The History of Canadian BroadcastingDisney XD was a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel, which was originally licensed to Astral Media by the CRTC in 2009 as an extension of its existing Family Channel. However, Astral Media Inc. subsequently acquired the rights to a Canadian version of the U.S. Disney XD channel, and launched the new venture in […]
What became E!, was originally launched in Canada by CHUM Limited as Star! That was on September 10, 1999. In 2007, CHUM was acquired by CTVglobemedia. Star’s daily entertainment show, Star! Daily was dropped and replaced by CTV’s eTalk. E!’s original appearance in Canada was in 2007 when CanWest Global’s CH group of over the […]
The Family Channel was first licensed by the CRTC to a partnership between WIC Premium Television Inc and First Choice (Astral) in 1987 as a pay television service “…which will provide…..programs from the Disney Channel, as well as selected Canadian programs designed for viewing by the whole family.” WIC’s half ownership was acquired by Corus […]
Encouraged by the spectacular 15-year success of its syndicated series FashionTV, CHUM Limited applied for and was awarded a fashion speciality channel license in November 2000. The channel launched in September 2001 as Fashion Television: The Channel. In applying for the licence, CHUM promised that the channel would “become the central Canadian television platform for […]
Current Station Group: Bell Media Inc. Licensed to CHUM Limited in 1996, Space – The Imagination Station was launched on cable in October 1997, and quickly became one of the most popular speciality channels in the system. Its programming ranges over “science fiction, science fact, speculation and fantasy” and challenges the imagination of its viewers with […]
In 1983 an all-sports channel to be known as Action Canada Sports Network (ACSN) was licensed as a pay speciality channel by the CRTC to the John Labatt brewery company, part owners of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. By the time it launched on September 1st 1984, the name had been shortened to simply […]
In November 2000, NetStar Communications Inc. was granted a licence by the CRTC for a national English-language Category 1 specialty television service called Women’s Sports Network. It would be dedicated entirely to sports that featured female athletes and participants, including coverage of professional and amateur sporting events, magazine shows, documentaries and instructional programs. The channel […]