For immediate release OMNI Television First Canadian Broadcaster to Air American Sign Language Programming TORONTO (March 3, 2004) - OMNI Television is proud to showcase a Canadian first -- information programming produced and broadcast entirely in American Sign Language (ASL). The world premiere of Deaf Pride and a companion pilot programme called Deaf TV airs on OMNI.2, Saturday March 20th starting at 8pm, as part of the new OMNI Television Documentary Special series. Deaf Pride centers around the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, held in Montreal in July of 2003, and what that gathering tells us about the state of Deaf culture around the world. The programme deals with the myths and realities of Deaf culture today and is hosted by Anselmo DeSousa, a Deaf Toronto youth advocate and actor. "We hope to show people that being Deaf is neither a misfortune nor a disability," said DeSousa. "The World Congress held in Montreal was a thrilling and positive experience, a powerful demonstration that Deaf people have their own culture, their own language, and, if given the chance, can live normal lives." Deaf Pride and Deaf TV were made possible with 100% funding from the OMNI Television Independent Producers Initiative. "As a strong supporter of diversity programming, we recognize the importance of including an American Sign Language (ASL) production among the more than 40 languages now broadcast on OMNI Television," says Malcolm Dunlop Vice President, Programming and Marketing for Rogers Media Television. "Further to that, deafness knows no ethnocultural barriers and ASL, as the primary language for the deaf community, allows us to reach new viewers within ethnocultural communities currently served. " Deaf Pride and Deaf TV producers, father and son team Donald Peter Reynolds and Peter Gordon Reynolds, have worked closely with the Deaf community for a number of years. Reynolds Sr. was the creator and executive producer of the award-winning CBC television series, "Disability Network" and "Silent News." Both are currently working towards their goal of producing Deaf TV as a weekly television series in ASL. This project is also being funded by the OMNI Television Independent Producers Initiative "We are thrilled that OMNI Television is not only financially backing this project but also acknowledging ASL as a distinct language group, " explains Reynolds Jr. "OMNI is leading the way and setting an example for other mainstream Canadian broadcasters." Deaf Pride and Deaf TV both feature English-language subtitling and voiceover to ensure their accessibility to hearing and non-hearing viewers alike. Both make use of the popular "windowing" format. "With windowing, we can have the ASL signer in one window and what he or she is signing about in the adjoining window," says Reynolds Jr. "This way, ASL takes pride of place. No tiny circle in the corner with the interpreter peeking out as most of us are used to." The text of what is being signed appears in clean, bold letters at the bottom of the screen. "We did not want to inflict ugly 'open captions' on viewers," says Reynolds Sr. "It's crucial the documentary attract a hearing audience as well because there is still much education that needs to be done about Deaf culture." 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 -