ZoomerMedia
Encyclopedia
ZoomerMedia Limited is a group of Canadian
media
operations controlled by Moses Znaimer
. According to Znaimer, these media outlets primarily target what he calls "zoomers" or "baby boomer
s with zip", defined as people in their 50s, 60s and 70s who want to remain socially and culturally engaged and active.
ZoomerMedia was formed in December 2007 following Znaimer's acquisition and merger of Kemur Publishing, publishers of CARP Magazine, and website operator Fifty-Plus.Net International. It provides marketing, membership, and other services to CARP
(formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons), of which Znaimer serves as executive director, and publishes Zoomer Magazine (the renamed CARP Magazine). The company also operates several Internet properties including a portal and a social networking site, all targeted to older adult audiences.
In addition, Znaimer previously personally owned a variety of other assets that were also unofficially considered part of the "ZoomerMedia" group. These included southern Ontario classical music radio stations CFMZ-FM and CFMX-FM
(Classical 96 and Classical 103 respectively), adult standards station CFZM Toronto (AM 740), and the annual IdeaCity conference.
In June 2009, ZoomerMedia Limited announced a deal to acquire the broadcasting assets of S-VOX
, which includes conventional stations CHNU-TV
and CIIT-TV
along with specialty channels VisionTV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel
, for $25 million. As part of the transaction and a related private placement
, Znaimer also transferred the above-noted privately-held assets to ZoomerMedia.
Following the transactions (which required the approval of minority shareholders and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)), Znaimer owns 66% of the combined company, and insurance company Fairfax Financial owns 28%. All of these transactions were completed on June 30, 2010.
system, having been previously owned by Trinity Television before the sale to Rogers. Rogers sold the two stations to S-VOX on March 31, 2008.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
operations controlled by Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer, M.A., O.Ont is a co-founder and former head of Citytv, the first independent television station in Toronto, Canada, and the current head of ZoomerMedia.-Early life and career:...
. According to Znaimer, these media outlets primarily target what he calls "zoomers" or "baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
s with zip", defined as people in their 50s, 60s and 70s who want to remain socially and culturally engaged and active.
ZoomerMedia was formed in December 2007 following Znaimer's acquisition and merger of Kemur Publishing, publishers of CARP Magazine, and website operator Fifty-Plus.Net International. It provides marketing, membership, and other services to CARP
Canadian Association of Retired Persons
CARP is a Canadian organization advocating for the rights of those fifty years of age or older....
(formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons), of which Znaimer serves as executive director, and publishes Zoomer Magazine (the renamed CARP Magazine). The company also operates several Internet properties including a portal and a social networking site, all targeted to older adult audiences.
In addition, Znaimer previously personally owned a variety of other assets that were also unofficially considered part of the "ZoomerMedia" group. These included southern Ontario classical music radio stations CFMZ-FM and CFMX-FM
CFMX-FM
CFMZ-FM is a Canadian radio station, that broadcasts classical music at 96.3 FM in Toronto. The station is branded as Classical 96.CFMZ first aired in 1988 as a rebroadcaster of Cobourg's CFMX, with the call sign CFMX-FM-1. The station was originally licensed to Mississauga, the transmitter...
(Classical 96 and Classical 103 respectively), adult standards station CFZM Toronto (AM 740), and the annual IdeaCity conference.
In June 2009, ZoomerMedia Limited announced a deal to acquire the broadcasting assets of S-VOX
S-VOX
S-VOX Foundation is a Canadian non-profit media organization dedicated to producing content on faith and spirituality.The organization is the successor to the non-profit entity that operated VisionTV, and later other related Canadian specialty channels, from 1988 to 2010...
, which includes conventional stations CHNU-TV
CHNU-TV
CHNU-DT is an English language television station based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The station is licensed to the Fraser Valley Region, and also serves Metro Vancouver, Victoria and surrounding areas. CHNU is owned by ZoomerMedia, and is an owned and operated station of the Joytv...
and CIIT-TV
CIIT-TV
CIIT-DT is a Canadian English language television station based in and licensed to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The station is owned by ZoomerMedia and is an owned and operated station of the Joytv television system. CIIT broadcasts a variety of multi-faith and family-oriented programming.-History:In...
along with specialty channels VisionTV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel
One: The Body, Mind & Spirit Channel
One is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel. It offers lifestyle and entertainment programming devoted to programming on yoga and meditation, weight loss and fitness, sex and relationships, natural health and nutrition, and alternative medicine...
, for $25 million. As part of the transaction and a related private placement
Private placement
Private placement is a funding round of securities which are sold without an initial public offering, usually to a small number of chosen private investors...
, Znaimer also transferred the above-noted privately-held assets to ZoomerMedia.
Following the transactions (which required the approval of minority shareholders and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)), Znaimer owns 66% of the combined company, and insurance company Fairfax Financial owns 28%. All of these transactions were completed on June 30, 2010.
Conventional television stations
ZoomerMedia's two conventional stations are part of a television system known as Joytv. Both are licensed as religious television stations that air religious-based programs in addition to other family friendly and entertainment programs. Both were previously owned by S-VOX. They had previously been a part of the Omni TelevisionOMNI Television
Omni Television, corporately styled as OMNI Television, is a Canadian television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications. It consists of the company's conventional television stations in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta which are licensed as multicultural stations...
system, having been previously owned by Trinity Television before the sale to Rogers. Rogers sold the two stations to S-VOX on March 31, 2008.
- CHNU-TVCHNU-TVCHNU-DT is an English language television station based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The station is licensed to the Fraser Valley Region, and also serves Metro Vancouver, Victoria and surrounding areas. CHNU is owned by ZoomerMedia, and is an owned and operated station of the Joytv...
, VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(Joytv 10). - CIIT-TVCIIT-TVCIIT-DT is a Canadian English language television station based in and licensed to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The station is owned by ZoomerMedia and is an owned and operated station of the Joytv television system. CIIT broadcasts a variety of multi-faith and family-oriented programming.-History:In...
, WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
(Joytv 11)
Specialty channels
- VisionTV; airing multi-faith and multi-cultural programming
- One; programming on natural health, personal growth and holistic lifestyles.
- Beautiful Little Channel; Classical music and fine arts programming (Yet to Launch)
Radio
- CFMZ-FM, TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(Classical 96) - CFZM, Toronto, Ontario (Zoomer Radio)
- CFMX-FMCFMX-FMCFMZ-FM is a Canadian radio station, that broadcasts classical music at 96.3 FM in Toronto. The station is branded as Classical 96.CFMZ first aired in 1988 as a rebroadcaster of Cobourg's CFMX, with the call sign CFMX-FM-1. The station was originally licensed to Mississauga, the transmitter...
, Cobourg, OntarioCobourg, OntarioCobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
(Classical 103)
Other assets
- 64 Jefferson Avenue (commercial building in Toronto, Ontario)
- MZTV Museum of Television
- MZTV Production & Distribution
- ideaCity (conference)
- Marketing / membership operations of CARP
- Zoomer Management Limited
- ZoomerCard
- ZoomerShow