Exhibit 99.1

CANWEST SELLS SHARES OF ULSTER TELEVISION PLC., (UTV) FOR PNDS STLG 59 MILLION



         WINNIPEG, June 30 /CNW/ - CanWest Global Communications Corp. announced
today that its wholly owned subsidiary, CanWest International Communications
Inc., has sold its holding of 15,763,545 million common shares of Ulster
Television Plc., for pnds stlg 3.75 per share in a transaction effected through
the London Stock Exchange. The cash proceeds from the transaction of
approximately pnds stlg 59 million, (approximately C$145 million) will be used
to reduce bank debt. CanWest will record a gain on the sale of the UTV shares of
approximately $50 million.

         "The sale of CanWest's shares in UTV is consistent with the previously
stated intention of the Company to divest non-core, non-strategic assets. While
valuable in its own right, CanWest's investment in UTV was no longer considered
to be of strategic importance in terms of the Company's overall media strategy,"
said Leonard Asper, President and Chief Executive Officer, CanWest Global
Communications Corp. CanWest acquired its interest in UTV in late 1997 and in
the intervening period has received $33 million in dividends from UTV.

         CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.S and CGS.A,
www.canwestglobal.com) is an international media company. CanWest, Canada's
largest publisher of daily newspapers, owns, operates and/or holds substantial
interests in newspapers, conventional television, out-of-home advertising,
specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand,
Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Company's program production and
distribution division operates in several countries throughout the world.

         For further information: Geoffrey Elliot, Vice President, Corporate
Affairs, Tel: (204) 956-2025, Fax: (204) 947-9841, gelliot@canwest.com; John
Maguire, Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (204) 956-2025, Fax: (204) 947-9841,
jmaguire@canwest.com