TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc., North America’s largest media company and owner of such broadcast properties as CityTV and signature radio properties CHFI-FM and CFTR “CityNews Toronto,” has completed its acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), increasing its ownership of MLSE to 100%.
With that, Rogers Sports — a new business unit that will include its media assets — is forthcoming. And, Keith Pelley will run it.
The purchase of the 25% ownership of MLSE it did not already possess, from Kilmer Sports Inc., came at a cost of $4.35 billion CDN. MLSE includes the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto FC (MLS), Toronto Argonauts (CFL), the development teams affiliated with Toronto’s NHL and NBA franchises, Scotiabank Arena, and its partnership with Live Nation. Rogers’ media holdings encompass cable and satellite-delivered Sportsnet (SN), 30 cable and broadcast television networks, and more than 40 radio stations.
With respect to leadership, “it remains business as usual” in the interim, Rogers said, with Pelley remaining in the role of MLSE President/CEO. Mark Shapiro will remain President/CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays.
That said, Pelley will take on additional accountability for Rogers Media “effective immediately.”
He succeeds Colette Watson, who said she would be retiring earlier this year.
