6-K

                                    FORM 6-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                      PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                            For the month of May 2004
                       Commission File Number: 001-14148
                               ------------------
                       CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
                (TRANSLATION OF REGISTRANT'S NAME INTO ENGLISH)
                               ------------------
                                 3100 TD CENTRE
                               201 PORTAGE AVENUE
                              WINNIPEG, MANITOBA,
                                 CANADA R3B 3L7
                                 (204) 956-2025
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                  Form 20-F                  Form 40-F   X
                            ----                       -----

      Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 1Ol(b)( 1):

      Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(l) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.

      Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule lOl(b)(7):

      Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the
registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of
the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's securityholders, and, if discussing
a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.

      Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                  Yes                               No   X
                      -----                            -----

      If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
Number      Description
- ------      -----------
         
  1         CanWest Global Communications Corp. Press Release dated May 18,2004.


SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                   CANWEST GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS COW.


Date: May 21, 2004                  By: /s/ JOHN E. MAGUIRE
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       John E. Maguire
                                       Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                             [CANWEST GLOBAL LOGO]

                                  NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
May 18, 2004

            CANWEST PLANS IPO OF NEW ZEALAND TV AND RADIO OPERATIONS

WINNIPEG -- CanWest Global Communications Corp., today announced that it intends
to launch an initial public offering (IPO) of shares of its New Zealand radio
and television operations.

The IPO will offer to the public 68 million fully-paid shares of CanWest
MediaWorks (NZ) Limited, a newly-incorporated New Zealand company, which will
acquire CanWest's existing New Zealand media operations. On completion of the
offering, the CanWest MediaWorksNZ shares will be listed on the NZSX.

"The IPO presents an excellent and rare opportunity for investors in New Zealand
to participate in the ownership of one of the largest, most successful and
diverse media companies in that country," said Tom Strike, CanWest's Chief
Operating Officer (Corporate), who will be Chairman of CanWest MediaWorksNZ.

"For CanWest, the IPO of CanWest MediaWorksNZ will allow us to realize a
significant component of the value of our New Zealand media holdings, while
holding a substantial stake in that public company. CanWest will use the
proceeds that it receives from the sell-down to reduce its debt," said Leonard
Asper, CanWest's President and CEO.

The CanWest MediaWorksNZ stable of radio and television brands will include The
Edge, Channel Z, The Rock, More FM, Radio Pacific and Solid Gold, and 22
regional radio stations, as well as television networks "3" - the leading
privately-owned TV network in New Zealand and C4 - the newly-launched
free-to-air music channel.

On completion of the offering, CanWest MediaWorksNZ will use the funds raised
from its share issue, together with proceeds of a concurrent bank financing and
a further issue of shares, to acquire all of the Company's New Zealand media
operations - CanWest RadioWorks Limited and CanWest TVWorks Limited. It is
expected that public investors will acquire approximately 30% of CanWest
MediaWorksNZ, with CanWest acquiring an approximate 70% interest in the
publicly-traded vehicle. CanWest may reduce its ownership to 64% of CanWest
MediaWorks, if an over-allotment option is fully exercised.

The offering is expected to open on or about June 9 and close on or about June
29.

Goldman Sachs JBWere has been appointed as lead manager of the offering.

This news release contains comments or forward-looking statements that are based
largely upon CanWest's current expectations and are subject to certain risks,
trends and uncertainties. These factors could cause actual future performance to
vary materially from

                                                                               2


current expectations. CanWest may not update or revise any forward-looking
statements or comments, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.S and CGS.A,
www.canwestglobal.com) is an international media company. CanWest, Canada's
largest publisher of daily newspapers, owns, operates and/or holds substantial
interests in newspapers, conventional television, out-of-home advertising,
specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand,
Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

For more information contact:

                                     
Geoffrey Elliot                         John Maguire
Vice President, Corporate Affairs       Chief Financial 0fficer

Ph:  (204) 956-2025                     Ph:  (204) 956-2025
Fax: (204) 947-9841                     Fax: (204) 947-9841
gelliot@canwest.com                     jmaguire@canwest.com




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