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Omni Television

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OMNI logo
OMNI logo

OMNI Television is a Canadian television brand owned and operated by Rogers Communications. It is used for the company's conventional television stations, which are licensed either as multicultural or religious stations. "OMNI" is not an acronym, however press references to the brand are generally in all-caps.

The two OMNI-branded multicultural TV stations are CFMT (OMNI.1, Channel 47 in Toronto, Ontario) and CJMT (OMNI.2, Channel 69 in Toronto). CFMT airs programming targeted to Toronto's European and Caribbean language communities, while CJMT airs programming in Asian and African languages. Both stations also air some English language commercial programming as well, including the nightly soap opera Metropia.

Rogers also owns two religious TV stations, namely CHNU (OMNI.10, Channel 66 in Vancouver, British Columbia) and the unlaunched CIIT (Channel 35 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, expected to be known as OMNI.Manitoba whenever it launches). Both are religious stations which were acquired in 2005 from Trinity Television, which used the NOWTV brand.

While there is certainly a difference in the nature of service of multicultural and religious stations, both classes of stations can air many of the same types of programmes. CHNU had previously aired many of the same types of syndicated sitcoms and multicultural programs aired regularly on the OMNI stations in Toronto, and the Toronto stations carry some religious teachings programmes.

There are no plans to change the programming on any of the stations to match the others' programs — indeed, Vancouver already has multicultural station CHNM, while the Toronto area has religious station CITS, and both would likely seek reprisals should the OMNI stations intrude further on their territorial format turf. Indeed, both stations filed interventions with the CRTC opposing Rogers' acquisition of the NOWTV stations. However, the rebrand will likely allow cost savings for promotions and for the acquisition of the general-entertainment programmes all of the OMNI stations have used to generate most of their revenues.