 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Assets sold to Canwest Global (later Shaw Media), Shaw Communications, and Corus Entertainment |
| Successor | Corus Entertainment (most media assets) Rogers Communications (satellite distribution assets) |
| Products | Specialty channels, broadcasting, satellite distribution |
WIC Western International Communications Ltd.[a] (or WIC) was a Canadian media company that operated from 1982 to 2000, with operations including broadcast and specialty television, radio, and satellite distribution via a majority interest in Canadian Satellite Communications (or Cancom).
The company itself was acquired by CanWest Global Communications, which kept most of WIC's broadcast television stations and a variety of related television production assets. As a result of a takeover battle leading up to the acquisition, Shaw Communications assumed WIC's interest in Cancom, while a separate company owned by the same Shaw family, Corus Entertainment, acquired various radio stations and specialty services. A handful of assets would be acquired by other companies for competitive reasons.
With the sale of Canwest's broadcasting assets to Shaw a decade later, the Shaw family at that point controlled almost all of the assets of the former WIC – through either Shaw or Corus – the sole exceptions being a handful of resold local TV stations and specialty channel assets, including interests in Family Channel (currently owned by WildBrain) and ROBTv (now BNN Bloomberg, owned by Bell Media). Corus acquired Shaw Media in 2016, giving Corus the former media assets of WIC, such as its former local television, specialty services, and radio groups.[2] Shaw Communications, including the former Cancom, was acquired by Rogers Communications in 2023.[3]
- ^ "SHAW COMMUNICATIONS BUYS WIC WESTERN INTERNATIONAL". The New York Times. April 18, 1998. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ "Corus Entertainment acquires Shaw Media for $2.65-billion". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
- ^ "Rogers closes its historic $20B acquisition of Shaw". BNNBloomberg.ca. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
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