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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 April 2005
Commission File Number: 001-14148
CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
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
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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
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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 April
3, 2005.
Exhibit 1
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 3, 2005
CANWEST MEDIAWORKS NZ REPORTS
12% EBITDA INCREASE FOR FIRST HALF OF FISCAL 2005
First interim dividend of $0.04 per share to be paid in May
Winnipeg - CanWest Global Communications Corp. announced today that its
70%-owned New Zealand media operation, CanWest MediaWorks (NZ) Limited, reported
consolidated earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) of NZ$37.9 million for the six months ended February 28, 2005, a 12%
improvement compared with pro forma results for the same period last year. The
Company's consolidated revenues increased by 8% to NZ$124.6 million compared to
pro forma revenue of NZ$115.0 million in the same period last year. These
results are recorded in accordance with New Zealand GAAP and will be subject to
adjustment to Canadian GAAP upon consolidation with CanWest Global
Communications Corp.'s other media operations
CanWest MediaWorks (NZ) is a publicly-traded company listed on the New Zealand
Stock Exchange. The Company was reorganized for its public share offering in
July 2004. Pro forma financial results for the prior year reflect the combined
results of CanWest TVWorks Limited and CanWest RadioWorks Limited, which are
comparable to the current year's consolidated financial results.
The Company's Directors have approved an interim dividend of NZ$0.04 per share
to be paid for the six month period ended February 28, 2005. The dividend will
be paid on May 16, to shareholders of record as of May 6, 2005, and will carry
full imputation credits. CanWest Global expects to receive aggregate dividends
of approximately NZ$6.3 million in May 2005.
"We are extremely well satisfied with the financial performance of the Company.
Our radio and television brands are all performing very well," said Tom Strike,
Chairman of CanWest MediaWorks (NZ) and President of CanWest MediaWorks
International.
Brent Impey, CanWest MediaWorks (NZ)'s Chief Executive Officer, pointed to the
exceptional results of TVWorks, which experienced an impressive 27% increase in
EBITDA for the first half of the fiscal year, compared to results for the same
period last year. "A NZ$3.6 million increase in EBITDA for TVWorks to NZ$20.2
million confirms the strength of the television operations."
The Company's radio operations, known as RadioWorks, also recorded significant
EBITDA gain, with a 7% increase to NZ$19.0 million for the six months ended
February 28, compared with EBITDA of NZ$17.8 million for the same period of the
previous year.
RadioWorks completed a number of strategic initiatives during the first half of
the year which included the strengthening the national brand profile of More FM
by re-branding 15 local stations under the More FM banner; the launch of Kiwi
FM, which plays 100% New Zealand music, into Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch; the re-branding of several more stations under the easy listening
The Breeze format; the acquisition of additional frequencies in the North Island
and the upcoming launch next week of the Radio Live network, which will take a
more contemporary approach to news and talk radio.
TVWorks also launch significant new programming with a re-launch of the news
flagship 3 News with new anchors, and the launch of Campbell Live, a
high-profile weeknight current affairs program that won its time slot out of the
gate.
This news release contains comments or forward-looking statements that are based
largely upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to certain
risks, trends and uncertainties. These factors could cause actual future
performance to vary materially from current expectations. The Company may not
update or revise any forward-looking statements or comments, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.SV and CGS.NV
www.CanWestglobal.com) is an international media company. CanWest 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 radio, conventional television,
out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels and Web sites in Canada, New
Zealand, Australia and Ireland.
For more information, please contact:
Geoffrey Elliot
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Tel: (204) 956-2025
Fax: (204) 947-9841
gelliot@canwest.com
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: April 6, 2005 By: /s/ JOHN E. MAGUIRE
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John E. Maguire
Chief Financial Officer