ZoomerMedia

ZoomerMedia Limited is a Canadian media company founded by veteran broadcaster and media executive Moses Znaimer. The company was created in 2008 around publishing and internet assets associated with CARP, a Canadian organization serving older adults. Its name comes from “zoomer,” a term Znaimer used for active baby boomers and other adults entering later life while retaining strong interests in culture, travel, health, entertainment, technology, and civic life. The company initially focused on an audience broadly described as adults aged 45 to 65, including baby boomers. Its early portfolio combined magazines, websites, membership-related activities, events, radio stations, and television properties. ZoomerMedia was formed through Znaimer’s acquisition of Kemur Publishing and Fifty-Plus.Net International, businesses originally established by CARP founders Lillian and Murray Morgenthau to operate commercial publishing and online activities separately from the association’s nonprofit structure. ZoomerMedia completed a reverse takeover and became publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange in July 2008, although its current listing status is not established here. The company expanded substantially in 2010 when it acquired the broadcasting assets of S-VOX and incorporated several privately held media assets owned by Znaimer. The S-VOX transaction brought VisionTV and One, along with conventional television stations in Vancouver and Winnipeg, into the broader group. The related restructuring also brought three Toronto-area radio stations owned through MZ Media into ZoomerMedia. These transactions created a diversified Canadian media operation spanning radio, specialty television, conventional television, magazines, production, digital services, conferences, and membership-oriented marketing activities. The company’s television portfolio subsequently included properties such as VisionTV, One, Joytv-related stations, and their later branded or programming changes. Radio has remained an important part of the business. ZoomerMedia operates or has operated Toronto stations including Zoomer Radio and classical music services, as well as stations in markets such as Cobourg, Collingwood, and Owen Sound. Its magazine and lifestyle brands have included Zoomer Magazine, On the Bay, and Tonic. Other activities associated with the group include the MZTV Museum of Television, MZTV Production & Distribution, ideaCity, ZoomerShow, ZoomerCard, VoxBox, Zoomer Management Limited, and digital properties connected with lifestyle, culture, food, local information, and technology. During the 2020s, ZoomerMedia broadened its audience strategy beyond its traditional older-adult focus. It acquired publishers and digital properties with substantial reach among younger adults and urban audiences, including blogTO in 2022 and Daily Hive later that year. The group subsequently added or acquired interests associated with Dished, Offside, The Peak, Ludwig-Van.com, and MobileSyrup. Management presented these additions as a way to combine the company’s established audience and advertising relationships with social-first content, local discovery, technology coverage, and integrated cross-platform campaigns. The strategy did not abandon ZoomerMedia’s original demographic positioning; rather, it sought to extend the company’s reach across age groups and create a broader digital and advertising network. ZoomerMedia continues to be associated with Canadian media properties aimed at lifestyle, culture, news, entertainment, classical music, local communities, and older and midlife consumers, while also pursuing younger digital audiences. Its operations have changed through acquisitions, station transactions, rebranding, and portfolio consolidation, and the exact composition of its assets may change over time.

ZoomerMedia emerged from a commercial media initiative connected to CARP, a Canadian organization serving older adults. CARP founders Lillian and Murray Morgenthau had established Kemur Publishing and Fifty-Plus.Net International to operate publishing and internet businesses outside the nonprofit association. These businesses generated revenue through commercial arrangements connected with CARP. In February 2008, Moses Znaimer acquired the two companies and announced the creation of ZoomerMedia. The name reflected Znaimer’s use of “zoomer” to describe active baby boomers and other older adults who approached retirement and later life with energy, curiosity, and continued consumer and cultural interests. The original strategy focused on people approximately 45 to 65 years old. The planned portfolio included magazine publishing, web services, events, social networking, and other lifestyle properties. ZoomerMedia completed a reverse takeover and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in July 2008. The company’s major early expansion came through broadcasting. In June 2009, ZoomerMedia announced an agreement to acquire S-VOX’s broadcasting assets. The proposed portfolio included VisionTV, One, and conventional television stations CHNU-TV in Vancouver and CIIT-TV in Winnipeg. The transaction also contemplated the incorporation of MZ Media, a private company owned by Znaimer that held Toronto-area radio stations including CFMZ-FM, CFMX-FM, and CFZM. Required shareholder and regulatory processes were completed on June 30, 2010, creating a substantially larger media group with radio, television, magazine, and digital operations. ZoomerMedia subsequently operated television assets associated with the Joytv system. The conventional stations had previously passed through other ownership structures, including Omni Television and S-VOX. In 2013, CIIT in Winnipeg was rebranded Hope TV and moved away from the wider Joytv programming model toward religious programming. The group’s specialty television interests included VisionTV and One, with related brands and distribution interests in the United States. Alongside broadcasting, ZoomerMedia developed and maintained a collection of lifestyle and culture brands. These included Zoomer Magazine, On the Bay, Tonic, radio services such as Zoomer Radio and classical music stations, and ventures including the MZTV Museum of Television, MZTV Production & Distribution, ideaCity, ZoomerShow, ZoomerCard, VoxBox, and Zoomer Management Limited. The company also retained relationships with CARP-related marketing and membership operations. In the 2020s, ZoomerMedia changed from a business centered primarily on the 45-plus market into a more age-diverse media platform. It acquired the publisher of blogTO in February 2022 and the publisher of Daily Hive in September 2022. These properties gave the company stronger positions in local discovery, urban culture, food, entertainment, and social media. Company digital executive Omri Tintpulver described the acquisitions as opportunities to reach younger adults while retaining significant overlap with ZoomerMedia’s established audience and developing integrated advertising and content programs. The digital expansion continued with additional properties or brands connected with Dished, Offside, The Peak, Ludwig-Van.com, and MobileSyrup. In 2024, ZoomerMedia was announced as the buyer of Bell Media’s Owen Sound radio station CJOS-FM, and Blue Ant Media sold MobileSyrup to the company. These moves illustrate ZoomerMedia’s continuing strategy of combining broadcast assets with digital publishing and audience-oriented media services. The company remains an active Canadian media group, although its precise ownership, listing, and asset portfolio should be checked against current corporate and regulatory records.

1. 2024CJOS-FM transaction announced

   Bell Media announced the sale of Owen Sound station CJOS-FM to ZoomerMedia.

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2. 2024MobileSyrup joins the portfolio

   Blue Ant Media sold the MobileSyrup mobile and technology news website to ZoomerMedia.

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3. 2022Expansion into younger-audience digital media

   ZoomerMedia acquired the publisher of blogTO and later the publisher of Daily Hive, extending its digital reach beyond its traditional older-adult audience.

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4. 2013CIIT becomes Hope TV

   The Winnipeg conventional station was rebranded from its Joytv identity as Hope TV and adopted a more exclusively religious programming format.

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5. 2010Broadcasting and radio transactions close

   The S-VOX transaction and the addition of Znaimer’s MZ Media radio assets were completed on June 30.

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6. 2010Toronto headquarters relocation

   ZoomerMedia relocated its headquarters to 64 Jefferson Avenue in Toronto.

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7. 2009Agreement to acquire S-VOX broadcasting assets

   The company announced an agreement to purchase S-VOX assets including VisionTV, One, CHNU-TV, and CIIT-TV.

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8. 2008ZoomerMedia is announced

   Moses Znaimer announced the company after acquiring Kemur Publishing and Fifty-Plus.Net International, two commercial businesses associated with CARP.

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9. 2008Reverse takeover and TSX Venture listing

   ZoomerMedia completed a reverse takeover and became publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange in July.

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A diversified Canadian media group originally positioned around active adults and baby boomers, with a later strategy of extending into younger, urban, local, culture, food, sports, and technology-focused digital audiences.

• Zoomer RadioRadio broadcasting

  A Toronto radio service associated with ZoomerMedia’s original lifestyle and older-adult audience strategy. It forms part of the company’s radio portfolio, which also includes classical music services and stations in other Ontario markets.

• Zoomer MagazineMagazine publishing2008

  A lifestyle magazine built around the Zoomer concept of active, engaged adults in midlife and later life. Its subject areas are associated with culture, health, travel, entertainment, and contemporary aging.

• VisionTVSpecialty television

  A Canadian specialty television service acquired as part of the S-VOX broadcasting transaction. It became one of the best-known television properties in ZoomerMedia’s expanded broadcast portfolio.

• blogTODigital publishing

  A Toronto-focused digital publication covering local news, food, entertainment, events, and urban culture. Its acquisition helped ZoomerMedia extend into younger and more city-oriented audiences while supporting integrated digital advertising.

• Daily HiveDigital publishing

  A multi-market digital publication focused on local information, lifestyle, food, entertainment, and urban audiences. It became part of ZoomerMedia’s younger-audience digital expansion in 2022.

• MobileSyrupTechnology publishing

  A Canadian mobile, telecommunications, and technology news website acquired by ZoomerMedia from Blue Ant Media in 2024, adding specialist technology coverage to the group’s digital portfolio.

• ZoomerShowEvents

  An event and exhibition associated with the Zoomer lifestyle brand, designed to connect consumers and exhibitors around products, services, and experiences relevant to active older adults.

• ideaCityConference

  A conference venture associated with ZoomerMedia and its broader interest in ideas, culture, public discussion, and influential speakers.

• 2022Expand into younger digital audiencesStrategy

  ZoomerMedia’s established audience was older than the audiences served by many digital-first local and lifestyle publications.

  What changed. The company acquired the publishers of blogTO and Daily Hive and pursued a broader network of digital properties and integrated advertising opportunities.

  Aftermath. The strategy extended the company into local discovery, urban culture, food, entertainment, and social-first content while retaining overlap with its core audience.

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• 2010Combine S-VOX and MZ Media broadcasting assetsStrategy

  The S-VOX acquisition was paired with a plan to bring Znaimer’s privately held MZ Media radio properties into the public company.

  What changed. ZoomerMedia completed the related transactions and added Toronto-area radio stations including CFMZ-FM, CFMX-FM, and CFZM.

  Aftermath. The combination created a diversified radio and television group alongside ZoomerMedia’s publishing and digital properties.

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• 2009Acquire S-VOX broadcasting assetsM&A

  ZoomerMedia sought to expand from publishing and digital media into a larger broadcasting operation.

  What changed. The company announced an agreement to acquire S-VOX’s broadcasting assets, including VisionTV, One, CHNU-TV, and CIIT-TV.

  Aftermath. The transaction closed in 2010 after shareholder and Canadian regulatory approvals, significantly increasing ZoomerMedia’s television footprint.

  Announced acquisition value. C$25 million (2009 announced transaction)

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• 2008Build a media company around active older adultsStrategy

  The company was created from commercial publishing and internet assets connected with CARP and was named for Znaimer’s concept of active baby boomers.

  What changed. ZoomerMedia developed magazines, websites, events, radio, television, and related services aimed primarily at adults between approximately 45 and 65.

  Aftermath. This demographic positioning shaped the company’s early identity and portfolio before later digital acquisitions broadened its audience.

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• 2024Bell Media announces sale of CJOS-FM to ZoomerMedia

  Bell Media announced the proposed sale of its Owen Sound radio station CJOS-FM to ZoomerMedia.

  M&A
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• 2024ZoomerMedia acquires MobileSyrup

  Blue Ant Media sold the mobile and technology news website MobileSyrup to ZoomerMedia.

  M&A
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• 2022ZoomerMedia acquires the publisher of blogTO

  The company began its expansion into younger-audience digital media through the acquisition of the publisher of blogTO.

  M&A
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• 2022ZoomerMedia acquires the publisher of Daily Hive

  ZoomerMedia acquired the publisher of Daily Hive, adding a broader urban and younger-adult digital publishing platform.

  M&A
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• 2013CIIT changes from Joytv programming to Hope TV

  CIIT-TV in Winnipeg was rebranded as Hope TV and shifted away from the broader Joytv programming format toward religious programming.

  Other
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• 2010S-VOX transaction and MZ Media restructuring are completed

  The S-VOX acquisition and the incorporation of Znaimer-owned MZ Media radio assets into ZoomerMedia were completed on June 30.

  M&A
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• 2010ZoomerMedia relocates its headquarters

  The company moved its headquarters to 64 Jefferson Avenue in Toronto.

  Other
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• 2009ZoomerMedia agrees to acquire S-VOX broadcasting assets

  ZoomerMedia announced an agreement to acquire S-VOX broadcasting assets, including VisionTV, One, and conventional television stations, subject to required approvals.

  M&A
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• 2008ZoomerMedia is formed through acquisitions of CARP-associated publishing and internet assets

  Moses Znaimer announced ZoomerMedia after acquiring Kemur Publishing and Fifty-Plus.Net International, creating a commercial media company focused initially on active adults and baby boomers.

  Other
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• 2008ZoomerMedia completes reverse takeover and begins trading on the TSX Venture Exchange

  The company completed a reverse takeover and became publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange in July.

  Other
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1. ZoomerMedia