Canadian publishing giant Torstar has become one of the first customers of new publishers’ coalition Tekan.

Chairman and co-owner Paul Rivett announced the Toronto Star publisher is the first to sign for TownNews’ CMS and associated technology stack via Tekan.

Under the Tekan agreement, the coalition becomes the exclusive provider of TownNews technology in the country, “providing a launch pad for a major expansion into the Canadian market,” chief executive Brad Ward says.

The new company formed as a coalition of Canadian publishers will establish scale to strengthen their position in the digital advertising marketplace, and hopes to identify cost efficiencies in systems and technology.

TownNews says its solution set was thoroughly vetted against four other CMS vendors before earning Tekan's endorsement. It includes the Blox CMS – used for nearly 2000 websites – and Blox Total CMS used for the design of about 1000 print publications. The stack also includes audience and digital subscription technology, an analytics platform, and software for replica e-editions, native apps, integrated email newsletter and social media applications, video management system, and apps for streaming broadcasting (OTT).

Based in East Moline, Illinois, TownNews is majority owned by US media company Lee Enterprises.