CORUS SWITCHES CHANNELS
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Corus Entertainment has sold its 50% interest in The Family Channel to Astral Media for $126.9 million, plans to sell its Viewer's Choice Pay-Per-View service to Shaw Communications for $35 million and has reached an agreement to purchase the Women's Television Network from Moffat Communications for $205 million. Each sale remains subject to approval of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In addition to WTN, Corus' collection of specialty channels includes Country Music Television and new digital channels The Canadian Documentary Channel and Land & Sea, launching this fall. The sales are described by spokespeople as being part of the company's plan to become Canada's leading entertainment company.