| Type | Public (TSX-V: ZUM) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | Toronto, Ontario (2007) |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Key people | Moses Znaimer (Founder) |
| Products | Broadcasting, Advertising, Publishing, Television production |
| Website | www.zoomermedia.ca |
ZoomerMedia Limited (TSX-V: ZUM) is a group of Canadian media operations controlled by Moses Znaimer.[1] According to Znaimer, these media outlets primarily target what he calls "zoomers" or "baby boomers with zip", defined as people in their 50s, 60s and 70s who want to remain socially and culturally engaged and active.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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%.[5] All of these transactions were completed on June 30, 2010.[6]
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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 Television 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.
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