For immediate release OMNI.2 Airs World Premiere Of "Courage And Compassion: The Story Of Dr. Joseph Wong" Independently Produced Canadian Documentary TORONTO (February 2, 2004) – OMNI Television is proud to announce the world premiere of Courage and Compassion: The Story of Dr. Joseph Wong, as part of its new OMNI Television Documentary Special series. The new series showcases works made possible through OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative and features Canadian ethnocultural stories produced in non-official languages and in English. For maximum reach to its target audience, Courage and Compassion: The Story of Dr. Joseph Wong has been produced in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. The 60-minute documentary kicks off its run on OMNI with the Cantonese version, which will air twice on OMNI.2: Saturday, February 7th at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 8th at 10:00 p.m.. The Mandarin version of Courage and Compassion: The Story of Dr. Joseph Wong has been schedule to air on OMNI.2 in March (final airdate/time TBA). "Dr. Wong's story parallels the growth and contributions of the Chinese Canadian community over the past 30 years – not at all surprising, since he was at the heart of its evolution and in many ways led the community into the mainstream of Canadian life," says Digby Cook, Producer of Courage and Compassion: The Story of Dr. Joseph Wong. "OMNI Television deserves a tip of the hat for making it possible to tell his story because it forms an important chapter in the history of this country." "As Canada's authentic diversity broadcaster, OMNI Television is committed, not only to producing programming that reflects our ethnocultural audience, but also to inviting the various communities we serve to tell their own stories, in their own unique Canadian voice," says Malcolm Dunlop, Vice President, Programming and Marketing for Rogers Media Television. "OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative has helped open the door for many." OMNI Television currently has more than 25 independently produced ethnocultural projects in development, all receiving support funding through OMNI's Independent Producers' Initiative -- a seven year, $32.5 million production commitment created and made available for the independent production of Canadian third-language/ethnocultural programming. Combined, the documentary projects currently under development reflect more than 19 languages, including English, and represent over 80 new programme hours scheduled to be broadcast in early 2004. To date, more than $12 million of the total initiative has been put to work, out in the field. Digby Cook's documentary, Courage and Compassion: The Story of Dr. Joseph Wong was made possible with 100% funding from the OMNI Television Independent Producers Initiative. Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B; NYSE: RG) operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers Broadcasting has 43 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television properties include Toronto multicultural television broadcaster CFMT, televised and electronic shopping service, the Shopping Channel, regional sports channel, Rogers Sportsnet and the management of three digital television services. Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer magazines such as Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Flare, L’actualité, Canadian Business and is the leading publisher of a number of trade publications. All media properties are integrated with their own popular web sites. - 30 -