Annual Information Form Canwest Global Communications Corp

ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM Fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP. November 24, 2008 ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM - CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP. TABLE OF CONTENTS ITEM 1 - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS......................................................................................4 ITEM 2 - OUR COMPANY.......................................................................................................................4 2.1 Subsidiaries and Affiliates...............................................................................................5 ITEM 3 - GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS .....................................................................6 3.1 Three-Year History .........................................................................................................6 3.1.1 Highlights for Fiscal 2008...................................................................................6 3.1.2 Highlights for Fiscal 2007...................................................................................6 3.1.3 Highlights for Fiscal 2006...................................................................................8 ITEM 4 - OUR BUSINESS.......................................................................................................................8 4.1 Business Strategy...........................................................................................................9 4.2 Canadian Television..................................................................................................... 10 4.2.1 Description of the Industry ................................................................................ 10 4.2.2 Business Overview........................................................................................... 15 4.2.3 Operating Strategy ........................................................................................... 21 4.2.4 Competitive Conditions..................................................................................... 21 4.3 Canadian Publishing..................................................................................................... 22 4.3.1 Description of the Industry ................................................................................ 22 4.3.2 Business Overview........................................................................................... 23 4.3.3 Operating Strategy ........................................................................................... 28 4.3.4 Competitive Conditions..................................................................................... 29 4.4 Australian Television..................................................................................................... 29 4.4.1 Description of the Industry ................................................................................ 29 4.4.2 Business Overview........................................................................................... 30 4.4.3 Operating Strategy ........................................................................................... 31 4.4.4 Competitive Conditions..................................................................................... 32 4.5 Australian Out-of-Home................................................................................................ 32 4.5.1 Description of the Industry ................................................................................ 32 4.5.2 Business Overview........................................................................................... 33 4.5.3 Operating Strategy ........................................................................................... 34 4.5.4 Competitive Conditions..................................................................................... 34 4.6 Turkish Radio............................................................................................................... 35 4.6.1 Description of the Industry ................................................................................ 35 4.6.2 Business Overview........................................................................................... 36 4.6.3 Operating Strategy ........................................................................................... 36 4.6.4 Competitive Conditions..................................................................................... 37 4.7 Seasonality................................................................................................................... 37 4.8 Human Resources........................................................................................................ 38 4.9 Intellectual Property...................................................................................................... 38 4.10 Environmental Protection.............................................................................................. 39 4.11 Social Policy................................................................................................................. 39 4.12 Foreign Operations....................................................................................................... 39 ITEM 5 - REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................. 39 5.1 Canadian Television Regulation.................................................................................... 39 5.2 Canadian Publishing Regulation ................................................................................... 47 5.3 Australian Television Regulation................................................................................... 47 5.4 Turkish Radio Regulation.............................................................................................. 49 ITEM 6 - RISK FACTORS...................................................................................................................... 50 6.1 Risks Relating to Our Business..................................................................................... 50 6.2 Risks Relating to Our Debt ........................................................................................... 65 ITEM 7 - DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE............................................................................ 66 7.1 Our Capital Structure.................................................................................................... 66 7.2 Credit Ratings............................................................................................................... 67 2 7.3 Market for Securities..................................................................................................... 70 7.4 Debt Securities............................................................................................................. 71 ITEM 8 - DIVIDEND POLICY................................................................................................................. 72 ITEM 9 - OUR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS ....................................................................................... 73 ITEM 10 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS........................................................................................................ 74 ITEM 11 - INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS.................. 75 ITEM 12 - INTEREST OF EXPERTS ..................................................................................................... 75 ITEM 13 - TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS............................................................................ 76 ITEM 14 - MATERIAL CONTRACTS ..................................................................................................... 76 14.1 CW Investments Shareholders Agreement.................................................................... 77 14.2 CW Media Management Agreement ............................................................................. 79 ITEM 15 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................... 79 ITEM 16 - AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION.................................................................................... 80 16.1 Audit Committee Mandate ............................................................................................ 80 16.2 Composition of the Audit Committee............................................................................. 80 16.3 Principal Accountant Fees and Services ....................................................................... 81 SCHEDULE A - AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER .................................................................................. 82 3 ITEM 1 - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Canwest Global Communications Corp. public communications often include written and oral forward- looking statements or contain forward-looking information as such terms are defined in applicable securities legislation. Statements of this type are included in this Annual Information Form (including documents incorporated by reference) and may be included in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or in other communications. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and estimates and are subject to inherent risk and uncertainties. These statements are based on our current expectations about our business and the markets in which we operate. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions

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