Broadcast Licences
 

• Rogers Sportsnet One Set to Launch
  On Saturday, August 14th, Rogers Sportsnet will offer Canadian viewers an exciting new choice in sports broadcasting with the launch of Rogers Sportsnet ONE, a 24-hour sports digital channel that will feature over 800 hours of compelling live-event programming.

• Shaw Gets Final Court Approval for Canwest Purchase
  Shaw Communications Inc. announced Wednesday that the Ontario Superior Court has approved its plan to acquire Canwest Global Communications Corp.’s broadcasting assets for $2 billion.

• Shaw Proposes $203-Million Benefits Package For Canwest Deal
  As part of its $2-billion purchase of Canwest Global Communications, Shaw Communications Inc. has proposed a $203-million “tangible benefits” package to the CRTC to ensure a public benefit from the deal.

• CRTC Rejects Sun TV's Category 1 Application
  The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commisssion has rejected Quebecor's application for a Category 1 Licence for Sun TV.

• Rogers Asks for New Cancon Requirement for CityTV and Omni
  Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. filed two broadcasting licence applications with the CRTC Wednesday to reduce the Canadian content requirements for its CityTV and Omni stations.

• Quebecor Wants Same "Regulatory Relief" as CTV
  Quebecor called for the CRTC to “reject the applications by CTV Limited in order to obtain regulatory relief for the ‘A’ stations and for the CTV Network or apply the requested conditions to all Canadian conventional television stations”.

• CTV Applies for Cancon Flexibility for Local Stations
  CTVglobemedia Inc. has asked the CRTC to reduce the Canadian content requirements for its 24 over-the-air television channels across the country as part of the commission's new approach to group-based licensing.

• CBC, CTV Urge Commission Not to Give Sun TV 'Preferential Treatment'
  CBC and CTV say a CRTC decision granting Sun TV News a limited-term “must-carry” licence would amount to “preferential treatment” and a move “backwards.”

• Canwest Sale to Shaw Receives Approval
  Canwest Global's sale of its television operations, including its specialty channels, to Shaw Communications, received Superior Court approval following Canwest reaching an agreement with dissenting shareholders.

• CTV Rebrands TV Land Canada as Comedy Gold
  After renaming three of its Discovery specialties two weeks ago, CTV announced that it would also rebrand its TV Land Canada channel as Comedy Gold, effective August 2.

• Saskatchewan Announces Sale of SCN
  The Government of Saskatchewan announced that, after careful review and analysis of the Expressions of Interest from groups interested in buying the Saskatchewan Communications Network, it has decided to sell SCN's assets and operations to Bluepoint Investment Corporation.

• Quebecor to Ask for News Channel Licence, Say Reports
  With the genre protection afforded existing specialty news channels having been set aside by the CRTC last summer, it was only a matter of time where a company put together a proposal for a new national news service.

• Glassbox To Buy Travel + Escape From CTV
  Independent broadcaster Glassbox Television announced today it will buy digital specialty channel travel + escape from CTV.

• CTV Overhauls Three Discovery Specialties
  Fans of the Discovery Channel will notice some new names looks when they channel-surf later in the summer.

• MuchMusic Applies to Loosen Cancon Conditions, Proposes More "Lifestyle" Programming
  CTV Ltd. has applied to the CRTC to reduce its Canadian content licence conditions and allow for more “lifestyle” programming as the channel tries to “adapt to the business realities” of audience fragmentation and new technologies.

• TV Channels Vie for CRTC Approval
  The CRTC is set to consider a number of new TV channels this summer, ranging from The Wedding Channel to Reggae TV to an application from CanWest that sounds a lot like its former Lonestar network.

• Shaw Seals CanWest Deal For $2B
  Shaw Communications has bought CanWest Global Communications Corp. for $2 billion.   

• Canwest Launches Global Reality Channel
  Canwest is expanding its industry-leading specialty television portfolio with the launch of an all-new channel: Global Reality Channel, Canada's first and only destination for hit reality programming 24/7.

• New TV Broadcast Licences
  A list of recently licenced TV stations in Canada.

• CRTC Denies Broadcast Licence for AUX TV
  The CRTC denies Glassbox Television Inc.'s application for a broadcasting licence to operate AUX TV, a national, French-language Category 2 specialty channel devoted to emerging music and its creation, including programming intended to help emerging artists.

• CRTC Tweaks Broadcast License Trafficking Policy
  The CRTC has released new broadcast license trafficking rules which make it easier to sell a license that was awarded during a non-competitive process.

• CRTC Denies CBC's Request to Amend bold's Licence
  The CRTC has turned down CBC’s request to amend the broadcast licence of its specialty channel bold, instead giving it a month to come up with another programming strategy.

• CTV, Score Media Challenge New Specialty Channel Applications
  Television providers CTVGlobemedia and Score Media are challenging new television licence applications from Jay Switzer and Canyon TV, arguing that they would compete directly with existing television services.

• Znaimer Gets Regulatory Go-Ahead for Vision TV Purchase
  The CRTC approved the purchase of VisionTV’s broadcasting assets by Znaimer’s company ZoomerMedia. The deal includes VisionTV, One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel, and the conventional TV stations Joytv 10 in Vancouver and Joytv 11 in Winnipeg.

• Educational Broadcaster SCN Goes Off the Air in May
  The Saskatchewan government has pulled the plug on the province’s public educational broadcaster SCN after nearly 20 years on the air.

• CRTC Approves CHFD-TV's New Affiliation with Canwest
  CHFD-TV will operate as an independent local station and will receive its non-local programming from Canwest Global.

• Goldman Sachs Appeals Court's Decision on Shaw's Canwest Bid
  Goldman Sachs is appealing an Ontario court’s decision to allow Shaw Communications to proceed with its takeover of debt-laden Canwest Global.

• Corus' Local1 Application Pulled from April CRTC Hearing
  Corus Entertainment’s application for a specialty television service called Local1 has been withdrawn from a CRTC hearing planned for April 14.

• Thunder Bay TV Station Wants to Drop CBC Affiliation
  Thunder Bay TV station CKPR-TV has told the CRTC that it wants to drop its affiliation with the CBC and become an independent.

• Rogers In Talks to Bring 3D TV Channel to Canada
  Rogers Communications is in talks with potential partners to bring a new 3D television channel to Canada, David Purdy, vice-president of video products at Rogers, said in an interview.

• Rogers Gets Approval for New Sports Channel
  Rogers has received CRTC approval for a new mainstream sports channel.  Programming will include NHL hockey games involving Canadian teams, Major League Baseball games, Union of European Football Associations soccer and other mainstream sports.

• COC Renews Calls for Amateur Sports Channel
  Canada's record-breaking gold-medal performance at the Vancouver Games might make it easier to create a specialty sports TV network dedicated to amateur athletics, the chief executive of the Canadian Olympic Committee said.

• CRTC Approves TVA Sports
  The CRTC approved an application permitting the TVA Group to operate a new Category 2 specialty television station, TVA Sports, which will compete directly with RDS.

• Corus Applies to CRTC for Local TV Licence
  Corus Entertainment has applied to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission for a new hyper-local TV service,  If approved, Corus Audio & Advertising Services Ltd says it will launch the service, called Local1 for now, within six months.
   

• Court Approves Shaw Bid for Canwest Global
  The Ontario court overseeing the restructuring of Canwest Global approved a takeover bid for the company by Shaw Communications on February 19, 2010 despite a rival bid backed by the broadcaster's founding family.
  

• Aspers Make Rival Bid for Canwest Global
  The Asper family, Leonard, Gail and David, are making a rival bid to purchase Canwest Global Television.  The Aspers have joined forces with Catalyst Capital Group, a private-equity fund (which owns a substantial amount of Canwest's bonds) and New York based Goldman Sachs.

• Expect a Spirited CRTC Review of Shaw-Canwest Deal
  Shaw Communications Inc.’s plans to acquire a controlling stake in Canwest Global Communications Corp. may be held up by the CRTC’s approval over concerns about foreign ownership and media convergence, says a BMO Capital Markets report released on February 16, 2010. 

• CRTC to Consider 19 New Broadcasting Licences
  The CRTC is set to consider 19 new broadcasting licences at a hearing scheduled for April 14, 2010, without the appearance of the parties.

• Shaw Buys Control of Canwest Global
  Shaw Communicatons Corp. has arranged to purchase control of the restructuring of Canwest Global Communications newspaper and television network.

• Corus to Launch "W Movies"
  On March 1, Corus Entertainment expands its comprehensive portfolio of women's specialty services with the launch of W Movies, Canada's first movie channel dedicated to women.

• Corus To Launch Sundance Channel in Canada
  Corus Entertainment sets the stage for a new film and entertainment experience next month when Sundance Channel (Canada) joins Corus' premier portfolio of specialty services on Monday, March 1.
  

• Bluepoint Shops for TV Properties
  Bluepoint Investment Corporation is shopping for media assets in the U.S., as it continues to build an independent network of local TV stations.

• Shaw Interested in Buying Some of Canwest's Assets
  Jim Shaw confirmed that his company has been looking at buying some of Canwest's assets, although he wouldn't say which properties.

• Corus Shows Interest in Buying Some Canwest Specialties
  Corus Entertainment Inc. is possibly interested in buying some specialty channels from Canwest Global Communications Ltd. but not other parts of its media business, Corus CEO John Cassaday said on January 13.

• Thunder Bay TV Station to Drop CTV Affiliation for Global
  Thunder Bay's TV station CHFD-TV has told the CRTC that it plans to drop its affiliation with CTV to become an independent station aligned with CTV rival Canwest Global.

• Current TV's Plans to Enter Canada on Hold
  Plans for Current TV, Al Gore's interactive television network, to enter Canada are on hold for now, according to the television service's vice-president.

• CRTC to Consider TV Applications in February
  In addition to reviewing Mediadenovo’s request to sell ad time on US specialty channels' local avails, the CRTC will consider a number of other applications at its hearing scheduled for February 22.

• Corus Brings Sundance Channel to Canada
  Corus Entertainment and Rainbow Media announced that they have finalized a licensing agreement that will enable Corus to add Sundance Channel to its portfolio of Canadian specialty services.

• Canada's First All HD Chinese Channel Launched
  WOWtv, billed as Canada’s first 24/7 HD digital channel in Chinese, launched on Rogers Cable on December 2, 2009.

• Corus Buys Sex TV and Drive-In Classics
  Corus Entertainment has received CRTC approval to buy specialty channels Sex TV and Drive-In Classics from CTV for $40 million.

• CRTC Approves Sale of CHEK-TV
  The CRTC has approved the sale of Canwest's CHEK-TV station in Victoria to a group of investors.

• Russia Today Added to Eligible Channel List
  The channel is described as a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week English-language international news and information service targeted to an international audience.

• Canwest Launches DIY Network Canada
  This channel will replace the Fine Living Canada specialty TV channel in Canwest’s stable of lifestyle specialty channels. 

• Applications Submitted to CRTC for Two New Sports Channels
  The CRTC has received applications from Rogers Broadcasting and Quebecor-owned TVA Group for national, category two services tentatively entitled Rogers’ Mainstream Sports Specialty Service and TVA Sports.

• CKX-Brandon Closes
  The company that had announced in July that it was purchasing the station, Bluepoint Investments, walked away from the $1 deal to buy it.
   

• Nickelodeon Channel to Launch in Canada
  Corus Entertainment and MTV Networks International say they will launch a 24-hour Nickelodeon channel November 2, 2009.

• Corus Shuts Down One Station and Re-brands Two
  Corus Entertainment is pulling the plug on its Discovery Kids channel effective November 1st.  The company will also replace diginet Sex TV with W Movies early next year, and re-brand its Drive-In Classics movie channel. 

• The Christian Channel Becomes Grace TV
  On September 16, 2009, The Christian Channel was re-branded to Grace TV.  Grace Television Network is Canada's largest 24/7 provider of Christian programming and reaches more than 30% of Canadian households. 

• Licence Conditions for Sports & News Services
  The CRTC has released the standard conditions of licence for competitive Canadian mainstream sports and national news specialty services.

• CHEK-TV Saved
  The employee-driven bid for CHEK-TV included around $2.5 million raised to secure new programming and run the local TV station after Canwest Global stepped away.

• Victoria's CHEK-TV Wins a Reprieve
  CHEK-TV station general manager John Pollard confirmed late on August 31 that thanks to the efforts of Canwest, the CRTC, local politicians and the community, the Victoria station has won a reprieve from its scheduled shutdown.

• CRTC Approves Channel Zero's Purchase of E! Stations
  Channel Zero has received CRTC approval to assume ownership of former Canwest E! stations CHCH-TV Hamilton and CJNT-TV Montreal.

• MuchMusic Digital Channels Go Commercial-Free
  MuchMusic’s digital stations - MuchVibe, MuchLOUD, MuchMoreRetro and PunchMuch, are going commercial-free starting August 31.

• TQS Rebrands as V
  As of August 31, 2009, French station TQS will be known as V.

• Employees Try to Buy CHEK-TV
  CHEK-TV employees are making a bid to create an employee-owned company to save the station.  The plan would see staff have a minor ownership, with the balance held by outside investors.

• Canwest's Victoria and Red Deer Stations to Close
  Canwest Global Communications announced that CHEK-TV Victoria and CHCA-TV Red Deer will be shut down on August 31, 2009.

• CTV Sells CKX-TV Brandon
  CTV has sold CKX-TV Brandon to Canadian investment firm Bluepoint Investment Corporation for one dollar.

   

• Corus Buys Drive-In Classics & SexTV
  Corus Entertainment is buying diginets Drive-In Classics and SexTV from CTVglobemedia for a combined acquisition price of $40 million.

• Windsor A Channel Kept On Air
  CTV will continue to operate its Windsor A channel through August 2010, and credits the CRTC’s decision to increase funding to the Local Programming Improvement Fund for its ability to keep it on the air.

• ATN to Launch Nine New Channels
  Asian Television Network International Limited announced the launch of three new Chinese channels and six new South Asian channels on Rogers Cable in fall 2009.

• Channel Zero Buys Two E! Stations
  Channel Zero announced they have signed an agreement to purchase E!-branded CHCH TV Hamilton and CJNT TV Montreal from Canwest Global.

• Corus Rebrands Scream to Dusk
  On September 9th, scary flick channel Scream will be rebranded as Dusk. The launch will see the service expand its programming scope.

• ZoomerMedia Purchases VisionTV
  ZoomerMedia Limited announced that it has entered into an agreement with VisionTV: Canada's Faith Network/Reseau Religieux Canadien.

• S-VOX Sells The Christian Channel
  S-VOX is selling The Christian Channel to World Impact Ministries (WIM). 

• MLSE Buys Majority Ownership of GolTV
  Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), owner of the Toronto FC soccer team, is buying majority ownership of GolTV from Insight Sports.

• The Accessible Channel Launches
  The Accessible Channel (TAC) launched across Canada on December 3 to coincide with the United Nations International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

• Bite TV and AUX TV to Launch
  GlassBOX Television Inc. re-launched Bite TV and will introduce AUX TV, a new digital, interactive, music channel and website, on November 24.

• Bringing Current TV to Canada
  CBC has applied to the CRTC to launch Current Canada, a Category 2 digital specialty channel modeled on its American equivalent, Current TV. 

• Corus to Launch VIVA
  Corus Entertainment will launch a new women's specialty channel called VIVA on November 3, 2008.

• Corus Takes Over CLT
  Corus Entertainment's acquisition of CLT (Canadian Learning Television) from CTVglobemedia is now complete.
• Rogers Takes Over OLN
  Rogers Media Television will take over OLN on August 31, 2008. This follows the purchase of the channel which took place on August 1, 2008.  
• Joytv Stations Launch in September
  CHNU-TV in Vancouver and CIIT-TV in Winnipeg will re-launch on September 1 under the new brand name Joytv.
   
• TSN2 Ready to Launch
  TSN will launch its new 24-hour sports digital network, TSN2, on Friday, August 29.
   
• Two French TV Channel Applications Submitted
  The Fight Network and Clovys Media Corporation have both applied to the CRTC to operate national French-language channels.
   
• Rogers Wants a Competitor to CP24
  Rogers is applying to the CRTC for a category 2 digital specialty licence for a new channel to serve Toronto.
   
• MTV2 Ready to Launch in Canada
  The digital specialty channel MTV2 will launch in Canada on August 1, 2008. Unlike MTV Canada, which is not allowed to play any music videos, this new channel will be allowed to play 10%.
   
• CBC Acquires French TV Stations
  The CRTC approved the application by the CBC to acquire the assets of the French-language TV programming undertakings CKSH-TV Sherbrooke, CKTM-TV Trois Rivieres, and CKTV-TV Saguenay and its transmitter CKTV-TV-1 Saint-Fulgence, Quebec, from TQS Inc.
   
• CRTC Approves TQS Acquisition with Conditions
  The CRTC approved Remstar Diffusion Inc.'s acquisition of the TQS network and TV stations in Montreal, Quebec, Trois-Rivieres, Sherbrooke, and Saguenay, subject to certain conditions.
   
• TQS Acquisition Hearing
  On June 2, the CRTC started its hearing into the acquisition of TQS Inc. by Remstar Broadcasting.
   
   
• S-VOX Takes Over Rogers Stations
  S-VOX has officially assumed ownership of Vancouver-based CHNU-TV and its Winnipeg sister station CIIT-TV.
   
• Broadcasting Applications to the CRTC
  The CRTC tabled 17 broadcasting applications, including ones to launch new sports services, ones for high-definition channels, and ones for BDUs.
   
• CAB Fights Licence Fees
  On April 28, 2008, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the CRTC Part II Licence Fees collected from broadcasters and broadcast distributors are valid regulatory charges. The CAB wants to fight this.
   
• TQS to Eliminate News Programming
  Remstar, future owners of TQS, announced that it plans to eliminate the channel's entire news programming by September.
   
• Applications From HDTV Networks and YES TV Denied
  The CRTC denied HDTV Networks Inc.'s bid for a licence to operate a national, English-language high-definition over-the-air TV channel.
   
• Rogers Acquires channel m
  On March, 31, 2008, the CRTC approved Rogers Broadcasting's purchase of channel m, the over-the-air ethnic channel in Vancouver, from Multivan Broadcast Ltd.
   
• CRTC Approves BCE Purchase
  On March 27, 2008, the CRTC approved the purchase of BCE Inc.'s broadcasting assets by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and three American private-equity firms.
   
• Remstar Receives Approval to Buy TQS
  A Quebec Superior Court Judge approved the purchase of the TV network TQS by the Montreal-based film and TV production company Remstar Corporation.
   
• Corus Buys CLT
  Corus Entertainment Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the analog specialty channel CLT (Canadian Learning Television).
   
• HDTV Network Pitched to the CRTC
  John Bitove pitched HDTV Network, a national TV network that would broadcast in high-definition free of charge, to the CRTC on February 12, 2008.
   
• CRTC Approves CanWest's Purchase of Alliance Stations
  On December 20, 2007, the CRTC approved CanWest MediaWork's acquisition of the broadcasting channels owned by Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc. (13 networks).