Rogers Media "will launch Sportsnet magazine" in October, according to Susan Krashinsky of the GLOBE & MAIL. An issue "will come out every other week, with sports features and opinion pieces." Rogers Sportsnet's TV personalities and website writers "will be brought in to help work on the new magazine, and new hires for the magazine will be expected to appear on other Rogers Media properties." Sportsnet "has made new hires this year with an eye on the magazine launch." Rogers Media hired former Globe & Mail columnist Michael Grange last week and former CP reporter Shi Davidi earlier this year, and both will be regular contributors to the magazine. Sportsnet "has also hired Stephen Brunt, who continues to write for The Globe and Mail," as well as Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox. Rogers Media President Keith Pelley said that the magazine "will work with a staff or roughly 35 people ... many of them new hires." He added Rogers' goal is to be the "most integrated media company in Canada" (THEGLOBEANDMAIL.com, 6/9). In Toronto, Daniel Girard notes the magazine will debut "with a circulation of 100,000 copies" and will "be available by subscription and on newsstands." It will "focus on major professional leagues and top amateur events" (TORONTO STAR, 6/10).
DOCUMENTARY TREATMENT: The GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin noted TSN has announced that the "same production company that did their Oil Change series on the Edmonton Oilers will produce a four-part documentary" on the CFL Toronto Argonauts "to be seen this season." TSN said that the series "will wallow in Argo history, lore and legend -- plus go behind the scenes with the current team as it struggles to solidify its niche in the Toronto market." Dowbiggin wrote with "rumours of the NFL on the horizon in southern Ontario growing more insistent, this may be a best chance/ last chance to get CFL fans onside with the Argos" (GLOBESPORTS.com, 6/9).
