFMZ-FM, CFMZ-DR-1 Toronto, and CFMX-FM Cobourg - Corporate reorganization". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  5. ↑ ZoomerMedia Limited Agrees to Purchase all Television Assets of VisionTV and $17.6 Million Private Placement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, ZoomerMedia press release via Marketwire, June 15, 2009
  6. ↑ ZoomerMedia Limited Completes Acquisitions and Financing
  7. 1 2 3 Krewen, Nick. "Zoomer's big plans for BlogTO are already underway". Media of Canada. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  8. ↑ Rubin, Josh (2022-09-14). "ZoomerMedia goes after the younger generation with deal to buy Daily Hive publisher for $16.4 million". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  9. ↑ "Bell Media planning cuts to CTV, BNN Bloomberg following BCE layoffs, sale of 45 radio stations". CTV News. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ Townsend, Kelly (June 27, 2024). "ZoomerMedia buys Mobile Syrup from Blue Ant Media". Media in Canada. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  11. ↑ "FaithTV – ZoomerMedia Limited" . Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  12. ↑ "FaithTV - The Nation's Faith Station". FaithTV. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  13. ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (2012-02-29). "ARCHIVED - Licensing of new radio stations to serve Shelburne and Collingwood, Ontario". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
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