Rogers Media is optimistic that its plans to buy Channel M in Vancouver will face no hurdles at the CRTC — despite its pending purchase of Citytv Vancouver. The Toronto company announced plans to buy the multicultural channel last week, following a deal reached with current owner Multivan Broadcast Corp., and is also preparing to pick up the five Citys from CTVglobemedia.

Not a problem, says Alain Strati, VP of business and regulatory affairs at Rogers, because the CRTC’s so-called twin-stick policy prohibits broadcasters from owning more than one TV station in the same market, in the same language.

‘The City stations are very much English-language stations, while Channel M and the OMNI stations are multicultural and broadcast in a variety of different languages,’ says Strati. Rogers is also seeking to keep OMNI 1 and 2, which share the market with Citytv Toronto. They broadcast in a variety of languages, though the afternoon and evening schedules on both carry only English-language shows, usually from the U.S.

The CRTC invoked the twin-stick policy when it forced CTVglobemedia to drop the Citys as a condition of its purchase of CHUM.

Rogers also has licences and plans for OMNI stations in Calgary and Edmonton, both of which already have City stations.

Strati says the acquisition of Channel M gives the company a platform in the west to launch other special projects and initiatives, in addition to M’s multilingual newscasts and magazine-style shows.

‘It’s an enhancement of the local programming. There’s an opportunity for more documentaries and for maybe adding regional and national elements to the broadcasts,’ he says.

Rogers will propose a benefits package of $6 million for the Channel M deal. CRTC hearings into its purchase of the City stations are set for Aug. 29.