HARD on PrideVision
Encyclopedia
HARDtv is a Canadian English language
Category B specialty channel
. It is a premium adult entertainment television channel aimed at gay
men, with programming consisting mainly of adult films and adult-related television series.
HARDtv's licensee is 4510810 Canada Inc. which is 55% owned by Pink Triangle Press
and 45% owned by Peace Point Entertainment Group
.
The original concept for HARDtv was founded in 2004, when then-owners of PrideVision TV
, a then fledgling Canadian general entertainment digital cable television channel aimed at LGBT
audiences, decided to launch a 24 hour gay male adult subscription channel. The owners decided to launch the service to allow better distribution for PrideVision, which at the time was airing pornography after midnight EST
, which led many cable and satellite television providers to market PrideVision as a standalone premium channel rather than a general interest channel packaged along with other similar specialty channels.
In September 2004, the owners of PrideVision began their application process for the new adult channel as they applied for the licence to operate the channel from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). While two months later, in November, in preparation for the launch of the new 24 hour adult subscription channel, PrideVision was renamed HARD on PrideVision, exclusively airing adult content from primetime to the early morning (9pm-6am EST
), while lifestyle and general entertainment programming aired during the remaining time period. The company's plan was to launch the new adult subscription channel under the name HARD on PrideVision, while at the same time, the existing general entertainment channel would be renamed OUTtv and move to a 24 hour schedule of general entertainment and lifestyle programming. This was done in hopes of creating an illusion of PrideVision evolving into a 24 hour adult channel, however, this was not the case.
The licence for HARDtv was approved by the CRTC on March 4, 2005, then tentatively known as 617. The expected launch date for the adult subscription channel was April 7, 2005, however, the new channel launched 5 days later on April 12 due to difficulties with digital cable and satellite providers. On that date, HARD on PrideVision's lifestyle and entertainment programming expanded to a 24 hour schedule and the channel was re-named OUTtv, while the adult subscription channel took over the name HARD on PrideVision, consisting of a 24 hour schedule of adult content aimed at gay men.
On July 19, 2006, Shavick Entertainment
, a film and television producer based in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, announced their intent to purchase a majority stake in both HARD on PrideVision and OUTtv from then majority owner William Craig
. The transaction was finalized later that year, with other investors shares changing to reflect Shavick's new ownership.
In November 2006, under new ownership, HARD on PrideVision was renamed HARDtv.
On December 3, 2009, the CRTC approved an application on behalf of 4510810 Canada Inc, a newly formed company owned by Pink Triangle Press (55%) and Peace Point Entertainment (45%), that would see it acquire HARDtv from 6166954 Canada Inc. The transaction closed at a later date.
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 B 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....
. It is a premium adult entertainment television channel aimed at gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
men, with programming consisting mainly of adult films and adult-related television series.
HARDtv's licensee is 4510810 Canada Inc. which is 55% owned by Pink Triangle Press
Pink Triangle Press
Pink Triangle Press is a Canadian non-profit organization which specializes in LGBT media including publishing, online interactive media, and television. PTP's main asset is the LGBT magazine, Xtra! and its spinoffs Xtra! West and Capital Xtra!...
and 45% owned by Peace Point Entertainment Group
Peace Point Entertainment Group
Peace Point Entertainment Group is a Canadian Toronto-based independent television production company.- Corporate Profile :Peace Point principals Les Tomlin and Vallery Hyduk have produced 19 series with worldwide distribution. It has also acquired full ownership of U.S...
.
History
- see 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...
article for further detailed information.
The original concept for HARDtv was founded in 2004, when then-owners of PrideVision TV
OUTtv
OUTtv 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...
, a then fledgling Canadian general entertainment digital cable television channel aimed at LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
audiences, decided to launch a 24 hour gay male adult subscription channel. The owners decided to launch the service to allow better distribution for PrideVision, which at the time was airing pornography after midnight EST
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, which led many cable and satellite television providers to market PrideVision as a standalone premium channel rather than a general interest channel packaged along with other similar specialty channels.
In September 2004, the owners of PrideVision began their application process for the new adult channel as they applied for the licence to operate the channel from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). While two months later, in November, in preparation for the launch of the new 24 hour adult subscription channel, PrideVision was renamed HARD on PrideVision, exclusively airing adult content from primetime to the early morning (9pm-6am EST
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
), while lifestyle and general entertainment programming aired during the remaining time period. The company's plan was to launch the new adult subscription channel under the name HARD on PrideVision, while at the same time, the existing general entertainment channel would be renamed OUTtv and move to a 24 hour schedule of general entertainment and lifestyle programming. This was done in hopes of creating an illusion of PrideVision evolving into a 24 hour adult channel, however, this was not the case.
The licence for HARDtv was approved by the CRTC on March 4, 2005, then tentatively known as 617. The expected launch date for the adult subscription channel was April 7, 2005, however, the new channel launched 5 days later on April 12 due to difficulties with digital cable and satellite providers. On that date, HARD on PrideVision's lifestyle and entertainment programming expanded to a 24 hour schedule and the channel was re-named OUTtv, while the adult subscription channel took over the name HARD on PrideVision, consisting of a 24 hour schedule of adult content aimed at gay men.
On July 19, 2006, Shavick Entertainment
Shavick Entertainment
Shavick Entertainment is a Canadian film and television production company. Owned and operated in Burnaby, British Columbia by James Shavick and his wife, former British Columbia politician Joy MacPhail, the company has primarily produced television films, as well as a few theatrical films and a...
, a film and television producer based in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, announced their intent to purchase a majority stake in both HARD on PrideVision and OUTtv from then majority owner William Craig
William Craig (broadcaster)
William Craig is a Canadian broadcaster.Craig began his career as a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's This Hour Has Seven Days. He subsequently joined the programming departments at the CBC, TVOntario and Rogers Cable...
. The transaction was finalized later that year, with other investors shares changing to reflect Shavick's new ownership.
In November 2006, under new ownership, HARD on PrideVision was renamed HARDtv.
On December 3, 2009, the CRTC approved an application on behalf of 4510810 Canada Inc, a newly formed company owned by Pink Triangle Press (55%) and Peace Point Entertainment (45%), that would see it acquire HARDtv from 6166954 Canada Inc. The transaction closed at a later date.