TORONTO, April 4 /CNW/ - As the next critical move in reinforcing and growing Canada's reputation for excellence in quality documentaries, Rogers Broadcasting Limited, in partnership with a number of leading Canadian filmmakers and distributors, filed an application yesterday for The Documentary Channel, a new Category 1 digital specialty television channel, with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Rogers, long recognized as a champion of Canadian documentaries through the financial support provided by Rogers Telefund and Rogers Documentary Fund, decided to file the application after receiving extensive support and encouragement from many of Canada's foremost creators and distributors of documentaries.

In addition, market research indicated that documentaries rank as one of the most popular and desirable types of programming among Canadian TV viewers, second only to movies.

"The documentary is a uniquely Canadian form of expression, worthy of a dedicated channel in the Canadian broadcasting system," said Philip B. Lind, Vice Chairman, Rogers Communications Inc. "The Rogers Documentary Fund was recently renewed and is continuing its support through outright grants to successful documentary projects. Over $4 million was given to Canadian documentary producers during the Fund's initial four-year commitment from 1996 to 1999."

Rogers Documentary Fund, in only four years, supported a total of 136 documentaries made by producers from all across the country. In 1999 alone, the Fund helped finance 37 documentaries (22 in English and 15 in French), including the critically acclaimed Sheldon Kennedy - A Story of Human Courage and Camp X, the story of the secret Canadian training base for Allied spies during World War II.

Rogers Telefund, now in its twentieth year, has also supported, through interim financing, the creation of more than 100 documentaries. Both the Rogers' funds are significant and active supporters of the production industry's major "showcases" such as Hot Docs!, the Canadian documentary festival held in Toronto every year, the Banff Television Festival and the Summer Institute of Film and Television in Ottawa, among many others.

The next logical step is for Rogers to take on the challenge and excitement of creating a new Canadian channel devoted solely to documentaries, and to use its expertise and industry leadership role to enhance the popular art form.

Rogers has created some of Canada's leading new media services - all of which top their category. There is no broadcasting company in the country better able than Rogers to bring documentaries to the widest audience possible, and to promote the excellence of the genre, and its makers through interactivity.

Some of Canada's leading documentary filmmakers and distributors have partnered with Rogers to create The Documentary Channel including Vancouver's David Paperny; Peter Raymont, Toronto; Jan Rofekamp, Montreal; Alison Clayton, Ottawa; and Andrew Cochran, Halifax.

"The support Rogers has provided to Canadian documentary filmmakers has been invaluable. Rogers was the first to set up a much-needed financial support system for us, and for other Canadian filmmakers," said Peter Raymont, White Pine Pictures, creator of The Scattering of Seed/Mémoires d'un pays and the Genie Award-winning, The World Is Watching. "I'm delighted to be a part of the creation of The Documentary Channel, a celebration of the art and craft of documentary filmmaking. Canadians want to see more of what we do, and this channel will provide it."

Mr. Lind concluded, "The Documentary Channel is the extension of our long-established and highly productive working relationship with Canada's documentary filmmaking community. It's the most significant commitment we can make to them, because the channel gives us the added ability to actively promote and foster documentary filmmaking, as well as support it financially through the Rogers Funds."

Canadian filmmakers pioneered the documentary genre and have continued to play a leading role in its development. Canada's pre-eminent place on the documentary stage is one of this country's greatest achievements in filmmaking and a source of immense pride for the industry, for audiences and for Rogers. Increasing audiences via The Documentary Channel will give the work of documentary filmmakers the exposure at home it deserves. Most importantly, it will provide opportunities for new generations of Canadian documentary filmmakers.

Rogers Broadcasting Limited operates 30 radio stations (15 AM and 15 FM) throughout Canada. It also operates the Shopping Channel, Canada's 24 hour electronic retailer; the country's first multilingual television station, CFMT; and has minority interests in three television programming services. Rogers Broadcasting Limited is a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (Toronto: RCI.A and RCI.B; NYSE: RG) Canada's national communications company, engaged in wireless communications, cable TV, high-speed Internet access, video retailing, publishing and new media businesses.

For further information: Jan Innes, Vice President Communications, Rogers Communications Inc. (416) 935-3525