Why Rogers stole Pelley from CTV

After just four months as executive vice-president of strategic planning at CTVglobemedia Inc., Richard Pelley has left to job to become president of Rogers Media. Here’s why Rogers stole him away.

The Globe and Mail reports:

“After overseeing 4,800 hours of Olympics broadcasting last winter, juggling content across television screens, the Internet and the radio, there’s little doubt that Keith Pelley is a man of many media.”

Now Pelley is in charge of one of the country’s largest and most diversified media groups – it was that Olympic work that made Rogers interested in him, the Globe says, adding:

“The move means that Mr. Pelley, 46, will not be in charge of the Olympic consortium for the Summer Olympics in London in 2012. CTV confirmed on Tuesday that Mr. Pelley’s resignation from the company includes relinquishing his role as president of the consortium, for which he was on loan.” 

Pelley will be responsible for Rogers’ CITY-TV broadcast network, its publishing division (including magazines such as Chatelaine, Maclean’s, trade publications and a host of websites), digital properties, specialty channels, and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Globe adds: “Rogers has just launched a national sports specialty network, Sportsnet One, which is broadcasting Jays games and has secured NHL deals in a bid to make the new station more attractive to other cable and satellite carriers.”