In January, Winnipeg-based Moffat also announced its $1.2-billion takeover by Shaw Communications of Calgary, pending federal approval.
And Corus, which is controlled by Shaw Canada's second-biggest cable operator said in late February it would comply with demands from the broadcast regulator and sell the company's half-interest in the Family Channel, a specialty cable TV operation.
Corus also announced plans on Thursday to sell its interest in The Family Channel for cash to Astral Media for $126.9 million.
The deal will also give Astral Media, which already owns 50% of Family, 40% ownership of the popular Teletoon animation channel held through Family.
Corus said it would want to buy back the Family Channel if the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission decides to scrap its ban on cable TV companies such as Shaw owning specialty channels. That policy is under review.
Later Thursday morning, Corus said it will sell its Viewer's Choice Pay-Per-View service to Shaw Communications for $35 million.
"Corus' strength is in programming and Viewer's Choice was not an asset that leveraged that strength and expertise," John Cassaday, president and CEO of Corus, said in a release. "We concluded that that the property was not a strategic fit with our company's focus and it made good business sense to sell it for fair market value and reinvest the proceeds into our core business."
The sale is subject to CRTC approval.
Corus owns radio stations and specialty, pay and conventional TV services, with a focus on children's programming.
Moffat's holdings include broadcast and specialty TV, cable and Internet services through subsidiaries in Canada and the U.S. including: Videon CableSystems, serving cable and Internet subscribers in Alberta, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario; and Moffat International Corp., serving cable and Internet subscribers in Florida and Texas.
In addition to WTN, Moffat owns CKY-TV, the CTV affiliate in Manitoba.
