Bell and Rogers have announced an agreement to distribute each other’s specialty channels across platforms, ending a carriage dispute stemming from changes in the content licensing rights landscape that saw Rogers scoop rights to Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of English-language U.S. lifestyle and factual brands from Bell and Corus Entertainment last year.
Announced Tuesday morning, under the agreement Bell Fibe TV and Satellite TV subscribers will now have access to Rogers Sports & Media channels HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, Magnolia Network and Investigation Discovery, along with continued access to Bravo. As of the announcement, those channels are available to all customers in free preview.
Conversely, Rogers Xfinity customers will continue to have full access to Bell Media’s Specialty portfolio, which includes channels such as USA Network, Oxygen True Crime, and CTV specialty channels, including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel and CTV Sci-Fi Channel. Rogers Xfinity customers continue to have access to HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, Magnolia Network and Investigation Discovery.
“Delivering the most compelling content to Canadians is our focus, and this agreement furthers that goal. We are providing customers more choice and ensuring Rogers customers will continue to have access to Bell Media favorites like Highway Thru Hell , Heavy Rescue 401 and Fear Thy Neighbor on our specialty channels,” said Kevin Cluett, SVP, Distribution and Product Platforms, Bell Media, in the announcement. “By making these channels more widely available, we’re giving viewers more of what they love while strengthening the Canadian broadcasting ecosystem.”
“It’s great that more Canadians will now have access to North America’s most beloved and specialty TV brands like HGTV, Food Network and Discovery, and can access new titles and the latest seasons of top shows from Rogers Sports & Media,” added Hayden Mindell, SVP Television, Rogers Sports & Media. “The premium content we’ve invested in is unmatched in Canada, offering Canadians the programming they want most, including hits like My Lottery Dream Home , Beat Bobby Flay and Expedition Unknown, along with new series Chasing The West with Drew and Jonathan Scott.”