CMT Canada
Encyclopedia
CMT is a Canadian
English language
Category A specialty channel
which airs country music
and family-orientated general entertainment programs in the form of music video
s, award shows, concerts, sitcoms and more. CMT is owned by Corus Entertainment
(90%) and Viacom
(10%).
, was available in Canada since 1984.
In June 1994, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) licensed a series of new Canadian specialty television channels and among them was The Country Network, licensed to primarily feature country music videos (a minimum of 90%). The licence was granted to the partnership of Maclean-Hunter
(60%) and Rawlco Communications
(40%).
At this time, the CRTC had a policy where if a Canadian specialty service is licensed and that service's format is competitive with a foreign service's format that is licensed to operate in Canada, the foreign service may be terminated from operating in Canada. Due to Country Music Television's competitive format, the CRTC terminated Country Music Television's broadcasting rights in Canada on June 6, 1994. Television distributors such as cable and satellite television operators could continue distributing Country Music Television until the day that The Country Network began operation.
Before the channel's launch, Maclean-Hunter had been purchased by Rogers Communications
.
On January 1, 1995 the Canadian channel launched under the name New Country Network (NCN). On that date, Canadian television service providers were no longer allowed to offer Country Music Television.
In retaliation to it being barred from Canada, the American service launched a complaint under the North American Free Trade Agreement
and ceased carriage of videos by Canadian artists without major U.S. record deals.
After months of negotiations, the matter was settled when it was announced that CMT would purchase a minority stake in the service. NCN relaunched as CMT Canada on October 31, 1996 with a similar format to the American service. The majority interest was acquired by Shaw Communications
at the same time; Shaw subsequently transferred its ownership stake to Corus Entertainment
, a separate company owned by the same shareholders, in 1999.
The controversy also resulted in an effective change to CRTC policy — if a foreign channel is already available in Canada and a new Canadian equivalent is subsequently licensed, cable companies are no longer required to drop the foreign service.
s. The CRTC dropped that requirement to 70% on February 28, 2001. The percentage was further reduced to 50% on February 28, 2006.
Currently, CMT airs music videos throughout the day in blocks titled My CMT Morning, CMT Music, Love & Tears, CMT Rewind, Old School, Wide Open and CMT Spotlight, along with the weekly programs Kortney & Dave by Request and the Chevrolet Cross Canada Countdown. In the evening, CMT airs the syndicated TV series' Just For Laughs Gags
, America's Funniest Home Videos
, According to Jim
, and Reba
along with country music-related series such as Pick a Puppy, Pet Heroes and ER Vets. Like its American counterpart, CMT also airs country/rural lifestyle movies on the weekend.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Category A specialty channel
Specialty channel
A specialty channel can be a commercial broadcasting or non-commercial television channel which consists of television programming focused on a single genre, subject or targeted television market at a specific demographic....
which airs country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and family-orientated general entertainment programs in the form of music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s, award shows, concerts, sitcoms and more. CMT is owned by Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
(90%) and Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
(10%).
History
Prior to the launch of CMT Canada, the American-based country television network, Country Music TelevisionCountry Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
, was available in Canada since 1984.
In June 1994, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) licensed a series of new Canadian specialty television channels and among them was The Country Network, licensed to primarily feature country music videos (a minimum of 90%). The licence was granted to the partnership of Maclean-Hunter
Maclean-Hunter
Maclean-Hunter was a Canadian communications company, which had diversified holdings in radio, television, magazines, newspapers and cable television distribution....
(60%) and Rawlco Communications
Rawlco Communications
Rawlco Radio Ltd. is a Canadian media company. The company is the sole proprietor of thirteen radio stations in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the majority partner in Northwestern Radio Partnership, which owns four other stations in Saskatchewan...
(40%).
At this time, the CRTC had a policy where if a Canadian specialty service is licensed and that service's format is competitive with a foreign service's format that is licensed to operate in Canada, the foreign service may be terminated from operating in Canada. Due to Country Music Television's competitive format, the CRTC terminated Country Music Television's broadcasting rights in Canada on June 6, 1994. Television distributors such as cable and satellite television operators could continue distributing Country Music Television until the day that The Country Network began operation.
Before the channel's launch, Maclean-Hunter had been purchased by Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
.
On January 1, 1995 the Canadian channel launched under the name New Country Network (NCN). On that date, Canadian television service providers were no longer allowed to offer Country Music Television.
In retaliation to it being barred from Canada, the American service launched a complaint under the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
and ceased carriage of videos by Canadian artists without major U.S. record deals.
After months of negotiations, the matter was settled when it was announced that CMT would purchase a minority stake in the service. NCN relaunched as CMT Canada on October 31, 1996 with a similar format to the American service. The majority interest was acquired by Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications is Canada's largest telecommunications company that provides telephone, Canada's fastest Internet and television services as well as broadcasting and soon Wifi. Shaw is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta...
at the same time; Shaw subsequently transferred its ownership stake to Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. is a publicly traded Canadian media and entertainment conglomerate.Corus is a leading Canadian specialty television and radio producer, with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's...
, a separate company owned by the same shareholders, in 1999.
The controversy also resulted in an effective change to CRTC policy — if a foreign channel is already available in Canada and a new Canadian equivalent is subsequently licensed, cable companies are no longer required to drop the foreign service.
Programming
When CMT launched as NCN on January 1, 1995, the CRTC required that 90% of the station's programming consist of music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. The CRTC dropped that requirement to 70% on February 28, 2001. The percentage was further reduced to 50% on February 28, 2006.
Currently, CMT airs music videos throughout the day in blocks titled My CMT Morning, CMT Music, Love & Tears, CMT Rewind, Old School, Wide Open and CMT Spotlight, along with the weekly programs Kortney & Dave by Request and the Chevrolet Cross Canada Countdown. In the evening, CMT airs the syndicated TV series' Just For Laughs Gags
Just For Laughs Gags
Just For Laughs Gags is a Canadian silent comedy/hidden camera reality television show that is under the Just For Laughs brand. On December 26, 2002, JFL Gags began airing on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada...
, America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos
America's Funniest Home Videos is an American reality television program on ABC in which viewers are able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The most common videos usually feature slapstick physical comedy arising from incidents, accidents and mishaps...
, According to Jim
According to Jim
According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001 to June 2, 2009.-Synopsis:Jim is an abrasive but lovable suburban father...
, and Reba
Reba (TV series)
Reba is an American sitcom starring Reba McEntire, which ran from 2001 to 2007. For the show's first five seasons, it ran on The WB, with the show transitioning to The CW in its last year.-Synopsis:...
along with country music-related series such as Pick a Puppy, Pet Heroes and ER Vets. Like its American counterpart, CMT also airs country/rural lifestyle movies on the weekend.
Current hosts
- Casey Clarke (Chevrolet Cross Canada Countdown)
- Beverley MahoodBeverley MahoodBeverley Mahood is a country music singer-songwriter in Canada. Beverley emigrated from Belfast to Canada as a child. She is also formerly part of the all-female trio Lace, produced by the renowned Los Angeles producer, David Foster. She was also a Canadian television host...
(Pick a Puppy) - Paul McGuirePaul McGuirePaul McGuire is a host on Canada's CMT network.-Biography:He was brought up in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada where he attended York University.Since 1994, He worked on YTV's live events, and later switched to CMT....
(The Show)
Past hosts
- Cliff Dumas (Now hosting the Weekly Country Countdown)
- Shannon Gaye
- Gnarley Charley (Now at Kiss Country 93.7 FMKSKSKSKS is a commercial radio station located in Fresno, California, broadcasting on 93.7 FM. KSKS airs a country music format branded as "Kiss Country"....
in Fresno) - Stu Jeffries (Now at boom 97.3 FM in Toronto)
- Nicola Jones (Now at CHCHCHCH-TVCHCH-DT, channel 11, is a television station originating in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with transmitters located throughout Ontario. CHCH currently operates as an independent station, having previously served as a CBC Television affiliate, and more recently as the flagship station of the...
in Hamilton) - Ashley Kranz (winner of CMT Canada's "CMT Casting Call 2007" competition)
- Elissa LansdellElissa LansdellElissa Lansdell is a Canadian television personality currently based in Toronto, Ontario. She has been a correspondent for CMT Canada and hosts "My Rona Home" on City TV....
(Now hosting My Rona HomeMy Rona HomeMy Rona Home is a Canadian reality television series, which debuted on Citytv in the 2009-10 television season.Hosted by Elissa Lansdell and sponsored by the Rona chain of building supply stores and The Brick furniture chain, the series pits two Alberta families against each other in a competition...
) - Melissa Parrott (winner of CMT Canada's "CMT Casting Call 2009" competition)
- Hal Roberts (Now with DailyWebTV Torstar Communications)
- Colleen RusholmeColleen RusholmeColleen Rusholme is a Canadian radio and television broadcaster. Rusholme began her career as a news reporter in Toronto....
- Greg Shannon (Now at KG Country 95.5 FMCKGY-FMCKGY-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting a country music format at 95.5 FM in Red Deer, Alberta. The station uses the brand name "KG Country". The station is owned by Newcap Radio, which operates over 60 other radio and TV stations across Canada, including CKGY's sister station, Zed 99...
in Alberta) - Nancy Sinclair
- Brian "Hurricane" Smith
- Tamara Stanners
- Lindsay Stone
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| 1996–2000 | 2000–2006 | 2006–2008 | 2008–2010 | 2010–present |