OMNI Regional is Canada's national multicultural/multilingual TV service. We have mandatory carriage on the basic service of all television distributors which has allowed us to provide programming to over 40 different ethnic groups in over 40 different languages, and to continue offering our third-language newscasts in Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Punjabi. Now, we are at risk of losing this mandatory distribution which will mean closure of the service. Show your support for OMNI Regional by adding your voice to the campaign using the buttons below:
OMNI Television plays a vital and unique role within the Canadian media landscape. For over 35 years, we’ve provided a strong and relevant voice for Canadian ethnic and third-language communities through the provision high-quality multicultural and multilingual programming.
We believe OMNI plays a vital role in connecting Canada’s ethnic communities, so we’ve applied for a renewal of the national channel OMNI Regional that would be included in basic TV packages across the country. As part of our new proposal, we’re increasing our commitment to high-quality language news – adding daily national newscasts in Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog to join our current national newcasts in Mandarin, Cantonese and Punjabi ,seven days a week. Plus, regional daily newscasts in Italian.
We believe our proposal offers a win-win solution: Canadians get low-cost access to quality news and information programming in their language of comfort no matter where they live, and OMNI and our community and production partners get a stable revenue source that we can use to build a strong and relevant voice for ethnic audiences in Canada.
Show your support for OMNI Regional by adding your voice to the campaign using the button below.
LetterWhy should I support OMNI?
A: OMNI Regional and OMNI Television have been providing ethnic and third-language programming to Canada’s multicultural and multilingual communities for close to 40 years. OMNI already operates a proven and valued service to communities across Canada, providing high-quality professional news and current affairs programming that truly reflects these audiences through unique and specific framing, catering to the specific needs of these communities. Building upon a strong and dynamic schedule that weaves together the best multilingual programming available at home and abroad - OMNI continues to evolve the breadth of programming we offer with fresh content in areas of news and information, lifestyle, entertainment and sports coverage to make this service a vital, engaging, and relevant source of information for multiple generations of viewers. OMNI Regional’s newscasts and current affairs programming play an active role in helping Canadian ethnic and third-language communities make informed decisions and encourages civic engagement and participation in the democratic process through broader access to public policy issues and discourse. We believe our application offers a win-win solution: Canadians get low-cost access to quality news and information programming in their language of comfort no matter where they live, and OMNI and its community and production partners get a stable revenue source that we can use to build a strong and relevant voice for ethnic communities in Canada. OMNI is the only applicant that has committed to operate the station on a break-even basis, ensuring any additional revenue is reinvested in new programming.
Will my TV bill go up?
A: Our research suggests there is broad support amongst Canadians for collectively funding a national multicultural TV service. For those who subscribe to a skinny basic package, like Rogers’ Starter TV package, the price is capped at $25, so there would be no increase in cost.
Would TV providers have to include OMNI Television in Skinny Basic and Regular Basic?
A: Yes, they would, other than small TV providers exempt from the regulations.
Will OMNI Television still be free over-the-air/via antenna?
A: Yes! You’ll still be able to receive OMNI Television over-the-air in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.
If OMNI Regional is is not renewed, will I still get my free OMNI Television over-the-air?
A: Without the renewal of its application for mandatory distribution, OMNI Regional sadly will cease operation, and with it, local sister stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton who are financially dependent on this funding. This result would unravel the strong and established network of independent producers, community leaders, ethnic and third-language journalists, creative talent and dedicated broadcast staff that has been built over nearly four decades – in addition to the local news in these markets.
Will OMNI Regional be streamed live online?
A: Yes! If approved, we will develop a
“Television Everywhere” model that will allow TV providers to host OMNI’s programming on their own portal at no additional cost and we will develop an
“app” that will be accessible for free to those who want to access OMNI programming online.
The current OMNI channels broadcast in more than 40 languages. How many languages will OMNI Regional broadcast in?
A: We commit to offer programming to 20 distinct
ethnic groups in 20 different languages each month on each feed.
In addition to News, what type of programming will you air on OMNI Regional? What are your plans for original programming?
A: We will fund Canadian original independent productions that involve ethnic and/or third-language producers, like Mangoes, Second Jen, and Blood & Water, a Chinese and English crime drama series we recently produced with Breakthrough Entertainment.
Show your support by posting this message on social media!
“We applaud the CRTC for recognizing the vital importance of delivering news and
information to Canadians in their language of comfort. Canadians will get access to
quality multicultural and multilingual programming no matter where they live, and OMNI
Television will receive a stable revenue source to build a strong voice for all ethnic
audiences. We are excited to work with our partners to bring OMNI Regional to life.”
— Colette Watson, Senior Vice President, Broadcast and TV Operations, Rogers Media
Founder-Executive Producer/Filmmaker, Host/TV Producer/Director/Writer, HotBizMedia Inc. & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Cultural Diversity Coordinator, Cultural Division, Recreation, City of Calgary & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Executive Director, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Marketing Director, West Edmonton Mall & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Executive Director, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Publisher, Filipino Journal & OMNI Advisory Council Member
CEO, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. & OMNI Advisory Council Member & OMNI Advisory Council Member
CEO, DIVERSEcity & OMNI Advisory Council Member & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development, University of British Columbia & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Chief Executive Officer, Surrey Board of Trade & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Creative Director, Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Principal and Creative Director, Latitude Vancouver & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Senior Broker, Homelife Gold Pacific Realty Inc. & OMNI Advisory Council Member
President, Liefa Communications, Realworld Pictures & OMNI Advisory Council Member
President, Wilbert Lai CPA Professional Corporation, Advisor, Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Entrepreneur/Marketing Ethnic Foods & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Founder, Diversity Matters & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sharing Our Cultures Inc. & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Managing Director, New Brunswick Multicultural Council Inc. (NBMC) & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Directeur Général, Chambre de Commerce de l’Amérique Latine & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Delma Group & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Executive Director, Shield of Athena Family Services (SOAFS) & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Vice President, Federation of Haitian Regional Associations of the Diaspora (FARHED) & OMNI Advisory Council Member
Legal Advisor, (Director) Legislation, Institutional Compliance, Canadian Division, Manulife & OMNI Advisory Council Member
