Media Awareness Network receives $1.5 million in CRTC tangible benefits

May 29, 2008 (Ottawa) – Media Awareness Network (MNet), Canada’s leading not-for-profit media education organization, is pleased to announce $1.5 million in new funding over the next seven years, from two of the country’s largest broadcast companies.

The funding flows from tangible benefits packages, which are required by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for broadcast company-related acquisitions. The new funding comes from CTVglobemedia ($1,000,000) and Canwest ($500,000), and results from two recent and separate transactions.

The funding announcement was made at MNet’s annual general meeting in Ottawa, which was attended by representatives of the two benefactor companies.

“We are honoured that CTVglobemedia and Canwest have recognized our work in promoting the importance of media literacy in the healthy development of children. We are also grateful to the CRTC, for continuing to acknowledge the role that media education and MNet play within our broadcasting system”, said Cathy Wing, MNet’s Co-Executive Director.

“This private sector support comes at a very important time for our organization”, Wing continued. “It will help to sustain us over the next seven years as we work to meet the increasing demand for resources that address issues related to children’s use of digital media.”

CTVglobemedia and Canwest have a long history of supporting the Media Awareness Network, both through financial contributions and involvement on its Board of Directors.

MNet received $550,000 in benefits from CTV in 2001, which helped to support the development of its ground breaking Internet literacy and anti-racism programs. For the past two years, CTVglobemedia has been the presenting sponsor for National Media Education Week—an initiative of MNet and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation.

Canwest Global allocated $500,000 in benefits to MNet in 2000. This funding helped to support the development of a wide-range of media literacy programs, including MNet’s award-winning materials on diversity representation and online hate.

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About Media Awareness Network (MNet)
MNet was founded in 1995 as a result of a CRTC initiative on children and television violence, and since that time has become an internationally recognized leader in media education and Web literacy. Its vision is to ensure children and youth possess the necessary critical thinking skills and tools to understand and actively engage with media. MNet's programs are funded by public and private sector sponsors, donors and partners, who include: Bell Canada · CTVglobemedia · Canwest · TELUS · Microsoft Canada · CTV · National Film Board of Canada · Government of Canada.

For media inquiries:

Cathy Wing
Co-Executive Director
cwing@media-awareness.ca
613 224-7721, ext. 227

About CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multimedia company with ownership of CTV, Canada’s #1 television network, and The Globe and Mail, Canada’s #1 national newspaper. CTV Inc. owns and operates 27 conventional stations across the country, with interests in 35 specialty channels, including Canada’s #1 specialty channel, TSN. CTVglobemedia also owns the CHUM Radio Division, which operates 35 radio stations throughout Canada, including CHUM FM, Canada’s # 1 FM station. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and the Air Canada Centre; and an interest in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities.

For media inquiries:

Carolyn Delamere
Manager, Corporate Communications
cdelamere@ctvglobemedia.com
416-332-4603

About Canwest
Canwest Global Communications Corp. (www.canwest.com), (TSX: CGS and CGS.A) an international media company, is Canada's largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, Canwest is Canada's largest publisher of paid English language daily newspapers and owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, web sites and radio stations and networks in Canada, Australia, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For media inquiries:

Lauren Wilson
Manager, Community Relations & Public Affairs
Canwest
416-967-2485