Rogers Communications Inc

Rogers Communications Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, increasing its ownership of MLSE to 100%. Rogers acquired the remaining 25% ownership stake in MLSE from Kilmer Sports Inc. for C$4.35 billion. MLSE includes the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, the development teams affiliated with Toronto's NHL and NBA franchises, Scotiabank Arena, and its partnership with Live Nation. Rogers will create a new business unit, Rogers Sports, that brings its sports, media and entertainment businesses together including MLSE and the Toronto Blue Jays. Keith Pelley will remain President and CEO of MLSE and Mark Shapiro will remain President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, with Pelley taking on additional accountability for Rogers Media effective immediately.

Gabelli Global Rising Income and Dividend Fund kept Rogers Communications Inc. as a holding and used its second-quarter 2026 investor letter to explain the position, noting that in July 2026 Rogers agreed to buy the remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment from Kilmer Sports for C$4.35 billion, lifting its interest in the entity to 100%. The fund said Rogers owns the largest wireless operator and the largest cable multiple service operator in Canada, plus a media business focused on sports and regional TV and radio, including the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and a controlling interest in MLSE, whose teams include the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC. Rogers is focused on unlocking value from its sports portfolio, with next steps likely to include combining all sports and media assets into a single organization and selling a sizeable minority interest in that entity to institutional investors. The fund returned 5.78% in the second quarter of 2026, trailing the MSCI World Index, which gained 13.90%, and had $73.1 million in net assets at the end of the quarter. Rogers shares traded between $31.38 and $41.14 over the last 52 weeks and closed at approximately $34.41 on September 22, 2026, giving the company a market capitalization of about $18.68 billion. Twenty-two hedge fund portfolios held Rogers at the end of the first quarter, compared with 25 in the previous quarter.

Rogers will offer Apple's latest lineup, including iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max begin Saturday, September 12, with availability starting Friday, September 18, while pre-orders for the iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone, begin Friday, October 16, with availability starting Friday, October 23. The new Apple Watch lineup is available to pre-order now, with availability beginning Friday, September 18. Anne Martin-Vachon, President, Wireless, Rogers, said the company is committed to providing customers with the best wireless plans with premium features, great value and a network built to help them get the most out of their device. Rogers customers can get the new devices with a 5G+ plan on Canada's best and most reliable 5G+ network, including the Rogers 5G+ Ultimate plan, which features Priority Network Access for consumers, satellite-to-mobile connectivity, a five-year price guarantee, unlimited high-speed data and roaming in up to 64 global destinations.

Rogers and OEG Sports & Entertainment have announced a 10-year extension of their strategic partnership, keeping Rogers Place as the home of the Edmonton Oilers through 2036. The extension, announced on September 8, 2026, coincides with the 10-year anniversary of Rogers Place. To celebrate, Rogers is giving away more than 1,500 Oilers tickets to customers throughout the season, including 300 for the Home Opener on September 29 against Vancouver. Tony Staffieri, President and CEO of Rogers, highlighted the strength of the partnership and the shared belief that hockey connects communities. Hugh Weber, CEO of OEG Sports & Entertainment, noted the extension is a testament to the partnership's strength and excitement for the next decade. The deal expands on the unprecedented sponsorship agreement signed in 2013, including extensive brand placements and in-arena applications.

Gabelli's Global Content & Connectivity Fund, in its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, highlighted Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE: RCI) as a key holding, noting the company's agreement to purchase the remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment from Kilmer Sports for C$4.35 billion, which will increase Rogers' interest to 100%. The fund reported a strong quarter, with Class I shares gaining 12.88%, outperforming its benchmark but trailing the broader MSCI AC World Index. Rogers Communications, a Canadian communications and media company, owns the largest wireless operator and cable MSO in Canada, along with sports and media assets including the Toronto Blue Jays. The fund believes Rogers will continue unlocking value from its sports portfolio, potentially combining all sports and media assets into a single organization and selling a minority stake to institutional investors.

Rogers Communications and Quebecor have announced a new 12-year sublicensing agreement for French-language national NHL games, starting with the 2026-27 season. Under the deal, TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct will broadcast up to 350 regular-season NHL games per season, including 32 Montréal Canadiens regular-season games and exclusive French rights to all Canadiens games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This represents an increase of 10 regular-season Canadiens games compared to the previous agreement. The sublicensing arrangement is part of a larger 12-year national media rights agreement between Rogers and the NHL, covering all platforms in Canada from 2026-27 through 2037-38. Quebecor's CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau and Rogers' CEO Tony Staffieri both expressed enthusiasm for the expanded partnership, which also includes coverage of playoff rounds and NHL tentpole events.

Rogers Communications reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 83 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.75% and rising 1.2% year over year. Total revenues increased 7.7% to C$5.62 billion, driven by a 53% surge in Media revenues to C$1.16 billion, which included about C$310 million from the consolidation of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Wireless revenues were flat at C$2.54 billion, while Cable revenues edged up 1% to C$1.98 billion. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA grew 3% to C$2.44 billion, and the company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for total service revenue growth of 3% to 5% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 1% to 3%.

Rogers Communications has agreed to buy the remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment from Kilmer Sports for CAD 4.35 billion, giving Rogers 100% ownership of Canada's largest sports management and live entertainment company. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and Toronto Argonauts, as well as several development franchises. Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri called the deal a defining moment, saying full ownership brings together Canada's premier communications company with its premier sports and entertainment organization, creating more opportunity to invest in championship-caliber teams, unique fan experiences, and long-term shareholder value. Rogers plans to finance the transaction with committed liquidity, and shares rose more than 1% in early trading.