Bart Yabsley Appointed Senior Vice President of NHL and Video Distribution at Rogers Media

TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Scott Moore, President of Sportsnet & NHL, Rogers Media, announced today the appointment of Bart Yabsley as Senior Vice President of NHL and Video Distribution, effective January 27.

In this new role, Yabsley is responsible for non-advertising/sponsorship revenue for NHL content including product development, managing NHL-related partnerships, and the distribution of NHL content to video providers.  He will also oversee the distribution of Rogers's specialty channels to content distributors across the country.

"I've had the pleasure of working with Bart for many years, and he is one of the most forward-thinking and esteemed media executives in the industry," said Moore.  "Bart is a seasoned and adept negotiator, whose strategic vision and ability to manage key relationships with video distributors will be a driving force behind the unparalleled delivery of our NHL content to Canadians."

Yabsley is a senior executive with more than 25 years of business and legal expertise, with an extensive background in conventional and specialty television and corporate M&A transactions.

For the last 12 years, Yabsley held senior executive roles at Bell Media, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Content Sales & Distribution, where he led the distribution, licensing and marketing for Bell Media's TV networks and non-linear programming.  Previously, Yabsley was Executive Vice President, Business Planning and Distribution at CTV Inc., and Executive Vice President of CTV Specialty Television Inc.

"I couldn't be more excited to join the Rogers team and be part of the unprecedented combination of the company's communications assets and the best sports content in Canada," said Yabsley.  "I look forward to working with the NHL and video distributors, and know the importance of the NHL content that has been entrusted to us to deliver to Canadians."

Yabsley holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University.

About Rogers Media Inc.
Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), is a diversified leading Canadian media company that engages in television and radio broadcasting, publishing, digital, and sports entertainment. Rogers Broadcasting has 53 AM and FM radio stations across Canada; television properties include seven City stations, four OMNI multicultural television stations, Sportsnet (consisting of four regional channels and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and Sportsnet 360), and The Shopping Channel.  Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer and online magazines, such as Maclean's, Chatelaine, L'actualité, Canadian Business, and is the leading publisher of a number of industry, medical and financial publications. Rogers Media's suite of digital assets includes 90+ owned and 300+ premium partnership sites. Rogers Media Inc. owns Rogers Centre stadium, a year-round sports and entertainment facility, and the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club.

SOURCE: Rogers Media

Media Contact:

Andrea Goldstein, Rogers Media, 647.801.4394, [email protected]