The Biography Channel (Canada)
| The Biography Channel | |
|---|---|
|
The Biography Channel logo | |
| Launched | September 7, 2001 |
| Closed | February 29, 2016 |
| Owned by |
Rogers Media (Branding licensed from A&E Networks |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | True Story |
| Country | Canada |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Replaced by | Viceland |
The Biography Channel was a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel. Owned by Rogers Media, it was a Canadian version of the former U.S. network of the same name, primarily carrying factual and biography programs.
History
Licensed as The Biography Channel by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on November 24, 2000;[1] the channel was launched on September 7, 2001 as a joint venture between Rogers Media (33.34%), Shaw Communications (33.33%) and A&E Networks (33.33%)—who owned the network's American counterpart. In 2006, both Shaw and A&E sold their interests in the channel to Rogers. The U.S. Biography Channel relaunched as FYI on July 7, 2014; Shaw's Twist TV became a Canadian version of FYI on September 1, 2014.[2]
On November 5, 2015, Rogers announced that it would serve as the Canadian partner for Viceland, a new millennial-focused channel programmed by Vice Media, and that Viceland would replace Biography Channel.[3][4] Vice Media had partnered with A&E Networks (who owns 10% of the company) to launch Viceland in the U.S. as a replacement for H2.[5][6][7]
Viceland replaced Biography Channel at 5:00 a.m. ET on February 29, 2016, one hour earlier than in the United States, with a one-hour special titled Bar Talk, before simulcasting the U.S. channel's countdown clock starting at 6:00 a.m.[8][9][10]
See also
References
- ↑ Decision CRTC 2000-460 CRTC 2000-12-14
- ↑ "Shaw Media and A&E to Launch Two New Specialty Channels". Broadcaster Magazine. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ↑ "Vice Media to Launch Cable TV Channel in Canada". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "Viceland content will be made in Canada, for a global audience". Canadian Business. Rogers Media. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "It's Official: Vice Channel to Take Over A+E Networks' History Spinoff H2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "Viceland, a New Cable Channel, Aims to Stand Out". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "A+E Networks' H2 To Be Rebranded As Vice". Deadline. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "This Land is Your Land, This Land is VICELAND: New Specialty Channel Launches with Distinctive Slate of Programming, Feb. 29". Rogers Media. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ↑ "How a little magazine called VICE conquered the media world: Welcome to Viceland". Montreal Gazette. Postmedia. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "Viceland Makes Its Cable Debut". Multichannel News. Retrieved 29 February 2016.