Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada's Telecom Empire
by Alexandra Posadzki
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Description
"A riveting and definitive account that takes us inside the spectacular battle for control of Canada's largest wireless carrier, and paints a larger picture of the telecom industry, known for its cut-throat competetiveness and high stakes drama. Alexandra Posadzki's groundbreaking coverage in the Globe and Mail of the long-simmering tensions within Rogers exposed one of the most spectacular boardroom and family dramas in Canadian corporate history--one that has not only pitted the show more extraordinarily powerful chairman and largest shareholder, Edward Rogers, against current management but also the wishes of his own late mother, and sisters. Hanging in the balance is no less than the recent acquisition of Shaw Communications for $26 billion, Roger's biggest deal in their history that can transform them into the truly national telecom that founder Ted Rogers always envisioned. Based on deeply sourced investigative reporting of the iconic $30 billion publicly traded telecom and media giant, Posadzki takes us inside a company that touches the lives of millions of Canadians, and challenges what we thought we knew about corporate governance and who really holds the power. Rogers vs. Rogers is also a story of family ownership and succession, of the new guard pushing back at the old guard, and how warring factions each interpret the desires of the founding patriarch and the very legacy of the company that bears their name."-- show lessTags
Member Reviews
Before the Stage Play 🍁
A review of the McClelland & Stewart hardcover (February 13, 2024) released simultaneously with the ebook / audiobook.
I recently saw Michael Healey's stage adaptation of this book at Crow's Theatre in Toronto. As the playscript [book:Rogers v. Rogers|244235507] is not expected to be published before February 17, 2026 I was curious to read the source material in advance of that.
See photo at https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9S0R8-WIAEHXka?format=jpg&name=large
Curtain call for actor Tom Rooney who plays all the parts in the stage adaptation of Rogers v. Rogers. Image sourced from own photo.
I don't normally read non-fiction business books (in fact this might be the only one I've ever read), but the story of Rogers v. show more Rogers has enough drama and comedy to keep me interested throughout. Healey's stage adaptation extracts mostly only the comic elements, making for a rollicking laugh-filled evening. Posadzki's real-life telling is of course more matter-of-fact although the various faux-pas along the way are all in there to be found.
So basically you get the story of how Ted Rogers (1933-2008) built up Rogers Communications to be the dominating force that it is in Canadian telecommunications and how he manoeuvred to maintain control of the company from inside his family even after his death. That resulted in rivalries between the wife and the various children, especially with the son Edward who felt entitled to be the ruling hand in the future. You get the stories of the notorious butt-dial where one Rogers executive learned in advance of his firing via a misplaced call. There is sister Martha's twitter storm denigrating Edward's takeover efforts. etc. etc.
In the stage-play, the head of the Canadian Competition Bureau plays a major role as the main force attempting to block Rogers takeover of Shaw Communications. In the source book, that character is barely mentioned, although that was his position. Still, this was an entertaining background to the machinations that went on behind the scenes which led to only a few companies having the monopoly of telecommunications in Canada. Bell and Telus being the other survivors now.
Trivia and Links
Playwright Michael Healey often adapts real-life Canadian stories for the theatre. I am only familiar with his [book:The Master Plan|137180023] (2023) which was based on [book:Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy|61167317] (2022) about Google's failed takeover of Toronto's waterfront. If rumours are true, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's forces were able to stop the staging of Healey's [book:Proud|74212849] (2013) although not its publication. It is likely difficult to source now though. show less
A review of the McClelland & Stewart hardcover (February 13, 2024) released simultaneously with the ebook / audiobook.
I recently saw Michael Healey's stage adaptation of this book at Crow's Theatre in Toronto. As the playscript [book:Rogers v. Rogers|244235507] is not expected to be published before February 17, 2026 I was curious to read the source material in advance of that.
See photo at https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G9S0R8-WIAEHXka?format=jpg&name=large
Curtain call for actor Tom Rooney who plays all the parts in the stage adaptation of Rogers v. Rogers. Image sourced from own photo.
I don't normally read non-fiction business books (in fact this might be the only one I've ever read), but the story of Rogers v. show more Rogers has enough drama and comedy to keep me interested throughout. Healey's stage adaptation extracts mostly only the comic elements, making for a rollicking laugh-filled evening. Posadzki's real-life telling is of course more matter-of-fact although the various faux-pas along the way are all in there to be found.
So basically you get the story of how Ted Rogers (1933-2008) built up Rogers Communications to be the dominating force that it is in Canadian telecommunications and how he manoeuvred to maintain control of the company from inside his family even after his death. That resulted in rivalries between the wife and the various children, especially with the son Edward who felt entitled to be the ruling hand in the future. You get the stories of the notorious butt-dial where one Rogers executive learned in advance of his firing via a misplaced call. There is sister Martha's twitter storm denigrating Edward's takeover efforts. etc. etc.
In the stage-play, the head of the Canadian Competition Bureau plays a major role as the main force attempting to block Rogers takeover of Shaw Communications. In the source book, that character is barely mentioned, although that was his position. Still, this was an entertaining background to the machinations that went on behind the scenes which led to only a few companies having the monopoly of telecommunications in Canada. Bell and Telus being the other survivors now.
Trivia and Links
Playwright Michael Healey often adapts real-life Canadian stories for the theatre. I am only familiar with his [book:The Master Plan|137180023] (2023) which was based on [book:Sideways: The City Google Couldn't Buy|61167317] (2022) about Google's failed takeover of Toronto's waterfront. If rumours are true, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's forces were able to stop the staging of Healey's [book:Proud|74212849] (2013) although not its publication. It is likely difficult to source now though. show less
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