6-K

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                                    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 2005
                        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 101(b)(1):

         Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) 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 101(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 security holders, 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): 82-
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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 CORP.



Date: May 10, 2005                      By:   /s/ JOHN E. MAGUIRE
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             John E. Maguire
                                             Chief Financial Officer











                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
Number          Description
- ------          -----------

1               CanWest Global Communications Corp. Press Release dated May
                9, 2005.

EX-99.1

                              [CANWEST GLOBAL LOGO]

                                  NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release
May 9, 2005

             CANWEST MEDIA INC. COMMENCES REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER

WINNIPEG, CanWest Global Communications Corp. today announced that its wholly
owned subsidiary, CanWest Media Inc. ("CanWest") has commenced an offer to
exchange up to US$761,054,211 aggregate principal amount of its registered 8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the "New Notes") for any and all of its
outstanding unregistered 8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the "Old
Notes"). Commencement of the exchange offer is the final step in registering
with the SEC, the 8% Notes issued in November 2004 in connection with the
refinancing of the 12 1/8% Hollinger Notes. The expiration date for the exchange
offer will be 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), on June 8, 2005, unless
extended.

The New Notes are substantially identical to the Old Notes, except that the New
Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
will not bear any legend restricting their transfer.

The terms of the exchange offer and other information relating to CanWest are
set forth in a prospectus dated May 9, 2005. Copies of the prospectus and the
related letter of transmittal may be obtained from the exchange agent - Bank of
New York, Corporate Trust Operations, 101 Barclay Street--7 East, New York, New
York 10286, Attn: Mr. Kin Lau, telephone (212) 815-3750, fax number (212)
298-1915.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
buy or exchange the New Notes or the Old Notes. The exchange offer is made
solely by the prospectus dated May 9, 2005. The New Notes have not been and will
not be qualified for sale under the securities laws of any province or territory
of Canada. Therefore, any transfer or resale of the New Notes in Canada, or to,
from or for the account of any person resident in Canada, will be subject to
restrictions under applicable Canadian provincial or territorial securities
laws.

CanWest Global Communications Corp. (NYSE: CWG; TSX: CGS.SV and CGS.NV,
www.canwestglobal.com), an international media company. CanWest 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, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks
in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland.


For further information contact:

Geoffrey Elliot                                    John Maguire
Vice President, Corporate Affairs                  Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (204) 956-2025                                Tel: (204) 956-2025
Fax: (204) 947-9841                                Fax: (204) 947-9841
gelliot@canwest.com                                jmaguire@canwest.com