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Wednesday, September 21, 2005

CanWest Highest Bidder to Acquire Interest in Turkey's Leading National Radio Station

CanWest Highest Bidder to Acquire Interest in Turkey's Leading National Radio Station

WINNIPEG, Canada, September 21/PRNewswire/ -- CanWest Global Communications Corp. today announced that following
completion of an auction conducted earlier today by the Turkish Savings and
Deposit Insurance Fund (the Fund), CGS Televizyon Ve Radyo Yayinciligi
Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (CGS) has been awarded the right to acquire the assets
of Super FM, a radio station with national reach located in Istanbul, Turkey.
CanWest holds an indirect 25% interest in CGS with the remaining 75% interest
being held by Turkcom Iletisim Hizmetleri Anonim Sirket (Turkcom). The total
consideration bid by CGS for Super FM was US$33.1 million, which will be
payable in cash on completion of the acquisition. The transaction, which is
subject to regulatory approvals by certain Turkish authorities and the Fund,
is expected to be completed within the next 90 days.

Super FM is a top-40, popular local music station, which also broadcasts
local news coverage. The station's reach extends to approximately 45% of the
Turkish population, including listeners in the major cities of Istanbul,
Ankara and Izmir. With an estimated 31.5 million people in its youthful 15 to
30 year old target demographic living within its broadcasting range, Super FM
currently has an average audience share of 12.9%, one of the highest shares
in the industry, and has considerable potential for future growth.

The opportunity for CanWest participation in the Turkish broadcasting
market arose out of a decision by the Fund to sell, by auction, the media
assets formerly owned by Turkey's Uzan Group, which the Fund had acquired in
2003 as part of a larger transaction. Super FM is the first of several media
assets put up for auction by the Fund, including additional national and
regional radio stations, national television stations and a newspaper.
CanWest and Turkcom are considering participation in the auction for the
acquisition of certain other of these assets.

"This new CanWest investment in Turkey reflects CanWest's focus on
international growth and our longer term goal of becoming a major participant
in international media markets," said Tom Strike, President, CanWest
MediaWorks International. He added that, "Our success in Turkey comes on the
heels of CanWest being awarded a licence to launch a new FM radio station in
the Solent region of the United Kingdom."

Leonard Asper, President and CEO of CanWest Global Communications Corp.,
said, "We have been working on radio strategies in the United Kingdom and
Turkey for some time and are delighted that CanWest is again in a position to
move forward in a concrete way on its international agenda. We see Turkey as
a market with considerable potential for CanWest as it moves forward in
seeking membership in the European Union and takes important steps
domestically to expand the participation of the private sector in the Turkish
economy. "

Gregory M. Kiez, a director of Global Investment Holding, and Mr. Fatih
Akol, both speaking on behalf of Turkcom, stated that the Turkish investor
group recognized the important opportunity presented by the Fund's auction to
restore Turkish media properties into private sector hands. In commenting on
the acquisition, Mr. Akol said, "We are very excited that CGS's bid for Super
FM was successful and we look forward to a long and successful relationship
with CanWest. We expect this station to benefit significantly from CanWest's
enviable track record as an international broadcaster and its extensive
experience in running profitable radio operations."

Turkcom is a private Turkish investment company advised by Global Yatirim
Holdings A.S. ("Global Investment Holdings"). The transaction is structured
to conform with existing Turkish government regulations on the participation
of foreign investors in Turkey's broadcasting industry that limit foreign
shareholdings to a maximum of 25%. Subject to a relaxation in the foreign
ownership restrictions and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals,
CanWest has an entitlement to increase its holdings in Super FM to 75%.

CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.SV and CGS.NV,
www.CanWestglobal.com), an international media company, is Canada's largest
media company. In addition to owning the Global Television Network, CanWest
is Canada's largest publisher of daily newspapers, and also owns, operates
and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home
advertising, speciality cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in
Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.

Global is a holding company publicly listed on the Istanbul stock
exchange (ISE: GLYHO) (www.globalyatirim.com) with operations in the
infrastructure, energy and finance sectors in Turkey, including a
wholly-owned finance unit, Global Menkul Degerler A.S. ("Global Securities")
(www.global.com.tr) which has been the leading independent brokerage and
corporate finance firm in Turkey since 1990.

Source: CanWest Global Communications Corp.,

Geoffrey Elliot, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, CanWest Global Communications Corp., Tel: +1-204-956-2025, Fax: +1-204-947-9841, gelliot@canwest.com

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