Ted Rogers, Founder Of Canada's Largest MSO, Dead At 75
Rogers Communications Reports Death Of ‘Visionary’ Cable Industry Icon
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 12/2/2008 2:15:00 AM
Edward Samuel "Ted" Rogers, founder and CEO of Rogers Communications, has died, the cable, wireless and media company announced Tuesday. He was 75.
Rogers died of congestive heart failure at his home in Toronto and was “surrounded by loved ones when he died,” the company said. He had been hospitalized in October with a pre-existing heart condition.
"We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Loretta and all of the Rogers family for this loss," Rogers chairman and acting CEO Alan Horn said, in a statement. "Ted Rogers was one of a kind who built this company from one FM radio station into Canada's largest wireless, cable and media company. A leader also in giving to the community through his and Loretta's many philanthropic initiatives. He will be sadly missed."
The Rogers board of directors expects to form a committee to lead a search for a new CEO. In the interim, Horn will continue to serve as acting CEO and lead the company's office of the president.
Rogers built his company into a Canadian leader in wireless telecommunications, cable TV and broadband, broadcasting, publishing and other businesses. The company today serves 7.7 million wireless subscribers, 2.3 million basic cable subs and 1.6 million high-speed Internet customers.
"The entire U.S. cable industry today mourns the loss of our friend, Ted Rogers, a great leader and visionary in cable telecommunications whose impact is felt well beyond his beloved Canada,” NCTA president Kyle McSlarrow said in a statement. “Ted shared his pioneering vision with this industry for more than 40 years, as a provider of services in both the United States and in Canada, and through his longtime service as a member of the CableLabs Board of Directors. We will truly miss his passionate leadership."
In the early 1960s, Rogers started Rogers Radio Broadcasting Limited, which acquired the nation’s pioneer FM station, CHFI-FM. After he approached Canada’s fledgling cable operators about carrying CHFI on spare channels, Rogers became interested in the business and decided to enter cable.
In 1967 Rogers was awarded cable TV licenses for areas in and around Toronto, Brampton and Leamington. During the 1970s, Rogers Cable TV became the first cable company to expand past 12 channels.
In 1980, Rogers purchased Premier Communications Limited, which almost doubled Rogers’ cable subscribers and made Rogers the largest cable television company in Canada. The company in 1985 entered the wireless phone business, competing with the incumbent telcos, with the launch of a national cellular telephone network in Canada.
In addition to diversifying into media and publishing, Rogers acquired the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club in September 2000 and in 2004 bought the Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome), which is the largest covered indoor entertainment complex in Canada. In July 2001, Rogers Media acquired Sportsnet, and renamed it Rogers Sportsnet.
Rogers earned his bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto in 1956. He was awarded a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1961 and was called to the bar of Ontario in 1962 but never practiced law.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family. He is survived by his wife, Loretta, whom he married in 1963; their four children, Lisa, Edward, Melinda and Martha; and four grandchildren: Chloe, Edward, Jack and Zachary.
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