St. Joseph Communications (SJC) has entered into an agreement that will see the company acquire all seven of the Rogers Media consumer print and digital magazine brands, including Maclean’s, Chatelaine (English and French), Today’s Parent, HELLO! Canada, digital publications FLARE and Canadian Business, as well as the company’s Custom Content business.
SJC is Canada’s largest privately-owned print, media and communications company. It owns and publishes Toronto Life, FASHION Magazine, Weddingbells, MARIAGE Québec, Ottawa Magazine, Quill & Quire and the Where group of magazines in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto.
In a press release, Tony Gagliano, SJC executive chairman and CEO, said the company is committed to developing and growing the brands. All current Rogers Media Publishing employees will be offered employment through the deal, which is expected to close in April.
“We are pleased to add these renowned titles to our portfolio of award-winning media brands and to welcome their dedicated staff into the St. Joseph family,” said Gagliano. “We also want to welcome their diverse and loyal audiences and advertisers who have supported these brands through the years.”
“Bringing together two talented teams and many of Canada’s most celebrated magazine brands is an important opportunity for SJC, the media industry and our country,” said Gagliano. “Our experience with brands such as Toronto Life, and the strategies applied and growth we have seen there, gives us confidence that we can help transform these brands so they may prosper in the quickly changing media landscape.”
Rogers Media and SJC will work together to ensure a smooth change of ownership, including some transition services. Current subscribers will continue to receive their print and digital subscriptions.
“It was vitally important to us to find a good home for our employees and these storied brands so that the publications live on and flourish in a well-established company dedicated to publishing. It was a difficult decision, but one we believe is right as we accelerate our strategic vision and reposition our media business for the future,” said Rick Brace, President of Rogers Media. “We are extremely proud of these iconic magazine brands and all the employees who have delivered high-quality content for decades and helped shape Canadian culture and conversation.”
Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Subscribe Now – Free!
Broadcast Dialogue has been required reading in the Canadian broadcast media for 25 years. When you subscribe, you join a community of connected professionals from media and broadcast related sectors from across the country.
The Weekly Briefing from Broadcast Dialogue is delivered exclusively to subscribers by email every Thursday. Itís your link to critical industry news, timely people moves, and excellent career advancement opportunities.
Letís get started right now.
