OMNI diversifies by launching Filipino, Arabic news broadcasts
Posted September 1, 2020 7:05 am.
Last Updated September 1, 2020 8:17 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – OMNI Television is broadening its diverse newscasts with two more national editions.
Tuesday marks the launch of OMNI News: Arabic Edition and OMNI News: Filipino Edition.
As race continues to be a major topic of conversation amid protests calling out systemic racism and racial injustice, some say the timing for this launch couldn’t be better.
“People of colour and racialized minorities are calling to be represented and, time and again, Rogers Sports & Media has show its strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. As part of the Filipino team, I am happy to be that instrument, we are all happy, to be that instrument to bring the stories of Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians to the screen,” Rhea Santos, a Vancouver-based video journalist for the Filipino edition, says.
Big day today for @OMNITelevision with the launch of OMNI News in Arabic and Filipino. @OmniArabic & @OMNIFilipino debut tonight. A big welcome and thank you to our 25 new team members. Good luck!
— julie adam (@julieadam) September 1, 2020
OMNI already delivers the news in four other languages, nationally, in Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, and Punjabi.
“Our new team of Filipino and Arabic-speaking journalists are diverse and keen to produce stories that are reflective of their communities while bridging cultural and generational gaps as well as shedding light on underreported topics and issues,” said Manuel Fonseca, director of OMNI Television, says in a release.
“OMNI has proudly served multilingual Canadians for 30 years in more than 40 languages, and today’s expansion of our national news service is an exciting milestone as we continue to deliver vital news and information that is relevant and meaningful.”
As a Filipina-Canadian, I am so excited to talk about this:
Add @OmniArabic & @OMNIFilipino to OMNI's national newscast line-up! I had the honour of speaking with now Vancouver-based @MsRheaSantos, who will be a part of the team fronting OMNI Filipino starting tonight.
— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) September 1, 2020
The Arabic and Filipino 30-minute broadcasts will run daily. The launch of these two new editions has created 25 new positions to support the newscasts, which will be produced at OMNI studios in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton.
“The Filipino team is a team of eight, nine people, and I’m just so glad to be working with Filipino journalists and Candians – Pinoys – who have extensive experience when it comes to covering news,” Santo says.
“We’re very open to the challenges that are ahead, and we get energy from each other, that’s why it makes work more exciting. You strive for excellence all the time.”
Born and raise in the Philippines, Santos has nearly two decades worth of experience in the TV broadcast news industry. She is the longest serving female news anchor in Philippine history.
If you don't know who @MsRheaSantos is: she spent almost 20 years hosting @UnangHirit & is the longest serving female news anchor in Philippine history. I watched her as a teen when I was in the Philippines so seeing her join @RogersMediaPR is surreal & means a lot.
— Ria Renouf ???? (@riarenouf) September 1, 2020
You can find the full OMNI News broadcast schedule here.
Rogers is the parent company of this station.
