Canwest Global Communications Corp. competes with Rogers in broadcasting and publishing. In a press release, Canwest president Leonard Asper said: "Ted Rogers will be remembered by us all not only as a competitor who played fairly but more importantly as a reliable business partner and personal friend."

Asper also described him as the executive who "almost single-handedly positioned Rogers as a leader in the wireless and broadband age."

Ivan Fecan, president of Toronto media firm CTV Globemedia Inc., described Rogers as "both a wonderful partner and very tough competitor. But at all times, he was a gentleman and his word was his bond. Our thoughts go out to his family and his employees. Ted always used to say: "the best is yet to come". Today, that's not true anymore."

Rogers took on a big risk when it bought Call-Net Enterprises Inc., owner of Sprint Canada, at a time when many pundits had given up competitive local exchange carriers for dead.

David Neale, senior vice-president of products and services at Vancouver-based Telus consumer solutions Inc., worked for Rogers Wireless as a vice-president for about 12 years.