Showcase Television, a basic cable channel company owned by Alliance Atlantis, was in November 2000 granted a licence for the Action Channel, to be devoted to “action movies and series primarily driven by a fast-paced fictional plot featuring car chases, explosions, special effects or martial arts,” with a restriction that no more than 25% of the programming could have science fiction or fantasy themes.The channel launched in September 2001 as Showcase Action, with a schedule that it described as “adrenaline-pumping entertainment”.
CanWest Media Networks acquired Alliance Atlantis in December 2007, and with it ownership of Showcase Action.
On June 3rd, CanWest announced that effective August 31st, the channel would have a new look – and a new name, being simply called Action.
Ownership: CanWest
Start Year: 2001