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FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of March 2005
Commission File Number: 001-14148
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CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
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3100 TD CENTRE
201 PORTAGE AVENUE
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA,
CANADA R3B 3L7
(204) 956-2025
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F Form 40-F [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the
registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of
the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a
material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No [X]
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
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1 CanWest Global Communications Corp. Press Release
dated March 14, 2005.
Exhibit 1
[CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP. LOGO]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2005
TORSTAR, CANWEST AND METRO FORM JOINT VENTURE
AND LAUNCH METRO VANCOUVER
Toronto - Torstar Corporation, CanWest MediaWorks and Metro International S.A.
today announced the formation of a new joint venture to publish English-language
free daily newspapers in various Canadian cities. Each company will have a 33.3%
interest in the new venture.
The new venture will commence with today's launch of Metro Vancouver. The free
daily is specifically designed to capture top news items in a fast and
easy-to-read format for commuters. Metro Vancouver will be distributed free of
charge through street samplers and 2,500 boxes situated in high-traffic
locations including transit stops, university campuses and highly populated
business districts. Initial daily distribution for the Greater Vancouver Area
will be 145,000, with plans to increase circulation to 160,000. To date, Metro
in Canada (including Metro Toronto and Metro Montreal) boasts a weekly
readership of 1,295,000, and continues to show double-digit growth each year.
Pelle Tornberg, President and CEO of Metro International SA, commented: "This
new joint venture between `first class' media companies in Canada is an exciting
opportunity to leverage the global Metro brand in this important market and to
enhance our strong position in Northern America. Vancouver is a vibrant and
dynamic city with a strong youth-oriented and professional population which
makes it a perfect addition to the Metro family."
"We are delighted to extend our current relationship with Metro International to
include CanWest as we launch our free daily newspaper, Metro, in Vancouver,"
said Robert Prichard, President and CEO of Torstar Corporation, which has a 50%
interest in Metro Toronto. "Together, we will deliver an exciting alternative
for readers, building on the success we have had in Toronto. We also expect our
new partnership will launch new editions of Metro in other Canadian cities in
the months and years ahead. By combining the resources and skills of our three
companies, we will add a new voice in Vancouver and provide an important new
vehicle to advertisers."
"Rick Camilleri, President of CanWest MediaWorks, which has a equal share of the
joint venture, said "Metro is a natural complement to the CanWest MediaWorks
portfolio of assets, especially in Vancouver, a city that will undoubtedly
embrace the Metro concept and product. We're excited about creating this unique
joint venture with Torstar, one of the leading newspaper publishers in Canada,
and with Metro, which in a very short period of time has created a leading
international newspaper brand."
The unique format of the Metro publication and its extensive reach delivers a
new generation of premium audience to advertisers. A majority of Metro's
readership is between the ages of 18 to 49. More than half of Metro readers have
a combined household income of over $50,000. Advertising sales for Metro
International have grown at a compounded annual rate of 47% since the launch of
the first edition in 1995.
Metro Vancouver is the third Metro publication to be launched in Canada, and
follows on the heels of the highly successful Metro editions in Toronto and
Montreal.
ABOUT TORSTAR:
Torstar Corporation is a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (TS.nv.b). Its businesses include newspapers led by the Toronto Star,
Canada's largest daily newspaper; CityMedia Group, publishers of daily and
community newspapers in Southwestern Ontario; Metroland Printing, Publishing &
Distributing, publishers of more than 60 community newspapers in Southern
Ontario; and Harlequin Enterprises, a leading global publisher of women's
fiction.
TORSTAR CONTACT:
Robert J. Steacy
Executive Vice-President & CFO
Torstar Corporation
416 869-4031
ABOUT CANWEST MEDIAWORKS:
CanWest MediaWorks is a division of CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE:
CWG; TSX: CGS.SV and CGS.NV, www.CanWestglobal.com
<http://www.CanWestglobal.com>). CanWest, an international media company, is
Canada's largest media company. In addition to owning the Global Television
Network, CanWest is Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers and also
owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television,
out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks
in New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.
CANWEST CONTACT:
Michael Williams
President, CanWest MediaWorks Publications
416 383-2442
mwilliams@canwest.com
ABOUT METRO:
Metro Vancouver is part of the Metro International group. In Canada Metro also
publishes Metro Toronto and Metro Montreal (a French version). Metro is the
largest and fastest growing international newspaper in the world. Thirty-five
Metro editions are published in more than 100 cities in 17 countries in 16
languages across Europe, North & South America and Asia. Metro has a unique
global reach -- attracting a young, active, well-educated audience of more than
15 million daily readers and over 33 million weekly readers. Metro has an equal
number of male and female readers and 70% are under the age of 45.
Metro International S.A. `A' and `B' shares are listed on the Stockholmsborsen
`O-List' under the symbols MTROA and MTROB. For further information, please
visit www.metro.lu <http://www.metro.lu>
METRO INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS:
Pelle Tornberg, President & CEO +44 (0) 20 7016 1300
Henrik Persson, Corporate Communications +46 (0) 8 562 000 87
Email: info@metro.lu <mailto:info@metro.lu>
METRO VANCOUVER MEDIA CONTACT:
Kathryn Boothby
Phone: 905.465.3541
Cell: 905.330.0943
Email: kboothby1@cogeco.ca
CanWest Global Communications Corp
(204) 956-2025 ext 252
Our Mission: To Inform Enlighten and Entertain
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Date: March 16, 2005 By: /s/ JOHN E. MAGUIRE
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John E. Maguire
Chief Financial Officer