Category 1 specialty channel
Encyclopedia
A Category A service is a Canadian
specialty
television channel
which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, must be carried by all digital cable
and direct broadcast satellite
providers that have the capability to do so.
Category A services are an amalgamation of the former analog pay and specialty services licensed prior to digital television (with the exception of general interest national news and sports specialty services which are designated as Category C services
) and the former category 1 digital specialty channels. In a policy decision released on October 30, 2008, the CRTC decided that all Category 1 digital services as well as all analog pay and specialty channels would be renamed Category A services, effective September 1, 2011.
Category A services share a number of similar regulations, such as format protection, mandatory carriage, and higher Canadian content quota levels than Category B services.
The following is a list of all Category A services currently available in Canada:
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...
specialty
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....
television channel
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, must be carried by all digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
and direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite
Direct broadcast satellite is a term used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception.A designation broader than DBS would be direct-to-home signals, or DTH. This has initially distinguished the transmissions directly intended for home viewers from cable television...
providers that have the capability to do so.
Category A services are an amalgamation of the former analog pay and specialty services licensed prior to digital television (with the exception of general interest national news and sports specialty services which are designated as Category C services
Category C services
A Category C service is a Canadian specialty television channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, are services that provide programming in genres that are exempted from the CRTC's format protection rules and are subject to standard conditions of...
) and the former category 1 digital specialty channels. In a policy decision released on October 30, 2008, the CRTC decided that all Category 1 digital services as well as all analog pay and specialty channels would be renamed Category A services, effective September 1, 2011.
Category A services share a number of similar regulations, such as format protection, mandatory carriage, and higher Canadian content quota levels than Category B services.
The following is a list of all Category A services currently available in Canada:
Former analog services
- Bravo!
- Business News NetworkBusiness News NetworkBusiness News Network ' is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel. BNN broadcasts programming related to business and financial news and analysis. As of December 2010, the station is based from 299 Queen Street West in Downtown Toronto and is owned by Bell Media...
- CMT
- CP24
- CPAC (English feed)
- Discovery Channel
- E!E! (Canadian TV channel)E! Entertainment Television is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel which is owned and operated by Bell Media. E! is devoted to entertainment programming including entertainment news, film, television, celebrities, and fashion...
- Food Network
- HGTV
- History TelevisionHistory TelevisionHistory Television is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that presents programming about history and some non-historical programming of military, science and technology interest. It is owned by Shaw Media. Its French language counterpart is Historia.The channel operates two...
- MTV
- MuchMore
- MuchMusicMuchMusicMuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
- OLN
- OWN
- Showcase
- Slice
- Space
- TeletoonTélétoon (Canadian TV channel)Télétoon is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel that specializes in animation programming. Télétoon is owned by Teletoon Canada Inc; a 50/50 partnership between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment...
- The Comedy NetworkThe Comedy NetworkThe Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
- The Score
- The Weather NetworkThe Weather NetworkThe Weather Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that broadcasts weather-related news and information 24 hours a day....
- Treehouse TVTreehouse TVTreehouse TV is a Canadian English language cable television specialty channel with programming targeted towards preschoolers that was launched on October 17, 1997. Its name comes from YTV's old children's programming block, The Treehouse...
- TVtropolisTVtropolisTVtropolis is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media and Rogers Media.The channel operates two time shifted feeds: East and West .-Programming:...
- VisionTV
- W NetworkW NetworkW Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. W Network broadcasts lifestyle and entertainment programming aimed at women....
- YTV
Former Category 1 digital services
- bold
- BookTelevisionBookTelevisionBookTelevision is a Canadian, English-language, Category A specialty channel that broadcasts programming relating to books, literature, and various media...
- documentary
- FashionTelevisionChannelFashionTelevisionChannelFashionTelevisionChannel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel broadcasts programming related to fashion, modelling, photography, art, architecture and design...
- G4 Canada
- ichannelIchannelichannel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Stornoway Communications. Its programs focus on public, social and current affairs...
- IFC
- MTV2
- Mystery TVMystery TVMystery TV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel which presents movies and television series of the mystery and suspense genres...
- One
- OUTtvOUTtvOUTtv is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel that airs entertainment and lifestyle programming for LGBT audiences.OUTtv's licensee is OUTtv Network Inc. which is 55.9% owned by Shavick Entertainment, 24.94% owned by Pink Triangle Press, 15% owned by Peace Point Entertainment...
- The Biography Channel
- The Cave
- Travel + Escape
- Twist TV
Former analog services
- ARTVARTVARTV is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel specializing in the arts and culture; including music, dance, theatre, visual arts as well as films and scripted television series.-History:...
- Canal DCanal DCanal D is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media. Canal D focuses on documentary programming primarily in the form of documentary-style television series that focus on a variety of topics such as crime, biographies, nature, science, and more.-History:In June...
- Canal VieCanal VieCanal Vie is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media. Canal Vie airs lifestyle and entertainment programs aimed at women in the form of talk shows, documentaries, reality TV series, films, and more...
- CPAC (French feed)
- ÉvasionEvasionEvasion may refer to:*Évasion, a Canadian French-language travel and adventure television channel*Evasion , a deceptive act*Evasion , to avoid government mandate through specious means...
- HistoriaHistoriaHistoria is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel which presents informative and entertainment programming related to history in the form of dramas, films, documentaries, human interests programs and more...
- MétéoMédiaMétéoMédiaMétéoMédia is a 24-hour Canadian French language Category A specialty channel and web site, which provides weather information 24 hours a day. It primarily serves viewers in Quebec, although some cable TV systems in Ontario and New Brunswick carry the channel as well. It is available nation-wide...
- MusiMaxMusiMaxMusiMax is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media operating out of Montreal, Quebec.MusiMax is devoted to music and music related programming focusing more on adult contemporary, soft-rock, classic rock and lighter music than its sister station, MusiquePlus...
- MusiquePlusMusiquePlusMusiquePlus is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media operating from Montreal, Quebec.MusiquePlus is devoted to music and music related programming from various genres including pop, rock, RnB and focuses on a younger demographic than its sister station, MusiMax...
- Séries+Séries+Séries+ is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel devoted to scripted comedy and dramatic programming. The channel is a joint venture between Astral Media and Shaw Media.-History:...
- TélétoonTélétoon (Canadian TV channel)Télétoon is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel that specializes in animation programming. Télétoon is owned by Teletoon Canada Inc; a 50/50 partnership between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment...
- TV5
- VRAK.TVVRAK.TVVRAK.TV is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.-History:...
- ZtéléZtéléZtélé is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel owned by Astral Media. Ztélé focuses on programming primarily from the science fiction, fantasy, and technology genres consisting of dramas, films, documentaries, and more.-History:...
Former Category 1 digital services
- addikTV
- Argent
- RIS
Former analog services
- ATN Channel
- Fairchild TVFairchild TVFairchild TV or FTV is a Canadian Cantonese language Category A specialty channel. It is co-owned by majority owner Fairchild Media Group and Television Broadcasts Limited which owns 20% of the business...
- Odyssey
- TalentvisionTalentvisionTalentvision is a Canadian Mandarin Chinese Category A specialty channel. It is owned by the Vancouver based Fairchild Media Group and Television Broadcast Limited. Talentvision's studios are located in Richmond, British Columbia.Talentvision features programming from Mainland China as well as...
- TelelatinoTelelatinoTelelatino, also referred to as TLN, is a Canadian Category A Specialty channel broadcasting general interest programming from Canada and around the world, primarily in Italian and Spanish...
Former analog services
- Encore AvenueEncore AvenueEncore Avenue is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Encore Avenue is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories. Encore Avenue is owned by Corus Entertainment...
(Two multiplex channels)- Encore Avenue 2
- Family (Two multiplex channels)
- Disney Junior
- Movie CentralMovie CentralMovie Central is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Movie Central is designated to operate west of the Ontario-Manitoba border, including the territories...
(Four multiplex channels)- HBO Canada (West)
- Movie Central 2
- Movie Central 3
- MpixMpixMpix is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service. Mpix is designated to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories. Mpix is owned by Astral Media...
(Two multiplex channels)- MorePix
- The Movie NetworkThe Movie NetworkThe Movie Network is a Canadian English language Category A premium television service, owned by Astral Media. The service is licensed to operate east of the Ontario-Manitoba border, excluding the territories...
(Five multiplex channels)- HBO Canada (East)
- MExcess
- MFest
- MFun!
Former digital services
- Super Channel (Four multiplex channels)
- Super Channel 2
- Super Channel 3
- Super Channel 4
Former analog services
- Super ÉcranSuper ÉcranSuper Écran is a Canadian French language Category A premium television service that broadcasts nationally via satellite or cable subscribers. The network is owned by Astral Media...
(Four multiplex channels)- Super Écran 2
- Super Écran 3
- Super Écran 4
See also
- Category B services
- Category C servicesCategory C servicesA Category C service is a Canadian specialty television channel which, as defined by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, are services that provide programming in genres that are exempted from the CRTC's format protection rules and are subject to standard conditions of...
- List of Canadian specialty channels
- List of Canadian television channels